Krýsuvík
Krýsuvík is a landscape in Reykjavik Area, Iceland — about 36 km from Reykjavik and reached by a drive to the trailhead and a short walk in (footwear and weather check). Shoot it year-round, though winter wind, ice, and short daylight rework the shot list, then use the GPS coordinates, parking notes, and nearby waypoints below to fold this stop into a longer photography route.
Overview
The geothermal area Krýsuvík is situated on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland
As a photography stop, Krýsuvík is a landscape in Reykjavik Area, roughly 36 km from Reykjavik, reached by a drive to the trailhead and a short walk in (footwear and weather check). Plan the shoot year-round, though winter wind, ice, and short daylight rework the shot list. The downloadable Landscape map pins exact GPS coordinates, parking, and nearby waypoints so you can fold it into a wider route instead of hunting for the pull-off on arrival.
Planning more than one stop? Open the Iceland landscape photo map to put Krýsuvík on the same offline layer as everything nearby.
Notes on this location
Compiled from published sources rather than a visit. Sources are listed below.
A high-temperature geothermal area on the Reykjanes peninsula, about 35 km from Reykjavík, holding the Seltún field and the maar lake Grænavatn. Wooden walkways have been laid through it.
- Where
- Reykjanes peninsula, between Þorlákshöfn and Grindavík; about 35 km from Reykjavík
- Seltún
- A high-temperature geothermal area within the Krýsuvík volcanic system
- Grænavatn
- One of several maars — craters formed by steam explosion, now holding water
- Lava
- The Ögmundarhraun field dominates to the south, with vegetated kípukas reachable on foot
- On the ground
- Wooden pathways have been built through the area
Boardwalks fix where you can stand, so the compositions here are chosen for you and the variable is light rather than position — which makes early or late visits worth more than they would be somewhere you can roam. Being 35 km from Reykjavík also puts this within reach of a first or last day, when the weather has already ruined a longer plan.
SourcesKrýsuvík — Wikipedia
Light & aurora at this spot
Calculated from this location’s coordinates (63.872, -22.113). Iceland stays on UTC year-round, so these are local times.
- Summer
- June: sun up 03:04–23:54 (20.8 h). Evening golden hour 22:02–23:54, light coming from the NNW.
- Winter
- December: only 4.4 h of daylight (11:13–15:35), but the sun never climbs above 2.8° — the entire day is golden hour. Sunrise bears SSE, sunset SSW.
- Aurora
- Aurora-grade darkness Sep–Mar, peaking at 12.9 h a night in December. Not possible Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug — the sky never gets dark enough.
Bar height is daylight hours. Months marked • have enough astronomical darkness for aurora; the rest do not.
Questions & answers
Krýsuvík is a landscape in Reykjavik Area, Iceland, approximately 36 km from Reykjavik. Exact GPS coordinates are included in the downloadable Landscape map.
The recommended season for Krýsuvík is All. For light, plan around blue hour and the first hour after sunrise; Iceland's long shoulder-season twilight extends usable conditions on either side.
Drive/Hike access. Bring weather-appropriate footwear and check conditions before setting out. The downloadable GPS map puts the waypoint on your phone; your own app routes you to it from wherever you are.
Yes — Krýsuvík can be visited year-round, though winter conditions may require a 4x4 or storm-tolerant plans.