Hveragerði

South Coast

Hot water comes up through the ground in Hveragerði — in the geothermal park at the edge of town, in some backyards, and beneath greenhouses that make the town a year-round producer of tomatoes, cucumbers, and flowers. The Agricultural University of Iceland is based here. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake in May 2008 reshaped the geothermal features, opening new vents; a small exhibition at the Sunnumörk shopping center documents the event. The main draw is the Reykjadalur hike, starting from a signed trailhead on the north side of town. The path climbs through steam vents and bubbling springs into a gentle valley, reaching a naturally heated river in about 40 minutes. Water temperature in the bathing area sits around 36–40°C year-round, and there is no fee to hike or bathe. Bring a dry bag and a change of clothes — there are no facilities at the river. The valley is best from May through early October. Hveragerði is about 45 km east of Reykjavík, 30–45 minutes on the Ring Road. It works as a lunch stop on a South Coast day-trip or a base for the Golden Circle. The town has cafés, a geothermal pool, and accommodation.

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