Gardur: Coast, Lighthouses and Birdwatching

Gardur is a settlement at the northern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, on the inner Miðnes. When looking for a hotel in Gardur, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to learn about the history of the headland, observe birds or other wildlife, or spend time at the beach and on walking paths? The town brings these interests together with historic traces of fishing and settlement. You can shape your travel plans around the topics that matter most to you.

Lighthouses and Local History

The old lighthouse was built at Garðskagatá in 1897. The new lighthouse at Garðskagi was built in 1944 and is now one of the headland’s most important landmarks. The two construction dates are 47 years apart. This makes the sequence easy to grasp: the old lighthouse dates from the late 19th century, and the new one from the mid-20th century.

Remains of Skagagarðurinn are still visible at Garðskagi. During the settlement period, the protective wall was intended to keep livestock from entering the fields. Alongside the lighthouses, this brings another aspect of local history into view: protecting fields from wandering livestock.

The Folk Museum in Gardur presents the development of fishing and the history of the people who lived and worked in the municipality. The focus here is not on construction dates or walls, but on an occupation and community life. The artwork Four Winds was also donated to the municipality by Helgi Valdimarsson in 2012. The community museum at Garðskagi is set in a landscape rich in wildlife and birdlife.

The historical topics offer different perspectives: the lighthouses can be understood through their construction dates, Skagagarðurinn through its protective function, and the Folk Museum through fishing and community life.

Coast and Wildlife

Garðskagi beach is a popular place for outdoor recreation. Garðssjór is a popular whale-watching area; grey seals often rest on Skagaflös. The locations can help you decide what to focus on: Garðssjór is associated with whale watching, while Skagaflös is a resting place for grey seals. Spending time at the beach is another coastal activity, distinct from wildlife watching.

Birdwatching and Walking Routes

A paved birdwatching path runs from the fish factory in Garður to the lighthouse at Garðskagi. You can also explore Garður’s birdwatching ponds on foot. Another option is a 4.5-kilometre walk around the Garðskagi headland and through Garður, passing numerous places of historical interest.

Each option has different features to consider: the paved birdwatching path is defined by its endpoints, while the walk is defined by its length and the historic places along the route. The ponds offer another point of interest for birdwatching on foot. If a specific route length matters for your plans, the 4.5-kilometre walk provides a measurable reference.

Discover more destinations: Njardvik, Reykjanesbær, Sandgerði, Vogar, Grindavík, Hafnir, Kálfatjörn

For the overview of the wider region: Suðurnes.