Rutshellir Caves — Attraction in undefined

A great example of a long-house-like turf home that guides you through to a man-made cave, that is certainly worth pulling off the road for 20 minutes to come and have a butchers at!

We didn’t realise, but you have to pay for car parking. Of which, has plenty of space for parking and is not on the main tourist route, so there are not lots of coaches rolling in. But if you are touring the island unguided, then this historic spot is definitely worth a visit.

This landmark is right on the edge of the road (Route 1) and is easy to spot when passing. From the car park, it is about a 3 minute walk. There is an information board which provides an interesting insight into the cave home. The pedestrian style, or actually, a 5-step A-frame ladder, from the car park into the field is a decorative wood carving, and is wide and easy to navigate. The field and surrounding area of the rock is private land, but there is a designated slab path that leads to the entrance. The surrounding landscape is very lush and scenic. The cave itself is well preserved with some great features inside, and is surprisingly spacious. Beautiful how life decorates the cave walls with lichen, algae, and ferns.

Even through you do enter into a cave, we would not exactly call it ‘caving’. Granted, some people will have to duck down in parts, but it is a fairly safe place to visit. However, the ground is a little uneven in places with stones under foot.

An imposing gothic-like feature jolting out of the landscape at the base of a mountain, well preserved history within, lush surroundings, quieter than most tourist spots, but just remember to get a parking ticket!

The weather was naff when we visited, but we would definitely recommend stopping by here for the experience and we will definitely return again one day.

Visited...

🌫 A quiet, mystical pause along the southern coast! Rútshellir isn’t grand or sprawling, but it doesn’t need to be. A simple, symmetrical staircase leads you to the entrance—almost like something from a forgotten fairytale.

The cave itself is small and shadowed, cool and slightly damp, with just enough light slipping through a carved-out window. The front passage feels like a foyer.

My son, without hesitation, led the way in—curious, unafraid, delighted. These are the moments we chase in family travel: when the unknown becomes magical, and your child becomes the guide. The space evoked something playful, something ancient. It felt like a setting made for trolls or hidden folk, the kind of place where Icelandic folklore lingers. We were inspired to tell our own stories inside.

Though there were no sheep that day, though signs of them were everywhere—trails, tufts of wool, the faint smell of pasture. We wandered a nearby path, imagining their rhythms. That small walk gave us just enough time to be quiet, to take in the landscape, and to feel something a little larger than ourselves.

Easily accessible, even with our toddler. A modest place, but rich in atmosphere. Rútshellir offers the kind of simple, sensory experience that lingers far longer than expected—a small moment, perfectly placed, that invites imagination to...

This is a historic example of cave homes found on various farms around the south of Iceland. Seems like there are around 40 protected cave homes including this example of Rutshellir right off the Ring Road. There is a carpark (1000kr) right next to the cave house. You pay with the Parka app.

You have to cross the fence steps into a horse farm and walk around 40 metres to the preserved cave house, which is very interesting. There is an information panel where you can read up on the history of Rutshellir and other caves around the area of Iceland.

Note, there is another example, called Drangurinn just a couple km east of Rutshellir Caves. You can park here for free and walk up to the ruins of other cave structures. There are warning signage not to enter these are they are not safe but you can see them...