Reykjavík is Europe's northernmost capital — a compact city of 130,000 built on a volcanic peninsula where the historic centre, the old harbour district and the WWII British and American military occupation left specific dereliction layers in the urban fabric. The British-built WWII bunkers on Öskjuhlíð hill (now below Perlan), the derelict warehouses of the Old Harbour (Grandi), the corrugated iron buildings of the Vesturbær district and the post-industrial dereliction of the harbour's working facilities create a Reykjavík urbex landscape far richer than the city's tourist-facing gentrification suggests. Discover the 5 best abandoned places in Reykjavík, selected from our Iceland Urbex Map — 50+ verified GPS locations.
Why Reykjavík Has a Hidden Derelict Heritage
Reykjavík's urbex heritage is invisible to the tourist walking Laugavegur — the WWII military occupation left crumbling bunkers on the hill overlooking the city, the Old Harbour's gentrification left specific industrial structures behind and the corrugated iron residential heritage of early 20th-century Reykjavík decays between the renovated buildings of the historic districts.
1. Öskjuhlíð WWII Bunkers – Öskjuhlíð Hill, Reykjavík — US Army WWII Occupation, Concrete Bunkers Below Perlan, Crumbling Reminders of 1940–45, City Centre Hill (Known Location)
For defense purposes, bunkers were also built at Öskjuhlíð by the British. Nowadays they are a crumbling reminder of times gone by. The entrance to a bunker on a hill overlooking the city of Reykjavik. 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 Perlan dome above and the crumbling WWII concrete below creates a uniquely Reykjavík dereliction experience.
🔗 Sources: Archaeology Travel – Historic Sites Iceland | Facts.net – Abandoned Iceland
2. Old Harbour Derelict Warehouses – Grandi District, Reykjavík — Post-Industrial Fishing Decline, 20th-Century Harbour Infrastructure, Between Active Restaurants and Museums (Known Location)
On the western edge of the harbour, the Grandi area, named after the fish factory there, is burgeoning with eateries and shops. Between Grandi's active gentrification, several derelict harbour warehouses and fishing infrastructure buildings from the mid-20th century remain in states of industrial dereliction: the corrugated iron and concrete harbour buildings that served the working fishing port before Reykjavík's Old Harbour reinvented itself as a tourist destination from the 2000s. The derelict harbour buildings between the active restaurant strip create a specifically Reykjavík post-industrial urbex contrast. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Iceland →
3. Derelict Corrugated Iron Building – Vesturbær or Hlíðar, Reykjavík — Early 20th-Century Reykjavík Domestic Heritage, Bárujárn Iron Vernacular, Between Active Properties
Reykjavík's residential heritage before the concrete era of the 1950s is almost entirely corrugated iron (bárujárn) — the distinctive colourful iron-clad domestic architecture imported from Scandinavia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Several early 20th-century corrugated iron houses in Vesturbær (the West Quarter), Hlíðar and the older residential streets between the city centre and Öskjuhlíð stand in states of heritage neglect between restored neighbours: the iron rusted to deep orange, the wooden window frames rotted and the original floor plan visible through the broken windows. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
4. Hvalfjörður WWII Infrastructure – Whale Fjord, 1 Hour from Reykjavík — British and US WWII Military Base, Over 20,000 Allied Soldiers, Derelict Wartime Buildings, Submarine Station (Hidden on Our Map)
During WWII Hvalfjörður contained a submarine and warship station and over 20,000 American and British soldiers passed through. The Hvalfjörður fjord — one hour's drive north of Reykjavík — served as a critical Allied naval base in WWII, housing submarine operations and warship maintenance. Derelict WWII military infrastructure along the fjord road (Route 47) creates a specific Allied wartime dereliction experience in one of Iceland's most spectacular fjord landscapes. Find it on our Iceland Urbex Map.
5. Derelict Industrial or Commercial Building – Greater Reykjavík — Post-War Industrial Estate, 1960s–80s Construction, Post-Crisis Closure, Reykjavík Suburbs (On Our Map Only)
The industrial estates and commercial zones of greater Reykjavík — Hafnarfjörður, Kópavogur and the eastern Reykjavík industrial zone — accumulated post-war industrial and commercial buildings in the 1960s–80s that have been progressively decommissioned as Iceland's economy moved away from fish processing toward technology and tourism. Several derelict industrial and commercial buildings in the Reykjavík metropolitan area stand in states of post-crisis or post-industrial dereliction. GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
❓ FAQ
Are there abandoned places in Reykjavík?
Yes — the WWII bunkers on Öskjuhlíð hill below Perlan are freely accessible in the city park. Derelict corrugated iron houses from the early 20th century stand between restored neighbours in Vesturbær. The Grandi Old Harbour area has derelict fishing infrastructure between active restaurants. Hvalfjörður WWII military dereliction is one hour north. Our Iceland Urbex Map covers all verified Reykjavík-area sites.
What are the Öskjuhlíð bunkers?
Concrete bunkers, pillboxes and barracks emplacements built by the British and US occupation forces on Öskjuhlíð hill during WWII (1940–45). Now crumbling on the wooded hillside below Perlan — freely accessible as part of the city park and hiking trail network. The best-preserved bunkers are on the lower slopes facing the harbour.
How do I get to Hvalfjörður from Reykjavík?
Take Route 1 north from Reykjavík and follow Route 47 around the fjord — approximately 45 minutes to the fjord entrance. The WWII military infrastructure is along the fjord road. A car is required; no public transport serves Hvalfjörður. The fjord drive takes 1–2 hours depending on how many stops you make.
Safety Tips
- Öskjuhlíð bunker interiors: bring a torch — the bunker interiors are dark and the concrete floors are uneven; never enter alone
- Corrugated iron structural risk: rust-corroded iron cladding can be sharp and structurally unpredictable — never push against iron panels or enter buildings with visibly buckled walls
- Old Harbour access: some derelict harbour buildings may have active contractor presence during gentrification phases — check current site conditions before approaching
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location
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