Akranesviti — Attraction in Akraneskaupstaður

If you are like me always on the hunt for a a scenic and cultural destinations, you should not miss the two lighthouses at Akranes. Located in the west coast of the country and only about an hour drive from Reykjavík, Akranes is a charming little town. The two lighthouses are the most iconic landmarks of the town, and they offer a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding mountains.

The older lighthouse was built in 1918 and is 10.7 meters high. The newer one was built in 1943-1944 and is 19.3 meters high. It was first used in 1947 and is still operational today.

The two lighthouses (there is actually a third one close by) are a very popular tourist attraction, especially for photographers and nature lovers. They are very picturesque and create a striking contrast with the sky and the sea. No matter the season or the weather, they are always beautiful to behold. You can capture amazing photos of the lighthouses at different times of the day, from sunrise to sunset, and even at night when they are illuminated.

The larger lighthouse is open to the public and also used for art shows and music performances. You can climb up the spiral staircase and enjoy the panoramic view from the top. The lighthouse hosts various events throughout the year, such as exhibitions, concerts, festivals, and workshops.

I highly recommend this place for just about everyone. It's going to be a truly memorable part...

This in one of a few lighthouses you can go into in Iceland. You can view the lighthouses from the ground for free, or pay a small fee to go inside the large one. I highly recommend paying the small fee so you can look inside and even go to the top. The fee supports the lighthouse upkeep and you will meet Hilmar, who was the one that opened it to the public. He can tell you anything you want to know about it and greets you with a warm welcome. The lighthouse has amazing acoustics and many musicians have played inside just for that attribute. Although the top entrance is a little sketchy, don’t let that sway you from going up to get a 360 degree view of the area. We did it on a very windy day and it was still amazing. The other, smaller lighthouse you can get to by walking on the rocks, but you cannot enter that one. The overall experience was well worth the detour. Keep in mind the hours to get inside, as it is not open on the weekends.

It was great chatting with Hilmar and hope that Sigur Ros plays inside your...

It surely looks like a cool place and I would have really liked to be able to visit it. I tried on two separate dates, first I arrived after the closing times because the ones listed online were wrong (I also corrected those on Google Maps). The second time I tried, they just paved the road to the lighthouse parking lot, and even though I still attempted to go and was during visiting hours, I left my car far away and walked but the lighthouse and office were locked. I guess they were thinking no one would go to the trouble to visit on that day during the paving works. Maybe you have better luck, I think it's...