Caves of Hella tour from Vik: ancient crosses and carvings

Walk through five ancient caves and stand where people carved crosses into stone centuries before the Vikings arrived.

The Caves of Hella guided tour near Vik takes you through five of twelve ancient man-made caves on the South coast, with a local English-speaking guide leading the way. The site holds Iceland's oldest surviving archaeological remains, with carved crosses, wall carvings and carved seats still visible inside. The caves sit just off Route 1, about an hour from Reykjavik, and the tour runs roughly an hour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore ancient caves at Ægissíða

• Meet local guide at Ægissíða
• Visit four ancient man-made caves
• Learn about cave carvings and history

The Experience

The caves at Ægissíða have puzzled historians for centuries. Five of the twelve man-made caves are now open to the public, and your guide will take you through four of them during the tour. Inside, you'll see ancient crosses carved into the rock, wall markings and stone seats—evidence of people who shaped these spaces long before Iceland's Norse settlement. The mystery of who made them lingers: were they Celtic work, or spaces built for ancient worship? Your local guide walks you through what archaeologists have pieced together and what still remains unknown.

The site sits right beside Route 1, the Ring Road that circles Iceland, making it straightforward to reach from Vik or from Reykjavik, which is roughly an hour's drive away. The tour itself runs about an hour, so you can fit it into a day of driving the South coast without losing momentum. Infants and small children can come along in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

Guided tour through four of the ancient caves; local English-speaking guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Caves of Hella

Is this one for you?Most cave sites in Iceland are either self-guided or require a long specialized hike. This one has a guide who knows the history carved into the walls and sits an hour from Reykjavik on the main road, so you see the oldest archaeological remains in Iceland without detour or scrambling.

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Top questions

How many caves will I actually enter on this tour?

Your guide takes you through four of the five caves that are open to the public. The site holds twelve ancient man-made caves in total, but only five have been opened for visitors.

What exactly will I see inside the Caves of Hella?

The caves hold ancient crosses carved into the rock, wall carvings and carved stone seats—physical evidence left behind by people who shaped these spaces centuries ago, possibly before the Viking settlement of Iceland.

How far is the Caves of Hella from Reykjavik?

The caves are located on the South coast near Vik, roughly an hour's drive from Reykjavik along Route 1.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes—infants and small children can come along in a pram or stroller, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide leads the tour in English.