Reykjanesbær, Keflavík/Njardvík receives more tourists than any other municipality in Iceland. Over 95% of tourists visiting Iceland arrive at Keflavík Airport, which is located 50 km (30 miles) from Reykjavík. Most stop only briefly before moving on, which is a shame, as the town has much to offer. Reykjanesbær has grown rapidly in recent years, currently ranking as the fourth largest town in the country, with about 23,000 residents—one-third of whom were born outside of Iceland, the highest proportion among Iceland’s larger towns.
It was the Norwegian Steinunn the Old who originally settled on the western part of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where Reykjanesbær now stands, around the year 880. She was a mature widow who received the land as a gift from her kinsman Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland’s first settler, who lived in Reykjavík and had claimed the large headland of Reykjanes nearly ten years earlier. Reykjanesbær is not only known for the airport but also as the cradle of Icelandic pop music during the Beatle era and for its strong sports culture, which has produced many national championships. Icelandic Times stopped by—enjoy.
Reykjanesbær 11/13/2024: RX1R II, A7CR – 2.0/35mm Z, FE 1.2/50mm GM
Images & text: Páll Stefánsson
