Iceland is unlike any other urbex destination in the world — a sub-Arctic volcanic island where the abandonment mechanisms are uniquely Icelandic: the medieval fishing camp eaten by the Reykjanes lava field, the turf farmhouse swallowed by moss after the 1950s rural exodus, the cathedral-scale herring factory rusting in a remote Westfjords fjord and the beached steel ship returning to rust on a black sand beach. The Garðar BA 64 at Patreksfjörður (Iceland's oldest steel ship, beached 1981), the Selatangar medieval fishing ruins on the Reykjanes Peninsula and the abandoned NATO base at Keflavík create an urbex landscape only possible this far north. Discover where to do urbex in Iceland with our Iceland Urbex Map — 50+ verified GPS locations.
Why Iceland Is Europe's Most Extraordinary Urbex Destination
Iceland's dereliction is produced by forces available nowhere else: volcanic eruption burying entire neighbourhoods, herring stock collapse emptying factory towns overnight, the rural exodus from turf farms in the 1940s–60s and the NATO departure of 2006. The sub-Arctic light, the moss and the volcanic landscape make every ruin visually extraordinary.
1. Garðar BA 64 – Patreksfjörður, Westfjords — Oldest Steel Ship in Iceland, Built 1912 in Scotland, Beached 1981, Rusting Hulk on Black Sand, Westfjords Fjord Setting (Known Location)
The Garðar BA 64 was built in Scotland in 1912 and is Iceland's oldest steel ship. After decades of service as a fishing vessel and later a whale catcher, it was beached at Patreksfjörður in 1981 and left to rust. The ship, now resting on a black sand beach on the shore of the Westfjords fjord, is freely accessible at low tide — a rusting iron hull slowly returning to the volcanic landscape, one of Iceland's most striking and accessible urbex subjects.
🔗 Sources: Atlas Obscura – Garðar BA 64 | Facts.net – Abandoned Iceland
2. Selatangar – Reykjanes Peninsula — Medieval Fishing Camp, 18th–19th Century Stone Ruins, Reykjanes Lava Field, Atlantic Coast, Freely Accessible Year-Round (Known Location)
Selatangar is an eerie collection of ruins of an old fishing village on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It was abandoned in the late 19th century when fishing technology made the remote station unnecessary. The ruins of the stone shelters, tool storage rooms and sleeping quarters are spread across an unforgiving stretch of Reykjanes lava field directly on the Atlantic coast — one of the most atmospheric derelict sites in Iceland, freely accessible year-round on the Ring Road peninsula south of Reykjavík.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Iceland →
3. Abandoned Turf Farmhouse – Icelandic Highlands or Ring Road — Traditional Icelandic Construction, Rural Exodus 1940s–60s, Moss-Covered, Sub-Arctic Setting
Iceland's traditional turf farmhouses — built from volcanic stone, driftwood and living turf — were abandoned progressively from the 1940s to the 1960s as the rural population moved to Reykjavík and the fishing towns. Hundreds of these turf ruins are scattered across Iceland's Ring Road corridor and highlands: the volcanic stone walls returned to the moss, the turf roof collapsed and the sub-Arctic vegetation recovering the structure at a pace unique to the Icelandic climate. The visual quality of moss-covered turf farm ruins in the Icelandic landscape — with glacier or lava field backdrop — is available nowhere else in Europe. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
4. Keflavík NATO Base – Keflavík — US Military Operational 1951–2006, Cold War Infrastructure, Abandoned Barracks and Hangars, Airport Adjacent (Hidden on Our Map)
The Keflavík Naval Air Station was a former US military base operational from 1951 to 2006. At its peak during the Cold War it housed thousands of US military personnel and their families, with full base infrastructure including housing, schools, a hospital and recreational facilities. When the US withdrew in 2006, much of the base infrastructure was left in a state of transition — barracks, hangars and Cold War-era facilities in various states of dereliction adjacent to the current international airport. Find it on our Iceland Urbex Map.
5. Hvalfjörður Whaling Station – Hvalfjörður Fjord — Historical Whaling Infrastructure, WWI-Era, Derelict Processing Buildings, Whale Fjord Setting (On Our Map Only)
The whaling station in Hvalfjörður was erected where the US military had constructed a military base during WWII. The fjord — whose name means Whale Fjord — was one of Iceland's primary whaling operation centres. The derelict whaling infrastructure remains in the fjord setting approximately one hour's drive from Reykjavík: processing buildings, rendering facilities and the extraordinary Hvalfjörður landscape backdrop of 30km-long fjord flanked by mountains. GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
Safety Tips
- Icelandic weather changes instantly: always check forecast before departing — a clear morning can become a whiteout within hours; carry emergency kit in all seasons
- Garðar BA 64 tides: the beached ship is accessible at low tide — the Westfjords tidal range is significant; always check local tide tables before walking onto the beach
- Reykjanes lava fields: Selatangar's lava field surface is extremely uneven — wear ankle-support footwear and never rush across lava terrain
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location; in remote Iceland a phone injury with no GPS can be fatal
❓ FAQ
What is the best place to do urbex in Iceland?
The Garðar BA 64 at Patreksfjörður — Iceland's oldest steel ship, beached in 1981 on a black sand Westfjords beach, freely accessible at low tide. On the Ring Road, Selatangar medieval fishing camp ruins on the Reykjanes lava field are the most accessible major site from Reykjavík. Both are in our Iceland Urbex Map.
Do I need a 4WD for Iceland urbex?
For Ring Road sites (Selatangar, Keflavík, some turf farms) a standard car is sufficient. For Westfjords sites (Garðar BA 64, Djúpavík) the roads are paved but narrow and remote — a 4WD is strongly recommended outside summer. Our Iceland Urbex Map includes vehicle requirement notes for each location.
When is the best time to do urbex in Iceland?
Summer (June–August) for access — virtually all roads open and the midnight sun gives 24 hours of photography light. Winter (December–February) for atmosphere — snow-covered turf farm ruins and the northern lights as backdrop, but many Highland and Westfjords roads are closed. Check road.is before setting out in any season.
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