Hópsnes

A 2-kilometer-long and 1-kilometer-wide headland in the middle of Grindavík, a small fishing town on Reykjanes Peninsula. Hópsnes is a unique and fascinating site which is a home to the remains of over 20 ships that ran aground on this small lava peninsula next to the harbour. There is a road that goes around the headland where you can explore the rusted hulls and twisted metal frames of these once great vessels, that have now fallen victim to sea spray and are slowly decaying away with rust and corrosion. On the peninsula stands a nearly 100-year-old lighthouse and some ruins from former settlers and old fishing houses. This location is also good for surfing.

Accommodation up to 1 km away

Gas station up to 1 km away

Permits needed

Get access to all location details for free

Each location on Massif includes detailed information about climate, lighting conditions, accessibility, nearby services, permits, visitors, risk factors and much more.
Climate

Get location climate information which includes temperature, wind speed, amount of rain, snowfall and ice coverage through the year.
Lighting conditions

Find out precise information about daylight, Sun position, visibility and clouds throughout the year.
Accessibility, services and permits

Learn about location regulations, how to get to the location, what conditions to expect, and what services are nearby.
Visitors and risk factors

Find out if location is frequently visited, if there is any danger in the location area and how to stay safe.

Already have an account? Sign in

Accessibility

A good gravel road around the peninsula with small parking lots along the way for offloading.

Public transportation unavailable

There is no public transportation available in this area

Car recommended

Unchallenging terrain accessible by car

Excellent phone coverage

Great phone coverage without interruptions

Not needed

Guide is not needed

Services nearby

This location is in Grindavík municipality and only 30 minutes from Keflavík so hotels, gas stations and convenience stores are in abundance. Nearest hospital is also in Keflavík.

Accommodation

< 1 km

Gas station

< 1 km

Hospital or emergency room

< 30 km

Parking

< 1 km

Restaurants

< 1 km

Shopping

< 1 km

Permits

Want to film hassle-free? Partner up with the local production studio through Massif and let them handle all the paperwork. Learn more

The lighthouse and the road are owned by the Grindavík municipality, but the land is divided and owned by several private owners. You would need a three way permit here

Shooting requires both the permission from the property owner and the local government permit

Reykjanes Peninsula is on UNESCO Global Geopark list

Property owner unknown

Basecamp and facilities

There is a good gravel road that goes around the peninsula. Few small lots to offload equipment. As this location is in the middle of the town, a basecamp area could be at the harbour or wherever suits the production. There are no facilities at this location.

Risk factors

The area is very rocky and covered in block lava which can be dangerous to walk in and result in twisted ankles or broken bones. The waves can get quite big, and stones are slippery when wet. If you want to surf, you need to let the harbour master know and check tides tables and the weather forecast.

Visitors

This area is popular with the locals, for running, driving and just enjoying the outdoors. You could easily get a permit to close it off and would need PAs to help you with that.

Where does all this information come from?

In collaboration with a team of experienced producers, we scoured through every location on massif.network to bring you the most relevant and up-to-date information. We provide photos and videos and all other location information.