Iceland Volcanoes: Active Reykjanes, Craters & Volcanic Landscapes

Iceland is a geological laboratory in real time. The island sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. The land here literally breathes, cracks, and in recent years has been bleeding red-hot magma with remarkable regularity. Iceland volcanoes aren’t a distant spectacle — they’re an everyday reality you feel from the moment you land.

The moment you touch down at Keflavík, an endless plain of black-grey lava draped in moss stretches out to greet you — it looks like another planet entirely. And that’s just the beginning. In this article, we’ll walk you through where to see volcanic landscapes in Iceland, what’s currently happening on the active Reykjanes peninsula, and how to stay safe around volcanoes.

TL;DR: Where to See Volcanic Landscapes in Iceland

• Reykjanes — an active volcanic zone right next to the airport, with lava fields and the geothermal area of Krýsuvík.
• Kerið — a photogenic crater with a turquoise lake on the Golden Circle route.
• Mývatn & Krafla in the north — the Mars-like landscape of Hverir, the lava maze of Dimmuborgir, and Víti crater.
• Þríhnúkagígur — the only place on Earth where you can descend by lift into a dormant volcano’s magma chamber.
• Important: flowing lava is never guaranteed, and you should never approach an active eruption without checking the current situation first.

⚠️ Active Reykjanes: Volcanoes Right by the Airport (2026 Update)

The Reykjanes Peninsula, where Keflavík International Airport sits, woke back up in March 2021 after centuries of quiet. By mid-2025, twelve eruptions had taken place, and heading into 2026 the situation remains on edge — a record volume of magma has accumulated beneath the Svartsengi area. Eruptions tend to come in series, often with very little warning.

Should you be worried? Not at all. These are effusive eruptions — lava flows steadily from fissures without the explosive ash clouds that once paralysed European airspace (think Eyjafjallajökull in 2010). Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík city remain completely safe throughout.

The main disruptions are limited to the evacuated town of Grindavík (access is prohibited and genuinely life-threatening) and the famous Blue Lagoon, which now operates in a dynamic mode — it can evacuate with just two hours’ notice when seismic activity spikes. Local road closures on Reykjanes are common. Before heading out there, always check safetravel.is and en.vedur.is for the latest conditions.

Krýsuvík & Gunnuhver: Colourful Geothermal Fields

The most dramatic sights on the Reykjanes Peninsula are its geothermal areas. At Krýsuvík (also signed as Seltún), wooden boardwalks guide you between bubbling hot springs and ground painted in extraordinary shades of yellow, red and green — minerals and thermophilic bacteria create a colour palette that looks almost artificially vivid.

A short drive west brings you to Gunnuhver, where mud pots gurgle loudly and steam billows so thickly from the vents that visibility can drop to almost nothing. The sound of escaping steam is genuinely startling — like a jet engine idling nearby. 💡 Tip: while you’re in the area, stop at the Bridge Between Continents — a symbolic footbridge over a fissure in the lava field where you can stride from Europe to North America in a few steps.

Kerið: Crater with a Turquoise Lake

Along the Golden Circle route you’ll come across Kerið — a volcanic crater around 3,000 years old, roughly 70 metres deep and wide, with a shimmering turquoise lake at the bottom. For a small entry fee you can walk the full rim circuit, which takes barely 20 minutes. The contrast between the rusty-red crater walls and the vivid blue-green water makes it one of the most photogenic spots in southern Iceland.

Mývatn, Hverir & Krafla: The Mars-Like North

The north of Iceland around Lake Mývatn feels like it belongs on a different planet. In the geothermal area of Hverir (Námafjall), mud pots boil and the earth exhales sulphur in deep ochre and orange hues. Nearby lies the otherworldly lava maze of Dimmuborgir (“dark castles”) and the cave of Grjótagjá with its geothermally heated water.

Just beyond sits the Krafla volcano and its explosive Víti crater (Icelandic for “hell”), at the bottom of which glitters a striking turquoise lake. The whole area remains geothermally active to this day — you’re essentially looking straight into Iceland’s volcanic engine room.

Descending into Þríhnúkagígur Volcano & Lava Caves

Everywhere else in the world you look up at volcanoes from the outside. In Iceland, you can go in. Þríhnúkagígur is a genuine world first — the only place on the planet where you can safely descend into the emptied magma chamber of a dormant volcano. After a hike across the lava field, you step into an open cable car and drop 198 metres into the earth. At the bottom, a vast cavern opens up, its walls streaked with red (iron), yellow (sulphur) and blue-green (copper). The “Inside the Volcano” experience runs only from May to October and doesn’t come cheap — expect to pay from around £240 per person.

For a more budget-friendly alternative, Iceland’s lava caves are well worth exploring — tunnels left behind by ancient lava flows. They make a brilliant activity on a rainy day, which Iceland has no shortage of. You can book tours through GetYourGuide.

Volcano Safety: Rules You Shouldn’t Break

If an eruption is happening during your visit, the temptation to go and see the lava up close is enormous. But nature is completely unforgiving — active volcanoes in Iceland demand serious respect:

• Never approach active lava on your own without checking the current situation. Flows can change direction without warning, and new fissures can open up in seconds.
• Volcanic gases are invisible and lethal. No Instagram shot is worth gas poisoning.
• Respect all closures. When the authorities close a route, there’s a very good reason for it. Iceland’s mountain rescue team (ICE-SAR) have better things to do than recover tourists from lava fields.
• Always check safetravel.is and en.vedur.is before heading out.

How to Get to Iceland’s Volcanoes & Craters

Most of these sites sit directly on or just off Iceland’s main Ring Road, making them straightforward to reach by hire car. Reykjanes is right on the doorstep of the airport, Kerið is on the Golden Circle, and Mývatn and Krafla are in the north. The best approach is to take them in as part of a full lap of the island. Flights to Keflavík are available from most major UK airports with airlines including Icelandair and easyJet — journey times are typically around three hours from London. You can find the full suggested route in our 14-day Iceland road trip itinerary, with more context in our complete Iceland travel guide.

Frequently Asked Questions about Iceland Volcanoes