10 Free things to do in Keflavik & Reykjanes Peninsula

Iceland is expensive for UK visitors especially if you are not used to London prices so I've found 10 free things for you to do in Keflavik all year round, to help you save a few Icelandic Krona (ISK).

Hands up who wants 10 Free things to do in Keflavik?

You are most likely to arrive at Keflavik Airport if you are visiting Iceland.  Some people will arrive in Iceland and shoot off to Reykjavik on the shuttle bus and then perhaps spend the night in Keflavik the day before they return because they have a very early flight.   If you find you have a day or more to spare on your Iceland trip, it’s worth exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula and here are 10 free things for you to do in Keflavik, the main town in the Reykjanes Peninsula.

1. Gigant's Cave

Visit a giants cave.  Giganta’s cave at Gróf Marina is open every day from 10am to 5pm except in bad weather.  That’s because it sits right on the cliff edge exposed to the north Atlantic .

Giganta the Giant

Giganta's Cave

2. Stekkjarkot

Stekkjarkot – a turf, stone and timber fisherman’s cottage used between 17^th and 19^th centuries.  They can be found in various places around Iceland but there is one right here in Keflavik near the Viking World Museum. (you can visit it when you're at the settlement zoo in No 10) 

3. An Outdoor Workout

Visit the assault course on Skólavegur beside the swimming pool.  Not only does it have ropes and monkey bars but because it’s Iceland, it also has World’s Strongest Man type balls to lift onto a platform.

Assault Course

4. Walk for Miles

Follow one of 9 walking routes around Keflavik varying in length from 2.3km to 8km (approx 1.5 to 5 miles) 

Walks around Keflavik

5.Keflavik's Heritage Museum

Visit the Heritage Museum at the Art & Cultural Centre in Keflavik to see what living conditions were like in the 1950's. Note: This building is beside the Duushús museum which is not free.  You need to enter by the doors in the cream coloured building not the red.

The Reykjanes Heritage Museum

6. Maritime Centre 

Visit the Maritime Centre at the Art & Cultural Centre of Reykjanesbaer in Keflavik to see an amazing collection of hand made model boats. Note: This building is beside the Duushús museum which is not free.  You need to enter by the doors in the cream coloured building not the red.

Art & Cultural Centre Pic from visitreykjanes.is

7. Rekjanes Art Museum

Visit the Reykjanes Art Museum at the Art & Cultural Centre in Keflavik. Note: This building is beside the Duushús museum which is not free.  You need to enter by the doors in the cream coloured building not the red.

8.A Ship on Land

Climb aboard Baldur KE97, the first fishing boat in Iceland to be designed and built with the bridge at the front.  It has a 40 ton fishing capacity and is moored at Gróf Marina. It even has its own cat.

Beldur KE97

9. Walk the Coastal Defence Wall

Keflavik has had a facelift recently and a new coastal defence wall has been built running 10 km from the Marina to the Stapi cliffs.  It’s a lovely walk with a chance to see whales and harbour porpoises in the bay. It's also a favourite spot for eider duck.

Eider Ducks seen at Keflavik on the 10km coastal walk

10. Settlement Zoo at Viking World

(Summer only) The Settlement Zoo at Viking World.  There is an admission fee to Viking World and it’s well worth a visit but just outside in the grounds is a settlement zoo which is free during the summer months.

The Cliffs at Keflavik lit up at night

10. Gróf Cliffs

(Winter only) Take a walk at night just to see the cliffs. During the darker months, the cliffs at Gróf Marina are lit every night.  They look lovely just as the darkness falls when you can still see the outline of the cliffs.

You may also be interested in 10 Free Things to do in Reykjavik