Vogar (Sveitarfélagið Vogar) occupies a position on the northern part of the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, at coordinates 63.9817 N, 22.3847 W. It serves as the administrative centre for the municipality of Vogar (Sveitarfélagið Vogar), whose population has grown in recent years, in part due to the arrival of residents from nearby Grindavík following natural disasters.
A town on the move and a link to the coast
Vogar itself had a recorded population ranging between 1,027 and 1,183 during the 2010s. The broader municipality, which stretches from the town into the surrounding rural district of Vatnsleysuströnd, had nearly 1,400 residents in 2023, with about 100 living in Vatnsleysuströnd’s dispersed settlements. Recent figures from 2024 suggest the population of the municipality could be as high as 1,800.
Besides its residential character, modern Vogar is marked by a significant industrial feature: a highly automated plant that extracts gases from the air. The oxygen generated there is supplied to the national healthcare system. Another specialist facility in the town is a centre for incubating Atlantic salmon roe, supporting the aquaculture sector.
Culture, nature and recreation in and around Vogar
The town of Vogar is set on the waterfront, with local amenities and a path along the coast. Birdwatchers often stop at Vogatjörn (a local pond) for a view of the local avian life. A notable cultural landmark is the sculpture Íslands Hrafnistumenn (the sculpture’s Icelandic title), created by Erlingur Jónsson, which commemorates local fishermen.
Vogar’s annual Family Day in August draws locals of all ages for community events. At Kálfatjörn, within the municipality, a nine-hole golf course winds around one of Iceland’s largest wooden churches. The wider district of Vatnsleysuströnd offers destinations for outdoors enthusiasts, including the mountain Keilir, the ridge Háibjalli, Snorrastaðatjarnir ponds, the rift Hrafnagjá, and the stone structure Staðarborg.
Nearby points of interest include Litla-Skógfell, the fishing area Grófin, and two lighthouses: Gerðistangarviti and Vatnsnes Lighthouse. For those curious about Icelandic music history, The Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll in neighbouring Keflavík is also within reach.
For further details on current services, events or seasonal offerings, official updates are provided by Visit Reykjanes, whose website is linked below.
Sources
Image: Steinninn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · licence, original (resized) Illustrative image.
Facts last reviewed 20 October 2026. Published 20 October 2026.
