Þríhnúkagígur (Inside the Volcano)
Þríhnúkagígur
One of the few places in the world where you can ride a lift platform down into a dormant volcano’s magma chamber, descending about 120 meters to explore its colorful interior.
Þríhnúkagígur (Inside the Volcano) lies about 30 kilometers southeast of Reykjavík in the Bláfjöll mountains. It is a volcano that erupted about 4,000 years ago and has been dormant since. Its magma conduit was not sealed by solidified lava, leaving a huge hollow magma chamber. Visitors first hike about 3 kilometers across the lava field to the crater, then descend about 120 meters into the magma chamber on an open lift platform. The chamber walls show red, yellow, black and other colors. The experience runs only in summer, must be booked in advance, is quite expensive, and includes transfers from the city. Visitors need a reasonable level of fitness and should wear waterproof hiking boots.
Opening hours
Approx. mid-May to October (by reservation)
Nearby sights
- Árbær Open Air Museum
- Mount Esja
- Viðey Island
- Höfði House
- Perlan
- Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
- Sun Voyager
- Hallgrímskirkja