Fagradalsfjall Volcano

One of those places that feels both raw and strangely peaceful, shaped by eruption after eruption yet surprisingly accessible. The experience really depends on recent volcanic activity, so it’s worth checking current conditions, trail updates, and safety notices before you go. The landscape is dramatic even when the volcano is quiet, with lava fields still warm-looking in color and texture, and hiking paths that offer incredible views over the Reykjanes Peninsula. Give yourself time here. The hike can be windy and exposed, and the terrain is uneven with loose gravel in places, so steady shoes and layers make a big difference. If the weather shifts, visibility can drop quickly, and there’s often a strong smell of sulfur around certain areas. Keeping an eye on wind direction is important since volcanic gases can pool or drift unpredictably. Once at the viewpoint, take a moment to absorb the silence and scale of the lava fields. When the volcano is active, it becomes a surreal spectacle, but even dormant, the area carries a sense of Iceland’s living geology. It’s a rewarding stop for anyone curious about volcanoes or looking for a memorable hike near Reykjavík.

Visited on 30/07/2025 — still active eruption visible! There are several viewpoints offering great views of the volcanic eruption. Truly an incredible and unforgettable experience. We parked our car at P1 and walked about 1 hour.

One on the best places to see volcano in south Iceland 🌋. You need to walk up to 3,5km to see living vulcano. At the beginning you see only lava of vulcano, but this is also very impressive.

Closest volcano to Reykjavík (and certainly KEF airport). There are several choices of trails to take from the car park, we did the shortest one up to the crater which came out at 5km there and back. As you can see from my pictures it’s not actively erupting from this vantage point but you do get a good view of the cooled lava pool and a bit of steam plus the lava flow down the hill. It is quite a stiff walk walk up and is certainly not suitable for those with mobility issues but well worth it if you can manage it.

I had an amazing hike to the Meradalir Viewpoint, a round trip of 12 Kms for which the ascent & descent was moderately difficult given the 200 m + rise from car park & the stoney path/uneven terrain. Passing to see the lava fields from the 2021/2 eruptions was a truly awe inspiring sight of the power of the earth. The scenic views as far as the sea were fantastic. I enjoyed seeing some of the bird life too including the snow bunting.

A nice hiking near lava ....you have many paths to choose ! We walk from parking 2

We saw the volcano in late July 2023. To this day it still stands as one of the coolest natural things I’ve seen in my life. The trail killed me, and I was already dying before we started heading back - however, it was the first day of our round-Europe trip, and I don’t hike a lot 😅 There are no public restrooms on the trail itself, so be prepared to look for private locations if it deems necessary ;) For experienced hikers this shouldn‘t be too bad.

Very nice spot, you have a variety of hiking trails to choose from. Once you arrive at the parking (which you can pay for by downloading an app), there is a big map with all the trails clearly described. We took trail A, 1h one way (2h total), to Storholl, which is a very nice viewing spot where you can see all the races of lava from 2021. The trail isn't easy, it has lots of pebbles and loose stones, so can be quite slow to walk back down. Definitely worth it.