Grindavik is a small town on the southern shores of the Reykjanes Peninsula. It received its municipal rights in 1974. It is one of the most important fishing and fish processing communities of the country. According to the "Book of Settlements" "Molda-Gnupur Hrolfsson" and his sons settled at Grindavik, and that the sons, Bjorn and Gnupur, Thorsteinn Hrugnir and Thordur Leggjaldi, were then grownups.

The small town Grindavik is one of the most important fishing and fish processing communities of the country. Tourism is an increasing source of income and small industries and commerce are important bases of livelihood. An interesting flower garden, called the Sun Temple, is by the side of the swimming pool. In 1627, Algerian buccaneers came sailing to the country, pillaged, and took prisoners for the slave market at home. Grindavik was among the places they struck.

Five kilometres north of town is one of a few high temperature areas on the southwestern peninsula. This thermal area has been harnessed to supply the nearby communities with hot water for house heating and for electric production. The condense outlet water from the power station created the renowned „Blue Lagoon”, which is used for bathing. The distance from the capital is about 52 km.
Bjorn had a dream one night, where a Cliff Dweller approached him and ordered him to associate with him, and he accepted the pact. After that a male goat joined his herd of goats, and it multiplied so fast, that he soon became very wealthy. He acquired the name "Billy Goat Bjorn" as a result.

When the Danish Trade Monopoly was introduced in 1602, Grindavik became one of the law-regulated trading harbours of the country. It lies open to the sea, which constantly beats the shoreline. There were no natural harbour conditions. Fishing from this coastline was difficult and dangerous from the beginning, but still practised by many, among them the workers of the seat of the bishops of the southern see, Skalholt. Up to this date, the grooves of the boat keels, where the boats were pulled out of the water out of harms way are very conspicuous. Nowadays the harbour is among the safest of the country. The first freezing plant was built there in 1941. One of the biggest fishing and fish processing company of the country is located there. The inhabitants of the town are very sport minded.

Thorlakshofn (427/42) 55 km. <Grindavik> Reykjavik 52 km, Blue Lagoon 4 km.
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