Visit Southwest Iceland

One of the smallest regions in Iceland, the Southwest is also one of the most populated and is home to the capital city Reykjavik. This is a landscape pockmarked by signs of its geothermal past; the vast solidified lava flows that dominate this area create a flat ashen landscape and hint at the tumultuous events that created them.

The airport at Keflavik is the gateway to Iceland, making the southwest most people's introduction to Iceland. The hotels and cuisine in Reykjavik are superb whilst the charming streets fill with revellers embracing the vibrant nightlife here. Visitors are also lured here by the prospect of sinking into the tranquil waters of the Blue Lagoon. After a few nights, visitors tend to move on to the southern coastal regions, or the highlands further north.

North Iceland Odyssey

7-day tailor-made holiday from £1,405 pp

Combine Reykjavik's city buzz and the icons of the Golden Circle with the lesser-visited gems of Northern Iceland. After an included soak in the Blue Lagoon, an epic road trip will see you among mighty waterfalls, lakes and fjords.

Reykjavik Summer Adventure

4-day tailor-made break from £1,200 pp incl. flights

This action-packed summer break to Iceland's charming capital, combines the Golden Circle and an whale watching tour with three nights accommodation at a comfortable, four-star city centre hotel.

Top places to stay in Southwest Iceland

Hotel Skuggi, Reykjavik

Contemporary hotel

Located within easy reach of all of Reykjavik’s popular sites and city centre, the Hotel Skuggi offers comfortable rooms, a restaurant and an abundance of excursions and tours in the surrounding area.

Hotel Katla, Vik

Traditional hotel

An ideal option for those taking a road trip along Iceland’s spectacular south coast, with outdoor hot tubs and a delicious on-site restaurant.

Silica Hotel

Contemporary hotel

To escape the crowds at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, book into this award-winning design hotel with its own private geothermal lagoon.

Hotel Borg, Reykjavik

Traditional hotel

The best hotel in town, Hotel Borg is a Reykjavík landmark in its own right, an imposing and attractive Art Deco building that overlooks Austurvöllur, a popular and bustling public square.

See all places to stay

Where to go in Southwest Iceland

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a capital city with the feel of a small town. Brightly painted houses of corrugated iron dominate the city skyline and skyscrapers are virtually unheard of here. The buildings cluster around the Tjornin Lake, a spot that's at once tranquil and the bustling heart of the city.

Blue Lagoon

Located in the shadow of the Svartsengi geothermal power station, the steaming waters of the Blue Lagoon have transformed this plant's mineral-rich overspill into one of the most iconic health retreats in the world.