Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge — the most volcanically active spot in Europe, where eruptions occur on average every 4–5 years and where the 1973 Eldfell eruption buried 400 buildings in the fishing town of Vestmannaeyjar, the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption disrupted European aviation and the ongoing Reykjanes Peninsula eruption cycle since 2021 has transformed the landscape around Grindavík. No other European country combines urbex dereliction with active volcanic landscape so directly — abandoned farms covered in tephra ash, medieval fishing camps on active lava fields and derelict infrastructure in the shadow of steaming calderas. Discover the 5 best abandoned places near Icelandic volcanoes, selected from our Iceland Urbex Map — 50+ verified GPS locations.
Why Iceland's Volcanic Landscape Creates Unique Urbex Experiences
Nowhere else in Europe can you explore an abandoned farm on a lava field that was farmland two centuries ago, photograph medieval fishing ruins on still-active volcanic terrain or stand in the shadow of a steaming caldera next to a derelict building. Iceland's volcanic activity isn't historical backdrop — it's the active abandonment mechanism.
1. Selatangar – Reykjanes Peninsula — Medieval Fishing Camp on Active Lava Field, 18th–19th Century Stone Ruins, Atlantic Coast, Reykjanes Volcanic Zone, Freely Accessible (Known Location)
Selatangar is an eerie collection of ruins of an old fishing village on the Reykjanes Peninsula — an area of Iceland that sits directly on the active volcanic zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The fishing camp was abandoned in the late 19th century and its stone ruins spread across an unforgiving stretch of Reykjanes lava field directly on the Atlantic coast. The Reykjanes Peninsula has been experiencing renewed volcanic activity since 2021, with multiple eruptions on the active fissure systems near Grindavík — making Selatangar's medieval ruins on an active lava field one of the most geologically resonant derelict sites in Europe.
🔗 Sources: Atlas Obscura – Selatangar | Facts.net – Abandoned Iceland
2. Abandoned Farm Near Hekla – South Iceland — Hekla Volcanic Zone, Tephra Ash-Covered, Iceland's Most Active Stratovolcano, Agricultural Dereliction, Ring Road South (Known Location)
Hekla — Iceland's most active stratovolcano, erupting on average every 10 years and historically called "the Gateway to Hell" by medieval European scholars — has buried and abandoned numerous farms in its immediate vicinity across centuries of eruptions. Several abandoned farms in the Hekla volcanic zone on Iceland's South Coast stand in states of volcanic dereliction: the corrugated iron or concrete structures dusted with tephra ash from successive eruptions, the lava field visible from the farmhouse windows and Hekla's symmetrical cone rising above the farm ruin. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Iceland →
3. Abandoned Grindavík Infrastructure – Reykjanes Peninsula — Post-2021 Eruption Evacuation Zone, Derelict Buildings in Active Volcanic Exclusion Zone, Recent Abandonment
The ongoing Reykjanes Peninsula eruption cycle that began in 2021 and culminated in multiple evacuations of the town of Grindavík from November 2023 has created the most recent volcanic abandonment zone in European history: derelict infrastructure in an active volcanic exclusion zone, buildings evacuated in hours with personal belongings still inside and lava flows crossing roads within metres of standing structures. This is volcanic abandonment happening in real time — the most viscerally contemporary dereliction in Iceland. Always check current exclusion zone status at almannavarnir.is before approaching. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
4. Abandoned Farm Near Katla – Mýrdalsjökull, South Iceland — Europe's Most Dangerous Subglacial Volcano, Jökulhlaup Zone, Farm Dereliction Under Glacier Shadow (Hidden on Our Map)
Katla — Iceland's most dangerous subglacial volcano, located beneath Mýrdalsjökull glacier and overdue for a major eruption — has created a specific dereliction zone in its jökulhlaup (glacial flood) path south toward the Ring Road: farms abandoned not because of eruption but because of the constant threat of the catastrophic glacial floods that Katla's eruptions would trigger. Several farms in the Mýrdalssandur outwash plain in the shadow of Mýrdalsjökull stand in states of dereliction — the most geologically threatening abandoned farmsteads in Europe. Find it on our Iceland Urbex Map.
5. Abandoned Krafla Area Infrastructure – Krafla Volcanic System, North Iceland — 1975–1984 Krafla Fires Eruption Cycle, Geothermal Zone, Derelict Infrastructure, Lake Mývatn (On Our Map Only)
The Krafla volcanic system in North Iceland — site of the Krafla Fires eruption cycle of 1975–1984, nine fissure eruptions over nine years — left derelict infrastructure in the geothermal zone around Lake Mývatn: processing facilities, access roads and support infrastructure built for geothermal energy projects that were disrupted by the eruption cycle. The extraordinary Krafla landscape — steaming fumaroles, obsidian lava fields and Lake Mývatn — frames abandoned infrastructure of unique geological drama. GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
❓ FAQ
What is the most famous abandoned place near an Icelandic volcano?
Selatangar medieval fishing camp ruins on the Reykjanes Peninsula — directly on the active volcanic zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, freely accessible, with stone ruins spread across an Atlantic lava field. For contemporary volcanic abandonment, the Grindavík exclusion zone on the Reykjanes Peninsula is the most viscerally current — evacuation began in November 2023 with buildings left as their owners fled.
Is it safe to visit sites near Icelandic volcanoes?
The Reykjanes Peninsula eruption zone (Grindavík area) has been under intermittent access restrictions since 2021 — always check current exclusion zone status at almannavarnir.is before approaching. The Selatangar ruins are safely accessible but the Reykjanes Peninsula volcanic activity status should be checked at vedur.is before any visit to the southern peninsula.
What happened to Grindavík in 2023?
The town of Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula was evacuated in November 2023 following seismic activity indicating an imminent volcanic eruption. Multiple lava flows subsequently crossed roads and destroyed buildings in the town perimeter through 2024. The evacuation created the most contemporary volcanic abandonment zone in European history — buildings left in hours with personal belongings still inside.
Safety Tips
- Grindavík exclusion zone: ALWAYS check almannavarnir.is for current access restrictions — entering an active volcanic exclusion zone without authorisation is illegal and potentially fatal
- Reykjanes volcanic gases: active fissure zones emit toxic SO₂ and H₂S gases — carry a gas monitor or download the Veðurstofa app for real-time gas level alerts in the area
- Lava field surfaces: fresh and old lava surfaces are extremely sharp and uneven — wear ankle-support boots and never run across lava terrain
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person; in volcanic zones a sudden eruption or gas emission requires immediate group evacuation
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