European Ghosts Iceland

Ghostly Apparitions and Paranormal Activity

Situated on the western tip of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is Djupalonssandur Beach.

Walking along the beach, people have heard voices near the shore and seen shadowy figures that disappear when they turn. This stretch of black sand is known for shipwrecks, with many lives lost in the cold surf.

People have also heard sobbing in the wind and seen a lone figure walking along the water’s edge, then fading into the mist. Others have said the rocks shift slightly as if something beneath them is trying to rise. Locals warn not to pick up stones from the beach, as people who have done this have come to misfortune until the stone is returned. It is advisable not to walk too far here when alone.

The Haunting of Room 48

Situated in the center of Reykjavik, Hotel Borg is among the city’s most iconic buildings known for its Art Deco design. It has been a city landmark for decades. It is also haunted.

Room 48 is referred to as the “dark room." Guests have heard a deep voice in the middle of the night. If they had children with them, the children spoke to an unseen entity. The lights switch on by themselves, and cold spots can be felt. Ghost lovers or the curious can specially book this room and meet whatever dwells there.

The Gateway to Hell

Situated near Reykjavik, Mount Hekla in the southern highlands remains one of the country’s most legendary and mysterious natural landmarks. For centuries it has been referred to as the Gateway to Hell.

Stories going back to 1104, when the first recorded eruption buried entire farms and settlements under ash, have apparently left restless spirits behind. Medieval writers and monks later described the volcano as a gateway to Hell, while old legends claimed the souls of the damned were trapped beneath the mountain.

In the 1300s during a major eruption, birds were seen flying through the smoke and flames and believed to be spirits escaping the mountain. Icelandic folklore also says witches gather on Hekla during Easter.

Hikers can follow the trail to the summit, but the mountain’s barren slopes and steaming landscape give it an unsettling atmosphere.

Strange Footprints and Shapes

Snæfellsjökull Glacier is a glacier-capped volcano located at the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It is renowned for its stunning landscapes and literary significance, particularly as the setting in Jules Verne's novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth." It is also one of the strangest haunted places in Iceland.

Visitors here have seen strange shapes on the glacier and seen footprints in the fresh snow even though no one was around. On a clear night glowing orbs can be seen floating just above the ice, then fading into the darkness.

The glacier is part of Snaefellsjokull National Park, and on clear days the glacier can be seen from Grotta Lighthouse.

Shadowy Figures and Paranormal Activity

Situated just an hour from Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park is among the most important historical sites in Iceland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Althingi, first parliament, was founded here in 930 AD among the cliffs, rifts, and rivers.

This quiet valley was once a place of execution. Between 1618 and 1749, 18 women were drowned at a spot called Drekkingarhylur or the Drowing Pool for crimes like infanticide and incest. Men convicted of similar or other capital offenses faced beheading or hanging. This is reflected by the place names throughout the park, among them Galgaklettur (Gallows Rock), Höggstokkseyri (Execution Block Spit), and Brennugjá (Burning Gorge), where witches were executed by fire. At the drowning pool is a memorial plaque.

People have had uncomfortable feelings and could not stay here long. Soft crying has been heard near the water and shadowy shapes are moving in the mist. A few visitors have described walking the trails and suddenly feeling like they weren’t alone.

The Ghostly Apparition of a Mourning Woman

Situated in Reykjavik, Tjornin Pond is a peaceful spot in the center of the city. However, it has its dark side.

According to legend, a young woman gave birth in secret ages ago and was afraid that this would bring shame upon her. One freezing night, she walked to Tojornin Pond and placed her baby beneath the ice. Since then her ghost has haunted the popond,nd her ghostly apparition has been seen grief-stricken. Visitors here have seen pale fingers under the ice or heard whispers coming from the water.