Landscape near Mosfellsbær, Iceland
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Mosfellsbær

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Population · 202613,417 residents
Settlement typeTown
Postal code270
Elevation55 m above sea level
Recommended stay2 hours

Mosfellsbær is a town in south-west Iceland, some 12 kilometres (7 miles) east of the country's capital, Reykjavík.

The town of Mosfellsbær is only a 15-minute drive from midtown Reykjavík. The district includes the Leiruvogur cove, which forms part of Kollafjörður fjord. Three rivers empty into the cove: Leirvogsá, Kaldakvísl and Varmá.

Mosfellsbær provides numerous opportunities for outdoor and leisure activities, close to untouched nature. There has been a systematic development of outdoor recreational areas for residents, their guests and tourists.

Often called "the green town", this town enjoys thermal activity and quite a few greenhouses have been built here. Since 1933 it has supplied the capital area with natural hot water for house heating, swimming pools, etc. The mountainous area around the town is ideal for walks and hikes, skiing and fishing for trout and char in the small lakes. The Nobel Prize laureate for literature in 1955, Halldór Laxness (1902–1998), was an honorary citizen of the town. He lived there all his life and based some of his novels on his experiences and impressions of his surroundings.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosfellsb%C3%A6r

The place can form part of a wider journey through Southwest Iceland, making it easy to combine the visit with other destinations in the region.

Known for

Mount Esja, Mosfellsdalur valley, outdoor recreation and easy access to nature

Local services

Grocery store
Fuel station
Restaurants
Café
Accommodation
Swimming pool
Pharmacy
Health care
EV charging
Public transport
Source Last verified: 9. September 2026

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Mosfellsbær

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