Hikes Near Reykjavik: 9 Trails That Locals Love

In Iceland, you can find other-worldly hikes even without traveling too far from its capital, Reykjavik. Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer or seeking leisurely strolls, there’s something nearby for everyone. In this blog post, I list my favorite hiking trails near Reykjavik. The best part is that you don’t even need a car to reach them!

Hiking From the City Center

You can go hiking right in Reykjavik. You can walk to these trails straight from downtown. Or you can take a short bus ride.

Elisadalur Valley

• Length: 4 km (round trip)
• Elevation gain: 150 meters
• Time: 1–2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Just behind Árbær Open Air Museum

Elisadalur Valley provides a peaceful escape filled with lush greenery, wildflowers, and a fast river. The gentle slopes offer beautiful views of Reykjavik and surrounding mountains, ideal for families and casual hikers. Elisadalur is mostly ignored by tourists — too bad for them, because there you can find several amazing waterfalls right in Reykjavik.

I’ve been on this trail many times in all seasons and usually go the for trail running. It’s always fun. In the summer time, it has lots of green. In winter, I go to see the strange ice patterns on waterfalls, which are still safe to visit. On winter evenings I even saw Aurora, some of the strongest ever. And in autumn I love seeing the colorful leaves.

Elisadalur is a very easy hike that you can do in any shoes, with kids, and even in jeans (a no-no for any other hike in Iceland!).

How to get there: Accessible via bus 12 or 24 from downtown Reykjavik.

Before going on the trail you can check out Árbær Open Air Museum. It has lots of old houses from across Iceland, showing how people lived and worked in ‘gamla dag’, the old days.

You don’t need to follow this specific trail. Instead, you can go on an explore detours that you find interesting. Just follow the river upstream.

Instead of doing the round trip, you can also finish your hike at the Árbær swimming pool. Like other Icelandic swimming pools it has lots of outdoor geothermal hot tubs. It also has a sauna and amazing views of the valley where you came from.

Viðey Island

• Length: 7 km of trails
• Elevation gain: Minimal
• Time: 2–3 hours (exploring entire island)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Viðey Island Ferry Dock.

Viðey Island offers scenic coastal paths, birdwatching opportunities, and fascinating historical sites. You can explore Yoko Ono’s Peace Tower, ancient ruins, and panoramic views of Reykjavik’s skyline.

I’ve been to this island just once in the shoulder season. It’s probably great in summer and winters. But it’s a great option on days when the weather isn’t too great. The island itself is quite small and if the weather gets particularly nasty, you can hide in the nice cafe in the old farm manor house.

How to get there: Regular ferry service from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour (about 7 minutes).

Lava Trails

You don’t have to take bus tours to see real volcanoes and lava in Iceland. You can just take a few short rides on a city bus and hike to them! These four lava fields are my favorites.

Rauðhólar

• Length: 3 km
• Elevation gain: 50 meters
• Time: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Rauðhólar parking lot (Route 1)

Rauðhólar is known for its striking red volcanic cones. It’s ideal for geology enthusiasts and photographers alike. The wide trail meanders through vibrant lava fields and is easy. It’s use for horse riding tours so there could be some “products” on the trail.

The whole area is quite compact and you can make it a circle. After that you can walk to Heidmork.

Heidmork

• Length: Various trails (2–20+ km)
• Elevation gain: Minimal to moderate
• Time: 1–4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Main parking areas at Elliðavatn lake

A recreational paradise, Heidmork has diverse trails winding through birch forests, volcanic formations, and serene lakes. It’s perfect for hiking and picnicking (there are many areas).

I’ve been to Heidmork at any time of the year. It’s always different, always beautiful. Trees can shield you from some of the winds. But even though it’s very close to Reykjavik, you should prepare like for a serious hike. You can venture quite far and should have extra layers and waterproof clothes if case the weather gets bad.

Hafnarfjordur Lava Fields

• Length: 5 km
• Elevation gain: 40 meters
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Víðistaðatún Park

Hafnarfjordur is a separate town near Reykjavik but it’s now more like a suburb. This trail shows of the nearest lava formations and rugged terrain, easily accessible from Hafnarfjordur’s town center. It’s a peaceful walk perfect for nature lovers.

There are many other trails from Hafnarfjordur, some of them are also used for biking and horse riding. Check out this map for hiking routes.

You can also walk to the trailhead for Helgafell.

Helgafell

• Length: 7 km (round trip)
• Elevation gain: 350 meters
• Time: 2–3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead location: Helgafell parking lot (near Hafnarfjordur)

If you take public transport, you’ll need to walk 5km to the parking lot where the Helgafell trail starts. So from Reykjavik it’s more of a full-day expedition. But it’s worth it!

Helgafell is a small mountain that offers panoramic vistas of Reykjavik, the ocean (on a clear day), and nearby lava fields. It’s an moderately difficult hike suitable for most hikers looking for impressive views. Even on days with bad weather the view from the summit is impressive — you’re looking at the foggy lava fields below and the place looks very remote. You forger that Reykjavik is just a few kilometers away.

Mountain Hiking Near Reykjavik

If you want more challenging hikes near, you need to take busses to the nearest mountains. You can see these two from Reykavik.

Úlfarsfell

• Length: 4 km
• Elevation gain: 300 meters
• Time: 1.5–2 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead location: Parking lot off Route 1 near Mosfellsbær

Úlfarsfell offers spectacular views over Reykjavik and the surrounding bays. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking moderate effort with rewarding scenery. There are several ways to the summit, the easier one is hard to miss. But the others might be a bit more tricky. You’ll see other hikers on most days and can just ask them.

After the hike you can walk to Dalslaug swimming pool and soak your tired body in a hot tub.

Esjan

• Length: 7 km (round trip)
• Elevation gain: 700 meters
• Time: 3–4 hours
• Trailhead location: Esjan parking lot (Route 1)

Esjan (“The Esja”) is the big mountain you see across the bay from Reykjavik harbour. This is not just the iconic backdrop but also hub for all local mountain activities. You’ll find clearly marked trails, rewarding views from the summit, and challenging climbs.

Esjan is both my gym and temple. I go there often, especially in summer. Usually, I go just to the Steinn, the big stone. After it, the trail turns into more of a scramble. But if the day is clear, I usually climb up.

In winter time, you need crampons and iceaxe on snowy days. You can see how much snow there — the trail is on the south face you see from Reykjavik.

Practical Information For Reykjavik-Based Hikers

Seasons

• Summer: Midnight sun provides long hiking days; trails are typically dry.
• Winter: Snowy conditions and shorter daylight hours. Excellent for adventurous hikers with proper gear.
• Spring & Autumn: Variable weather; trails may be wet, but the changing colors and quieter trails offer unique charm.

Essential Gear and Preparation

• Weatherproof clothing layers (including waterproof jackets and insulated layers)
• Sturdy hiking boots or trailrunning shoes
• Charged phone with GPS
• Snacks and hydration (there are no cafes near any of these trails)

Transportation to Trailheads

• Public transport: Regular buses to trailheads from this list
• Taxi: Can be faster but is very expensive!

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