The Scarf - July 2025
While many cities boast a ‘green belt’, Reykjavík is proudly wrapped in a green scarf: a ribbon of natural beauty, geothermal energy and outdoor adventure that weaves through the city’s outskirts. This vibrant area features lava fields, flower-covered hills, lakes and trails that link nature with activity. The Scarf is where you’ll find steaming earth, ski slopes, horse trails, and even ATV tours, all just minutes from downtown. It’s the perfect destination for families, hikers, and thrill-seekers alike, offering a unique opportunity to experience Icelandic nature.
Top attractions
Outdoor Playground
The Scarf is Reykjavík’s playground for outdoor adventurers. For those craving speed and adrenaline, Safari Quads offers ATV tours across lava fields, mountainsides and gravel tracks with panoramic views over the capital. In winter, Bláfjöll (Blue Mountains) becomes a local ski resort with lifts, slopes, and cross-country trails for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Year-round, the area is also perfect for exploring on horseback. Local stables such as Íshestar and Íslenski Hesturinn offer tours on the unique Icelandic horse, famed for its tölt gait and calm nature. With ziplining, mountain biking and adventure parks also in the mix, The Scarf is a hub for fun and action.
Natural Calm
Woven through The Scarf is a network of well-marked hiking and biking trails, making it a haven for walkers, runners and cyclists. Whether you're climbing a ridge, strolling past lupine-filled meadows, or following trails around lakes or through ancient lava fields, the area provides ever-changing scenery just beyond Reykjavík’s urban edge. In early summer, the landscape bursts into colour with blooming Arctic lupines, while in autumn, the moss and birch groves turn golden. The area's tranquillity and natural diversity make it ideal for a quiet day out or a deeper reconnection with the outdoors.
What Lies Beneath
Beneath the surface of The Scarf lies one of Iceland’s most valuable resources: geothermal heat. The area is home to the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant, and visitors can experience this powerful force firsthand at exhibitions that explain how Reykjavík is heated with sustainable energy.
In some areas of The Scarf, steam vents and hot springs bubble just off the trails – reminders of the dynamic earth below. Whether you're interested in renewable energy, geology, or maybe a sulphur-scented hike, this side of The Scarf offers something truly Icelandic.
Aurora Adventure
With wide-open skies and low light pollution, The Scarf offers plenty of areas near Reykjavík to experience the northern lights. Several tour companies offer aurora-spotting excursions into the lava fields and nature reserves at the edge of the city, where darkness and silence make the perfect setting for watching the sky come alive.
A popular stop is Aurora Basecamp, an interactive centre where you can learn about the science and stories behind the aurora borealis. Step outside the basecamp domes and cross your fingers – nature may just put on a show.
How to get to Seltjarnarnes
By Bus
To get to Seltjarnarnes and Grótta by bus, you can take bus number 11, which runs between Mjódd bus stop and Seltjarnarnes. The Hofgarður bus stop is closest to Grótta, which is 1 km away from the bus stop.
By Electric Scooter
Electric scooters are available at Seltjarnarnes.
By Car
There are parking lots in the area, for example, at Grótta.