Discover Hafnir

Hafnir brings together the history of significant coastal fishing, traces of early settlement and birdwatching. The village was densely populated until around 1900, and extensive fishing was carried out from large boats. Historic sites and nature offer different perspectives on the destination.

Fishing and Early Settlement

Hafnir developed around significant coastal fishing. The settlement was densely populated until around 1900, and extensive catches were brought in by large boats. Alongside this local history are traces of a much earlier settlement. Hafnir is home to remains of the oldest settlement on the Reykjanes Peninsula, dating back to the 9th century. According to the municipality, research into the remains of a very early dwelling site is providing new insights into the settlement of Iceland.

Kirkjuvogur and Historic Traces

Kirkjuvogur was a manor farm in Hafnir and an affiliated church site of the municipality of Grindavík. The black wooden church at Kirkjuvogur is the only one of its kind on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Hafnir is also home to an anchor from the ghost ship Jamestown, which ran aground in 1881.

South of Kalmanstjörn, Hafnir is home to remains of a settlement from past centuries. The site is a former farm and former manor. There was once a church in Kalmanstjörn; remains of its cemetery are probably still visible. Evidence of former farms and church sites adds further chapters of regional history to the older traces of settlement.

Birdwatching at the Harbor and Nearby

At Hafnir harbor, there are bird images and information about the birds in the surrounding area. Brent geese can be seen near the harbor from late September to mid-April. Great skuas and Arctic skuas nest in the surrounding lava rock and short grass. A seasonal period is given for the Brent geese; for the two skuas, nesting sites are part of the landscape described.

Near Hafnir lies Ósar, a sea bay formed by land subsidence that is important for birdlife and marine biology. Ósar is a short walk from Road 44. Check local conditions before visiting.

Hafnaberg and the Reykjanes Landscape

Hafnaberg is a geosite in the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. A marked trail leads from the parking area by the road to the cliffs; the parking area is four kilometers from Hafnir. Conditions on the cliffs can change, so check them before your visit. At Ósar, the short walk from Road 44 is the point of reference; at Hafnaberg, it is the marked trail from the parking area.

The planets on Reykjanes can also be included in your orientation around the peninsula: they can be observed while driving along the road between Reykjanes Power Plant and Hafnir. Junkaragerði, a settlement in Höfnum, lies north of Hafnaberg. The local attractions thus range from settlement history and coastal fishing to birdlife, geology and roadside observations.

Discover more destinations: Kálfatjörn, Sandgerði, Vogar, Grindavík, Gardur, Reykjanesbær, Njardvik.

Return to the main travel overview: Suðurnes.