Garðskagi Lighthouse

About Garðskagi Lighthouse

Garðskagi Lighthouse marks the northwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where you get two lighthouses for the price of one stop. The tall white tower is the newer light, and down on the shore stands the small red-and-white original. It's a quick, easy detour from Keflavík Airport, about 15 minutes away, and under an hour's drive from Reykjavík.

The old lighthouse went up in 1897 and is said to be the second-oldest concrete structure in Iceland. It has been protected as a heritage site since 2003. Sea spray and erosion were a constant problem that close to the water, so a new tower was built farther inland in 1944. Designed by engineer Axel Sveinsson, the 28.6 m concrete cylinder took about three months to build and is still an active light today.

The grassy point around the lighthouses is open to walk at any time, and there's a parking lot right beside it. On a clear day, you can see Snæfellsjökull glacier across the bay to the north. The shore is also good for birdwatching, and the local tourist board says dolphins and whales are sometimes seen offshore.

Next to the lighthouses, the Garðskagi heritage museum fills the old fish processing buildings with local maritime history and a collection of more than 60 restored engines, almost all of them still in working order. It's open daily 10:00–17:00 from May 1 to September 30, and groups can book visits in winter. There's also a restaurant on site and a campsite on the point.

Plan on 30 minutes for the lighthouses alone, or an hour or more with the museum. Garðskagi works well paired with Hvalsneskirkja church to the south, or as a first or last stop on the way to or from the airport.