Iceland's strategic position between North America and Europe made it one of the most militarised small nations on earth during WWII and the Cold War — despite having no army of its own. The British occupation of May 1940, replaced by US forces in 1941, left WWII bunkers and barracks across the island. The Naval Air Station Keflavík (NATO) — operational from 1951 to September 30th 2006 — housed thousands of US personnel for 55 years and left the largest concentration of Cold War military dereliction in Europe per capita. Cold War SOSUS underwater listening posts near Höfn and Hellissandur and WWII radar installations on mountaintops extend the military dereliction across the entire island. Discover the 5 best abandoned military places in Iceland, selected from our Iceland Urbex Map — 50+ verified GPS locations.
Why Iceland Has the Most Layered Cold War Military Dereliction in Europe
No country of Iceland's size concentrated more Cold War military investment — the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK) gap made Iceland the critical NATO choke point for Soviet submarine surveillance. The 2006 US withdrawal left an entire base town in transition, with Cold War infrastructure from Keflavík to the mountain radar stations scattered across the island.
1. Keflavík NATO Base (Ásbrú) – Keflavík — US Military 1941–2006, Naval Air Station, Last Soldiers Left September 30th 2006, Derelict Cold War Barracks and Hangars (Known Location)
The first U.S. Military involvement in Iceland dates back to 1941. The USA government decided to abandon the base in steps in 2006, and by autumn the evacuation was realized. On September 30th 2006, the last remaining soldiers left the base, and it along with all its property was handed over to the Icelandic government. This marked the end of the presence of armed forces in Iceland, but the agreement between USA and Iceland from 1951 is going to be honoured without this presence. The former Naval Air Station Keflavik — now called Ásbrú — retains Cold War barracks, hangars and infrastructure in various states of dereliction.
🔗 Sources: NAT.is – NATO Base Keflavík History | Wikipedia – Ásbrú (Keflavík NATO base)
2. Öskjuhlíð WWII Bunkers – Reykjavík — British and US WWII Occupation 1940–45, Concrete Bunkers and Pillboxes on City Hill, Below Perlan, Freely Accessible (Known Location)
For defence purposes, bunkers were also built at Öskjuhlíð by the British for defence. Remains of the bunkers, pillboxes, barrack emplacements, and fuel depots can be found on the hill near the shining glass dome of Perlan. Between the ruins are also hiking trails to explore. The contrast between the gleaming modern Perlan dome and the crumbling WWII concrete immediately below on Öskjuhlíð hill creates one of the most visually striking military dereliction experiences in any European capital city — and freely accessible as part of the city's hiking trail network.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Iceland →
3. Hvalfjörður WWII Military Base – Whale Fjord, Near Reykjavík — British and US Submarine Station 1940–45, Over 20,000 Allied Soldiers, Derelict Wartime Infrastructure, 1 Hour from Reykjavík
During WWII Hvalfjörður contained a submarine and warship station and over 20,000 American and British soldiers passed through. The Hvalfjörður fjord — Route 47, one hour north of Reykjavík — served as the primary Allied naval base in Iceland throughout WWII: submarine operations, warship maintenance and the logistical hub for Allied convoys to the Soviet Union. Derelict WWII military infrastructure along the fjord road creates a unique wartime dereliction experience in one of Iceland's most spectacular 30km-long mountain fjord landscapes. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
4. Cold War Mountain Radar Station – Iceland Highlands — SOSUS or Air Defence Radar, 1950s–80s, Remote Mountaintop, Cold War GIUK Gap Surveillance Infrastructure (On Our Map Only)
There are also few radar stations from the Cold War era, on mountain tops — might be a little tricky to get to. Iceland's strategic position in the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK) gap — the critical NATO choke point for Soviet submarine surveillance during the Cold War — required a network of radar and SOSUS (Sound Surveillance System) listening stations distributed across Iceland's mountain tops and coastline. Several of these Cold War radar stations stand in states of significant dereliction: concrete blockhouses on remote Icelandic summits with extraordinary 360° views and the specific weight of Cold War GIUK gap history. GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
5. WWII Coastal Defence Post – Iceland Ring Road Coast — British or US 1940–45 Coastal Artillery or Observation Post, Concrete Emplacement, Atlantic Setting (Carte Urbex Exclusive)
The WWII Allied occupation of Iceland (1940–45) built coastal defence emplacements at strategic points around the island's 4,970km coastline — artillery positions, observation posts and communication facilities to defend against possible German naval and air attack. Several of these WWII coastal emplacements along the Ring Road coast stand in states of complete dereliction: the concrete observation slits still facing the Atlantic, the interior accessible and the specific WWII Icelandic setting of black sand, volcanic rock and sub-Arctic ocean making these among the most atmospherically distinctive military ruins in Europe. Mapped exclusively in our Iceland Urbex Map.
❓ FAQ
What is the most famous abandoned military place in Iceland?
The Naval Air Station Keflavik (Ásbrú) — the US NATO base operational from 1951 to September 30th 2006, when the last remaining soldiers left. At its Cold War peak it housed thousands of US personnel with full base infrastructure. The derelict sections of the former base adjacent to Keflavík International Airport are the largest single concentration of Cold War military dereliction in Iceland. For atmosphere, the Öskjuhlíð WWII bunkers in Reykjavík city centre are freely accessible below Perlan.
When did Iceland have a military presence?
Iceland has never had its own military. British forces occupied Iceland from May 10th 1940 to replace the perceived German threat; US forces replaced them in July 1941 and remained until September 30th 2006 under various NATO agreements. The entire 1940–2006 period left military infrastructure across the island.
How do I access the Cold War mountain radar stations?
The mountain radar stations require hiking or 4WD F-road access — they are on summit locations chosen for maximum radar horizon. Some are accessible via marked hiking trails; others require off-trail navigation. Our Iceland Urbex Map includes vehicle requirements and access difficulty ratings for each Cold War site.
Safety Tips
- Keflavík base access: some Ásbrú zones are being actively redeveloped — verify current access; military-era infrastructure may have hazardous materials including asbestos and fuel contamination
- Mountain radar stations: summit access requires full hiking equipment — always check vedur.is before ascending; Icelandic summits can experience life-threatening conditions in any season
- WWII bunker interiors: always carry a torch; concrete floors are uneven and bunker ceilings may have spalling concrete — wear a hard hat in enclosed spaces
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person; in remote Cold War sites far from the Ring Road, solo exploration without GPS is dangerous
Iceland Urbex Map
- ✓ 50+ verified GPS locations across Iceland
- ✓ Keflavík NATO, Öskjuhlíð bunkers, Hvalfjörður, radar stations
- ✓ Instant download after purchase
- ✓ Free updates forever
9,99€
Explore All 50+ Locations →
