Twelve man-made caves have been discovered on the land of Ægissíða by Hella on the South coast of Iceland. Four of them have been open to the public. The historical site is Iceland’s oldest still-standing archaeological remains. Some belief the caves date even further back than the settlement of the Nordic Vikings.
The wonders of the Caves of Hella include ancient crosses, wall carvings, and carved seats.
Mystery surrounds the caves, and for centuries, people have wondered:
Are the caves the handiwork of the Celts?
Were the caves a place of ancient worship?
Caves of Hella offer an excellent opportunity to explore these historic caves in Iceland. Join us to discover the secrets they hold and experience the magical Underworld of the South.
The Caves are next to Route 1 (the Ring Road), an approximately hour’s drive from Reykjavik.
The caves are man-made, but nobody knows when they were initially constructed. Some sources indicate that they were made by Celts who inhabited Iceland before the official Norse settlement of Iceland in the late 9th century.
Historically, caves have been used as dwellings, sheep sheds, or storage. After World War II, Icelanders started building houses from concrete, and traditional turf houses and caves soon fell into disuse.
The Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland supervises the restoration project. We focus on slow and sustainable tourism, working closely with the local community using local guides and products. The project’s main aim is to continue the restoration of the caves, opening up more caves to the public.
Cancellation policy
To think that maybe Celtic people made some of the caves – before the settlement of the Nordic people! So fascinating. Great experience!
