The Caves of Hella are among Iceland’s most mysterious historic sites — a series of man-made sandstone caves carved into a hillside near the village of Hella in South Iceland. Long before modern settlement, people shaped these chambers by hand, and no one knows exactly who made them or why.
Inside, you’ll find ancient wall carvings, cross symbols, and soot marks that hint at centuries of use — possibly as homes, stables, or places of worship. The guided tour takes you through several of the caves while sharing the local legends and recent archaeological findings that surround them.
It’s one of Iceland’s oldest man-made structures, offering a rare glimpse into life here long before recorded history — quiet, mysterious, and unlike anything else in the country.
The Caves of Hella are among Iceland’s most mysterious historic sites — a series of man-made sandstone caves carved into a hillside near the village of Hella in South Iceland. Long before modern settlement, people shaped these chambers by hand, and no one knows exactly who made them or why.
Inside, you’ll find ancient wall carvings, cross symbols, and soot marks that hint at centuries of use — possibly as homes, stables, or places of worship. The guided tour takes you through several of the caves while sharing the local legends and recent archaeological findings that surround them.
It’s one of Iceland’s oldest man-made structures, offering a rare glimpse into life here long before recorded history — quiet, mysterious, and unlike anything else in the country.
