Hveragerdi Travel Guide

City Icelandic town known for geothermal greenhouses

Renowned for geothermal activity, Hveragerði leads to the Reykjadalur hot‑river hike, greenhouse‑grown tomatoes, public hot pools and a compact town of bakeries and craft shops.

Costs

Typical daily budget: $90-160

Guesthouses and simple hotels; dining costs are moderate to high.

Safety

Very safe for tourists

Safe and relaxed; standard outdoor-hike precautions apply.

Best Time

Best time: Jun-Aug (summer months)

Summer and early autumn offer long daylight and best hiking conditions.

In This Guide

Why Visit Hveragerdi?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

2,288

Infrastructure & Convenience

Good roads and services, English widely spoken, tourist information available.

Popularity

Popular with Icelandic and European visitors for geothermal attractions and hiking.

Known For

Geothermal hot springs, Reykjadalur hot river hike, greenhouse agriculture, thermal parks, hiking trails, flower cultivation, geothermal pools, photogenic landscapes

Hveragerði sits on an active geothermal area and is famous for hot springs, greenhouse farming and the Reykjadalur hot river hike.

Why Visit Hveragerdi? #

Built on a geothermal fault line, Hveragerdi is famous for hot springs, greenhouse-grown produce and accessible geothermal hikes such as the Reykjadalur hot river trail. Foodies come to try greenhouse tomatoes and the local geothermal rye bread (hverabrauð), and outdoor enthusiasts appreciate easy access to hiking, cycling and nearby parts of the Golden Circle. The town’s relaxed spa culture and steaming landscapes make it a singular stop on Iceland’s south coast.

Top Things to Do in Hveragerdi

All Attractions ›

Þingvellir

Rift valley national park and historic Icelandic parliament site

Historical Site

Þingvallavatn

Iceland's largest natural lake within Þingvellir National Park

Lake

Glymur

One of Iceland's tallest waterfalls in scenic canyon

Waterfall

Hengill

Volcanic massif and geothermal area near Reykjavik

Mountain

Öxarárfoss

Waterfall in Þingvellir National Park cascading over lava

Waterfall

Kerið

Volcanic crater lake in Iceland with vivid colors

Crater

Hvalvatn

Scenic Icelandic lake near Glymur waterfall

Lake

Lögberg

Historic assembly site in Þingvellir national park

Mountain

Don't Miss

Reykjadalur Hot Spring Hike - Hike a geothermal valley and bathe in a naturally hot river amid steam vents.
Hveragerði Geothermal Park - See bubbling mud pots, steam vents, and geothermal features within town limits.
Local greenhouse farms - Visit geothermal-heated greenhouses growing tomatoes and tropical plants year-round nearby.

Hidden Gems

Hveragerði Art Museum (Listasafn) - Browse rotating local exhibitions showcasing Icelandic painting, photography, and crafts.
Eggin í Gleðivík stone artwork - View the coastal stone sculpture installation paying tribute to Icelandic islands and birdlife.
Small-scale geothermal bread ovens - Taste rye bread baked underground using geothermal steam at local bakeries or farms.

Day Trips

Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss) - Drive the classic route to rift valley, erupting geysers, and a powerful waterfall.
South Coast (Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss) - Visit iconic waterfalls and black-sand beaches on a scenic south-coast outing.

Best Time to Visit Hveragerdi #

Hveragerdi is most enjoyable in summer for long daylight and easy hiking; winter transforms the area into a stark but beautiful cold landscape. Shoulder months can be changeable but quieter.

Winter

November - March · -2-6°C (28-43°F)

Short daylight and cold, often windy conditions - inland drives and winter landscapes are dramatic but many attractions are crisp and bracing.

Summer

June - August · 8-15°C (46-59°F)

Milder temperatures, long daylight hours, and blooming countryside - the best time for hiking, hot springs, and exploring the Golden Circle area.

Spring & Autumn

April - May, September - October · 2-10°C (36-50°F)

Unpredictable weather with thawing or early frosts; quieter tourism and good deals, but expect rapidly changing conditions on any day.

Best Time to Visit Hveragerdi #

Climate

Hveragerdi's climate is classified as Subpolar Oceanic - Subpolar Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 14°C. Abundant rainfall (1303 mm/year), wettest in March, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit

JulyJuneAugust

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

23°

Warmest Month

-17°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (117 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

29 Poor

Comfort

-1°

Feels Like Freezing

-1°C

Temperature

-3° – 2°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

117 mm

Rainfall

8.0 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

5.0h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (128 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

26 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Freezing

0°C

Temperature

-3° – 2°

91%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

128 mm

Rainfall

8.1 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

8.2h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (131 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

34 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Cold

0°C

Temperature

-2° – 3°

89%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

131 mm

Rainfall

7.9 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.2

UV Index

Low

11.5h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

38 Poor

Comfort

3°

Feels Like Cold

3°C

Temperature

0° – 6°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

90 mm

Rainfall

7.1 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

14.9h daylight

May

May is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

48 Poor

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

3° – 10°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

85 mm

Rainfall

6.4 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

18.2h daylight

June

June is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

50 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

6° – 12°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

82 mm

Rainfall

5.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

20.4h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

52 Acceptable

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

8° – 14°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

86 mm

Rainfall

5.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

19.3h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 13°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (114 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

50 Acceptable

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

8° – 13°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

114 mm

Rainfall

5.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

16.1h daylight

September

September is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

46 Poor

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

5° – 10°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

107 mm

Rainfall

6.6 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.3

UV Index

Low

12.8h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (122 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

38 Poor

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

2° – 7°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

122 mm

Rainfall

6.9 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.1

UV Index

Low

9.5h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -1°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

38 Poor

Comfort

1°

Feels Like Cold

1°C

Temperature

-1° – 3°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

116 mm

Rainfall

7.2 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

6.0h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (125 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

28 Poor

Comfort

-1°

Feels Like Freezing

-1°C

Temperature

-3° – 2°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

125 mm

Rainfall

7.8 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

3.6h daylight

How to Get to Hveragerdi

Hveragerði on Iceland's south coast is best reached by road from Keflavík (KEF) via Reykjavík or by direct regional coach services. There's no train service; buses and rental cars are the practical options.

By Air

Keflavík International Airport (KEF): KEF is Iceland’s main international airport, about 45-60 minutes from Reykjavík. From KEF to Hveragerði you can take an airport shuttle (Flybus/Reykjavík Excursions) to Reykjavík for ISK ~3,000-3,700 (≈€20-25), then change for a local Strætó bus to Hveragerði; total door-to-door is roughly 1.5-2 hours depending on connections.

Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV): RKV serves domestic flights from the capital area; if arriving on a domestic flight you can transfer via city buses or taxi to Hveragerði in about 40-60 minutes.

By Train & Bus

Train: Iceland has no passenger rail network.

Bus: Regional buses (Strætó) connect Reykjavík with Hveragerði (routes and times vary seasonally). A one-way Strætó fare from Reykjavík to Hveragerði is typically ISK 1,000-1,500 and the journey takes about 45-60 minutes. Intercity coach companies also operate direct services from Keflavík/Reykjavík to towns along the south coast; check timetables seasonally.

How to Get Around Hveragerdi #

Hveragerði is a compact town that’s very walkable; most cafés, shops and geothermal sites are within easy walking distance. Regular Strætó (regional bus) services connect Hveragerði with Reykjavík and Selfoss, and car hire is common for exploring nearby trails like Reykjadalur. Intercity bus fares are moderate (typically a small handful of US dollars or equivalent), and services vary by season, so check schedules in advance. Practical tip: bring layered clothing for variable weather and consider a car if you want flexibility for surrounding natural sites.

Where to Stay in Hveragerdi #

Budget

Hveragerði town - ISK 8,000-25,000/night

Hveragerði has a mix of guesthouses and small hotels. Budget travelers can find guesthouses and basic hotels, especially outside peak summer months.

Frost and Fire Hotel - Riverside guest rooms, local hot springs.
Icelandair Hotel Hamar - Simple, comfortable rooms outside town.

Mid-Range

Hveragerði center - ISK 18,000-45,000/night

Mid-range options are the best fit here: small hotels, spa stays, and guesthouses providing easy access to Reykjadalur hot river hiking and local thermal pools.

Frost and Fire Hotel - Comfortable rooms, spa and riverside dining.
Icelandair Hotel Hamar - Reliable mid-range chain hotel.

Luxury

Hveragerði spa area - ISK 45,000-120,000/night

Luxury options are limited to a few high-comfort properties and boutique spa hotels; most are small-scale rather than large resorts, focused on hot-spring wellness.