Varðan

Garðskagi is the far northwestern tip of the Reykjanes peninsula, where two lighthouses, one old and one new, stand against wide skies and the open sea. The headland is flat and windswept, with a long view across Faxaflói bay toward Snæfellsjökull on clear days.

The two tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart at roughly two centimetres a year, and Iceland sits right where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above the sea. The visible fissures across Reykjanes are evidence of that movement. The bridge, completed in the early 2000s, was built as a symbolic link, and it honours the explorer Leifur Eiríksson.

You must book your entry in advance, particularly in high season, and it is easy to combine with a flight, since the lagoon lies only about 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport. Shower thoroughly before getting in, protect your hair with conditioner, and allow at least two to three hours for the visit.