Seltjarnarnes, municipality in Capital Region, Iceland
Seltjarnarnes is a small town on a narrow peninsula west of Reykjavik, surrounded by water and home to around 4,600 people. The municipality spans just a few square kilometers and features black beaches where waves gently meet the shore, along with the well-known tidal island of Grótta in the north and its historic lighthouse.
The area has a long history as a fishing village and was officially established as a town in 1947. The lighthouse on Grótta was built in 1947 and has guided ships since then, while the town grew with modern buildings and facilities after World War II.
Seltjarnarnes is a place where residents maintain strong ties to the sea and spend their time enjoying coastal life. The community keeps Icelandic traditions alive through local festivals and sports events that bring people together and show how important these activities are to daily life.
Visitors can easily reach Seltjarnarnes by bus number 11 from the Mjódd stop or by car on well-maintained roads. When visiting the coast and Grótta, it is important to stay on marked paths, keep distance from nesting birds, and check tide times before heading to the lighthouse area, since the path disappears at high tide.
Seltjarnarnes was the first town in the world to have full fiber optic coverage, showing how a small place can lead in innovation. Visitors can soak their feet in the Kvika footbath, filled with geothermally heated seawater, while watching the sky, especially when the Northern Lights dance above the water.
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