Iceland · South Coast · Location guide

Caves of Hella Wedding

On a farm by the Ytri-Rangá river, opposite the village of Hella, a turf-roofed door in a grassy hillside leads down into caves dug by hand into the soft sandstone – nobody knows exactly when, or by whom. Lit by candles, they feel like an underground chapel: quiet, warm in colour and completely sheltered from the weather. Janelle and Mike got married here, and it is one of the most atmospheric indoor places for a wedding in Iceland.

Where: Ægissíða farm near Hella – about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1.5 hours from Reykjavík
Best for: Ceremonies with guests, and a reliable plan B for bad weather
When: All year – the caves stay at about 4 °C
Good to know: Visits only with the family who look after the caves

The caves

The Caves of Hella are man-made caves at the Ægissíða farm, protected as national heritage. An eighteenth-century poem names eighteen caves; twelve are known today, and the guided tour goes into three of them. Their age is a mystery. The first written mention of a man-made sand cave in Iceland is from 1199, and local tradition says some of the caves were dug by Irish monks before the Norse settlement – an idea historians still argue about, because no archaeological proof has been found.

Candles lighting the carved sandstone walls of the Caves of Hella

Today the caves are looked after by the family who own the farm, the fifth generation to do so. They run guided tours all year, about an hour long, and also host weddings and events.

A wedding underground

Janelle and Mike spent the first part of their day with a first look and an adventure along the South Coast, then said their vows inside the caves in front of their guests, by the light of candles and lanterns, before celebrating in the evening at Hótel Rangá, about ten minutes away. Inside, the only sounds were the vows and the crackle of the candles – a completely different mood from a ceremony on a windy beach.

Wedding guests seated in rows inside the Caves of Hella

A couple kissing after their vows inside the Caves of Hella

A newly married couple stepping out of the turf door of the cave — Stepping back out into the daylight as a married couple.

Why it works so well

Weather-proof: rain, wind or snow outside, the ceremony underground goes ahead as planned – which is rare in Iceland.
Room for guests: unlike most natural places, the caves can seat a group of guests.
Close to the South Coast: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the black sand beaches are all within an easy drive for portraits before or after.
Temperature: the caves stay around 4 °C all year, so bring a warm layer for the guests.

A couple walking across the black sand dunes of the South Coast

The caves are booked through their own website, and your planner can arrange the setting and the officiant. For more ideas nearby, see my guides to waterfall elopements and black sand beach weddings.

Planning your elopement in the Caves of Hella?

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Questions about weddings in the Caves of Hella

Can we get married in the Caves of Hella?

Yes. The family who look after the caves host weddings and events; they are booked through the caves’ own website, and your planner can arrange the setting and the officiant.

How cold is it inside the caves?

Around 4 °C all year, so bring a warm layer for you and your guests.

How far are the Caves of Hella from Reykjavík?

About 1 hour 15 minutes to 1.5 hours by car, near the village of Hella on the South Coast.