Raufarhólshellir is a lava cave located near Reykjavik. At 1,360 meters (4,460 feet) long, it is the fourth longest lava cave in Iceland. It is also extremely spacious: 10 to 30 meters (about 30 to 100 feet) wide and up to 10 meters (about 30 feet) high.
Visiting Raufarholshellir
For free and without a reservation, you can only see the cave from above, by peeking in through one of the holes in the collapsed roof.
In late 2016, the cave was closed to visitors: debris had to be cleared, lighting installed and new walkways built. It reopened a year later.
Although visiting the cave involves no crawling or climbing, the ground is uneven. People with back or knee problems should think twice before going in.
Inside there are viewing platforms and lighting that makes it easier to move around and to see the unusual colors and distinctive lava formations.
Even in summer there may be snow inside the cave, and the temperature is usually only 0-4 °C (32-39°F), so wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes; water sometimes drips from the ceiling, so a waterproof jacket helps. You will get a helmet and a flashlight on site, before going in.
Raufarholshellir – tips and practical information
- Raufarholshellir is open all year round.
- Guided tours run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., every hour on the hour (in the busy season sometimes also on the half hour).
- A standard 1-hour tour costs 8,900 ISK (about $75), youth aged 6-15 pay 4,450 ISK (about $35) and children aged 3-6 go free; the minimum age is 3 (prices September 2026, source: The Lava Tunnel).
- The standard tour with transport from Reykjavik (about 3 hours, departures at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. from the BSÍ bus terminal) costs 14,900 ISK (about $125): Raufarhólshellir tickets with transport.
- For fit visitors there is also the Lava Falls Adventure tour to the far end of the cave: 3-4 hours, 27,900 ISK (about $230), minimum age 12.
- The cave is right next to Route 39 and clearly signposted (The Lava Tunnel), so driving from Reykjavik you can’t miss it.
| Raufarholshellir Cave – details | |
|---|---|
 Map: driving route from Reykjavik to Raufarholshellir — click to open the interactive map | |
| region | South Iceland |
| GPS coordinates | 63.93999006983043, -21.395541114793858 |
| length | 1.36 km (0.85 mile) |
| opening hours | daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (tours every hour) |
| entry cost (September 2026) | adults: 8,900 ISK (~$75) youth (6-15): 4,450 ISK (~$35) children (3-6): free |
| remarks | Guided tours only. Tour time: about 1 h. |
| bookings | Raufarholshellir (meet on location) Raufarholshellir (with transport from Reykjavik) |
How to get to Raufarhólshellir
Tours with transport from Reykjavik can be booked through the links in the table above. If you choose the ‘meet on location’ tour instead, the cave is not far from the capital – about 30 km (19 miles) away – and close to the Golden Circle route.
To get to Raufarhólshellir from Reykjavik, take Route 1 east for about 18 km (11 miles), then turn right onto Route 39 (toward Þorlákshöfn). After about 12 km (7.5 miles) – a little before the junction with Route 38 – the parking lot will be on your left. The drive takes about 30-40 minutes.
Photos of the Raufarholshellir cave
