Selfoss is a town in South Iceland, only an hour drive from Reykjavík. The town has been growing rapidly in recent years and an increasing number of people choose to live there despite working in Reykjavík, which has to do with pressure on the housing market while some people are also eager to live away from the hustle bustle of the city. Real estate prices in Selfoss have also been growing rapidly as a result of increased demand.
Along with a growing number of residents and visitors in town, new services and companies have opened, infrastructure has been built up to cater for a growing number of people. Below we take a look at five things to do in Selfoss as well as another five things to do near the town.
5 Things to Do In Selfoss
Inside town, there are a few attractions well worth visiting, namely The New Old Town, Skyrland skyr exhibition, the swimming pool, and The Bobby Fischer Center.
The New Old Town
The town took an innovative approach some years ago to re-create over 50 historic buildings from around Iceland, which were destroyed decades ago by fire or demolition. The re-creation has become a new cultural and commercial centre in the heart of town. On the surface, the buildings bring back a spirit from the past but inside they house modern facilities for locals and visitors alike, including restaurants, shops, cafes, bars, venues and apartments. In other words, The New Old Town is a tribute to the country’s history with a modern twist.
The architecture symbolizes the classic Icelandic style, with corrugated iron facades and chalet-style architecture. The style combines influences from Scandinavia and the UK. Corrugated iron came to Iceland on British ships and was traded for sheep, turning out to be a suitable building material for the local climate. The chalet style came from Norway but originated in Switzerland, known as Sveitserstil.
The first phase of building up The New Old Town was completed in 2021 and the second phase is now in construction, scheduled for completion in 2028.
Skyrland
The permanent exhibition Skyrland is located in the basement of The Old Dairy, where the town’s food hall is. As the name suggests, Skyrland is an exhibition about skyr, Iceland’s most famous dairy product. It is a journey of sights, scents and tastes to bring visitors the 1000-year story of this Viking dairy product that has now become a global health food. Discover how 40 generations of women passed their skyr-making knowledge down, from mother to daughter and how the story moved from isolated turf-roofed farms to the world.
The creamy yogurt-like dairy is thicker than yogurt and has followed Icelanders through thick and thin for all these years. The food hall at the top floor has eight restaurants, a tap room with Icelandic craft beer, and a wine & cocktail bar called Risið.
Sundhöll Selfoss
Near the center of town, you can find the swimming pool, called Sundhöll Selfoss. It has an 18 meter long indoor children’s pool, 25 meter long outdoor pool, children’s pool with three water slides, water steam bath, sauna and hot tubs. There are two dressing rooms inside and another two outside.
The dressing rooms have a lot of keypad lockers, included in the entrance fee. Sundhöll Selfoss is a great place to visit after a day out in the cold as well as for basking in the sun on a sunny summer afternoon.
Bobby Fischer Center
Bobby Fischer is a legend in the world of chess. In the summer of 1972, he won the World Championship in the “Match of all Time” against Boris Spassky in Reykjavík. Since 1948, Soviet grandmasters Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian and Spassky had kept the World Champions title.
The Bobby Fischer Center in Selfoss is the first chess museum in the Nordic countries. Fischer’s grave in Laugardælir is located a few hundred meters from the center. He died as an Icelandic citizen in Reykjavík in January 2008. On display at the Bobby Fischer Center in Selfoss are among other things Spassky’s and Fischer’s scoresheets, and a replica of the chessboard used during the match, which was staged in Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík. In addition, there are many curious items related to Bobby Fischer‘s stay in Iceland during his last years (2005-2008).
5 Attractions Near Selfoss
Selfoss is conveniently located to reach various attractions of the South, here are five close by destinations, but there are many more including Skógar and Skógafoss, Vík, Reynisfjara (sometimes called “The Black Sand Beach”) and Þórsmörk.
- See also: Discover South Iceland
Kerið Crater Lake
Kerið is a volcanic crater in Grímsnes, only a 15-minute drive from Selfoss. There is a lake at the bottom. It is part of the Western Volcanic Zone like the currently active Reykjanes peninsula, as well as Langjökull glacier. The caldera is around 55 m deep, 170 m wide, and 270 m across, and is made up of picturesque red volcanic rock.
Visitors can walk down the sloping walls towards the vivid blue lake at the bottom. The walls are covered in deep green moss. Kerið was not formed by a volcanic explosion, but rather a cone volcano that erupted and emptied its magma reserve. The weight of the cone then collapsed into the empty magma chamber, creating the existing crater. The water at the bottom is not caused by rainfall, but is groundwater reaching up to the water table.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss (photo at the top) is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland, an hour drive from Selfoss. The main attraction of Seljalandsfoss besides the look from the front is that people can also walk behind it, to see it from the other side. The source of Seljalandsfoss is the river Seljalandsá that comes from beneath the world famous Eyjafjallajökull that erupted in 2010 and disrupted flight traffic across Europe.
The waterfall is relatively small and thin but falling from a 60 meters tall cliff.
Reykjadalur Hot Springs
The valley Reykjadalur above the town of Hveragerði is an active geothermal area with a hot spring river. A hiking trail near Hveragerði takes you through a 3.5 km route with mountain scenery and geothermal areas towards the hot spring river in Reykjadalur. Bathing in the hot river is a good way to relax tired muscles.
The drive from Selfoss to Reykjadalur takes around 20 minutes, meaning a hike there could be an ideal activity for half a day or so. Hiking from the car park follows a small dirt road and past a borehole called Drottningarhola (e. Queen’s Hole), which is a popular photo spot. After a 15-minute walk from the car park, you arrive at Klambragil hot river. This spot is organized into small independent pools with stacked rocks separating them. There you will also find wooden changing rooms. For safety reasons, stick to the paths in the area.
The Secret Lagoon in Flúðir
Gamla laugin (e. The Secret Lagoon) is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, made in 1891 at Hverahólmi, a geothermal area near Flúðir. The hot water from the springs is rich in minerals. Vaðmálahver, Básahver, and Litli Geysir supply the water of the lagoon. The water flows continuously and the pool water is renewed completely in 24 hours. The Secret Lagoon has retained its old classic and simple style. However, it fell into many years of oblivion from 1947 until finally reopening in 2014.
Note: The Secret Lagoon is closed for renovation when this is written but is scheduled for reopening on 23 May 2025.
Sólheimar Eco-Village
Sólheimar is a sustainable community where over a 100 individuals live and work together. It was founded in 1930 by Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir (1902-1974) and focuses on human cultivation and nature. Sólheimar runs a social service organization where individuals from diverse backgrounds are provided with opportunities for employment and vocational training, residence, social and cultural work.
Activities at Sólheimar include the operation of forestry and horticultural plants through organic farms, as well as bakeries and food processing facilities. Sólheimar also has shops and art galleries, cafés and guesthouses. Art workshops at Sólheimar include candle making, art workshop, ceramics, web shop, herbal lab and construction lab.
Food & Drink in Selfoss
The number of restaurants and bars in Selfoss have also been growing with the population. Below we take a look at a few of them.
Restaurants in Selfoss
Byrja
Let’s start with Byrja (the name conveniently also means Start), which is a breakfast and lunch restaurant where you can also go to grab an afternoon coffee with a snack. They open at 7 AM on weekdays and 8 AM on weekends, closing at 3 PM on weekdays and 4 PM on weekends. The menu is a simple one pager, but simple is often best in that area as Gordon Ramsay could tell you. Breakfast options include classics like eggs and bacon with toast, as well as burrito and a Western omelette.
Lunch has four main options: chicken caesar salad, Greek salad, loaded nachos and soup of the day. Byrja also has sandwiches & wraps as well as burgers. Keep it simple and start the day at Byrja.
Samúelsson Matbar
Located in Selfoss food hall, Samúelsson Matbar emphasizes beautiful, colorful and tasty food that they serve with cocktails and wine. It is not a fast food restaurant despite being in the food hall, rather a Scandinavian/Asian fusion that has been rated the best in South Iceland on Tripadvisor in 2023.
Fröken Selfoss – Icelandic Food & Drinks
Fröken Selfoss also emphasizes visually appealing dishes and cocktails, with a focus on Icelandic ingredients. The dinner menu is split into set menus (tasting, three course, and Icelandic), appetizers, main courses, desserts and bar snacks. Lunch is served between 11:30 and 16:00 and the options are classic brunch, luxury brunch and a two course offer as well as fish of the day and soup of the day. Fröken Selfoss also offers a vegan menu with seven main courses available when this is written.
MAR Seafood
Located in the heart of Selfoss, MAR Seafood offers a unique dining experience focused on the finest fish pans. The restaurant is dedicated to celebrating the rich culinary traditions of Iceland, using fresh, locally-sourced seafood to create delicious and innovative dishes. The interiors are nautical to set the tone for a great seafood meal.
Lilly&Julia’s – Viking BBQ
The restaurant opened in 2023 by self-taught cook Bartosz Wójcik, who then had 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry. The courses are inspired by his mother’s cooking, with a simple concept of fresh food prepared from scratch. They have a small seasonal menu and a cosy atmosphere. One of their signature dishes is coal-grilled trout with mango salsa and sweet potato.
Bars in Selfoss
Risið Wine Bar
Risið is a cosy wine bar with a great selection of cocktails, located on the top floor of the food hall. Selfoss Mule is a cocktail made of Reyka vodka, ginger beer and lime. Apart from this specialty cocktail, they offer classics like espresso martini, mojito, strawberry daiquiri and whiskey sour.
The music is set to a low volume to stay in the background and the atmosphere is elevated with a fireplace in one of the lounges.
Miðbar
Miðbar is a sports bar offering a variety of entertainment: live football, Formula 1, darts, golf and more. They also have karaoke nights from time to time.
The South Coast of Iceland has a lot to offer and is a top tourist destination in Iceland. It is conveniently located close to the capital area and the roads mostly through flat areas where you can usually see mountains on one hand and ocean on the other. Selfoss is the biggest town in South Iceland and centrally located as a base to explore the south.
