Grindavik

In Grindavik there have been settlers for more than 1 000 years and during the centuries both farming and fishing have been the base for living. 

Based on fishing
In Grindavik the economy is based on fishing and tourism but farming is also of great importance. Grindavík is one of the largest fishing centers in the country. The harbour area is the driving force behind Grindavík. The fishing industry is a priority in Grindavík, and the town is by far the largest exporter of salted fish in the country. The business of Grindavík harbour is huge, not surprisingly, since the town can boast of high quality fisheries and processing plants. Fishermen in Grindavík are using the same fishing grounds as their ancestors did for centuries, which is indicative of moderate fishing without exploitation.

 The five largest fisheries provide around 700 jobs in Grindavík, both in fishing and processing.  The export value of the catch landed in Grindavík is probably around 20 billion ISK a year, which is about 4% of the total export value of Icelandic products.

Here you also can find both a salt fish museum and a rock fish museum which show the importance of fishing during the centuries. Each year in the beginning of June there is a family and port festival, the Happy Sailor, which honors earlier times as seagoing and seamanship has been the main source of occupation and income for the people in Grindavik. 

Tourism
The famous Blue Lagoon is located within the municipality. It is a big health facility built around hot springs, where the water is cooled down to 37- 40 degrees. The water is very rich in minerals, considered to be of help for psoriasis as well as for age wrinkles. Most houses in Iceland are mainly heated by geothermal energy.

Grindavik boasts miles of hiking trails through breathtaking panoramas. There is also a new modern campground and swimming facility, one of Iceland's best golf courses, Kvikan - House of  culture and natural resources and a multitude of restaurants.