En route to the Golden Circle? Don’t miss the Fridheimar Tomato Farm! This unique farm grows tomatoes all year round using Icelandic geothermal energy. We were fascinated by this sensory immersion in a greenhouse like no other, where you literally eat lunch in the heart of the tomato plants.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a wonderful time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Content
Why visit the Fridheimar Tomato Farm?
Is it worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, the Fridheimar Tomato Farm is well worth a visit. This unique experience gave us a sensory immersion in a greenhouse where heat, humidity and the scent of ripe tomatoes reign supreme, even in the middle of an Icelandic winter. We were won over by this original concept, which combines agricultural discovery with a gastronomic experience in the heart of the tomato plant.
This is one of the best activities in the Golden Circle, even in winter.
Why is this tourist eco greenhouse famous?
Did you know that this operation is renowned for its innovative use of Icelandic geothermal energy? It allows tomatoes to be grown all year round, recreating a Mediterranean climate in the greenhouse. Fascinating, isn’t it? We also liked the restaurant set right in the heart of the greenhouse. You’ll have lunch surrounded by growing tomato plants.
Include a visit to this amazing farm in a guided tour of the Golden Circle, or as part of a delicious lunch!
Our favorite moments
You’ll find out more about our visit later, but we can’t resist sharing our favorites with you right now:
- The olfactory experience from the moment you enter: warmth, humidity and the smell of ripe tomatoes create a singular atmosphere, a far cry from industrial greenhouses.
- The restaurant in the heart of the greenhouse: we loved having lunch literally surrounded by growing tomato plants, an unusual farm-to-plate concept.
- Direct tasting: taste freshly picked tomatoes during the guided tour, a great experience!
WHERE TO STAY IN Iceland
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
- Where to stay in Iceland (coming soon)
- Where to sleep in Reykjavik (coming soon)
- Best 5-star hotels (coming soon)
- Where to sleep on the South Coast (coming soon)
- Where to sleep on the Golden Circle (coming soon)
- Where to sleep on the Snaefellsnes peninsula
History in brief
The Fridheimar tourist eco greenhouse was founded to harness Iceland’s natural geothermal energy. Here are the main milestones since the mid-1990s:
- Creation of a farm using local hot springs
- Development of sustainable cultivation methods without chemical pesticides
- Opening of a restaurant in the heart of the greenhouse and a wine bar in 2023
- Add horse shows featuring Icelandic horses
- Launch of strawberry cultivation in early 2025
Access: Fridheimar tomato farm, Golden Circle
Where is the farm?
- In the eastern zone of the Golden Circle
- Along Route 35
- In the municipality of Reykholt, a 15-minute drive from Fludir
- Close to Thingvellir and other Golden Circle sites
RENTING A CAR IN Iceland
Discover the best offers on Discovercars, our preferred platform!
On Route 1, no 4WD required, off Route 1, it depends on your plans.
How to get there?
The farm is easily accessible by car from Reykjavik in about 1h30. From Thingvellir, it’s just a 40-minute drive. It fits perfectly into a Golden Circle tour. If you don’t want to drive, especially in winter, you can include the visit in a guided tour of the Golden Circle for a complete experience.
Parking
Free parking is available directly on the farm. Access is easy and there’s plenty of room for both individual visitors and groups.
UNFORGETTABLE ACTIVITIES IN Iceland
- Swimming in the Silfra fissure
- Horseback riding
- Hiking on a glacier
- Whale watching (from Reykjavik, Husavik or Akureyri)
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
The greenhouse has the advantage of being open all year round, so you can visit us whatever the season. Winter even brings a striking contrast between the cold outside and the Mediterranean warmth of the greenhouse. We advise you to plan your visit around lunchtime, to take full advantage of the gastronomic experience.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow 2 hours for a complete visit, including a meal in a restaurant (excluding organized tours). The guided tour of the greenhouse lasts about 30 minutes, and includes a tasting of fresh tomatoes. There are no particular difficulties to report, access is suitable for all ages and the greenhouse is on a single level. Bring light clothing, as the temperature in the greenhouse is close to that of a Mediterranean climate.
Advice on how to visit
We recommend that you start with a guided tour of the greenhouse to understand the growing process, then move on to the restaurant to savor the specialties, all tomato-based. Finish off with a visit to the store, where you can pick up a few local products. In summer, you can also enjoy horse shows featuring the unique gaits of the Icelandic horse. You can now also taste wine and strawberries grown in the greenhouse; ask the reception staff when you arrive.
OUR GUIDES TO PLAN YOUR Dream trip
Visiting with children
The family approach is reflected in all services, with adapted children’s menus and free access to horses. Children will particularly enjoy visiting the stable and discovering the tomatoes directly on the plants. Bees and beautiful sunflowers intrigue young and old alike! A captivating sensory experience for all ages.
Schedules and rates
The farm is open:
- The greenhouses, store, wine bar and bistro are open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The restaurant’s kitchen is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For updated fares and schedule changes, visit the official website here.
Guided tours
A guided tour of the greenhouse allows you to learn more about the growing process, with a tasting of freshly picked tomatoes. Explanations include the use of geothermal energy and sustainable cultivation methods.
You can also opt for horse shows in summer, which include commentaries in several languages on the 5 unique gaits of the Icelandic horse.
Catering
Join us at the restaurant set up in the heart of the greenhouse for a total immersion experience, surrounded by tomato plants! The menu unsurprisingly features tomatoes in all their forms: hot soup served as much as you like, tomato tortilla, burrata, homemade pasta, green tomato cheesecake, homemade ice creams and sorbets. You’ll also find themed drinks, some served in a hollowed-out tomato. Since the beginning of 2025, a wine bar has been offering a range of wines to match (or taste) with dishes. Strawberries also take pride of place in the greenhouse. Enjoy your meal!
Sensory immersion in a greenhouse like no other
The experience began as soon as we entered the greenhouse, where we were seized by the special atmosphere. Tomatoes are grown all year round using geothermal energy and artificial light, recreating a Mediterranean climate even when it’s -10°C outside! You’ll discover how this natural heat maintains a constant temperature, creating a striking contrast with the Icelandic landscape. The water used for irrigation comes directly from the Fljútsbotnar springs, the same as that served at the restaurant table, pure and naturally filtered. We were impressed by this intelligent use of natural resources, which enables local production all year round. You’ll find that the olfactory experience is striking from the moment you enter: warmth, humidity and the smell of ripe tomatoes create a singular atmosphere, a far cry from industrial greenhouses.
We were won over by the farm’s visible commitment to the environment throughout the production chain. Firstly, the methods use biological control to limit pests, avoiding chemical pesticides altogether. You’ll learn how waste is reduced to a minimum and non-marketable products transformed into homemade sauces, ice creams or chutneys sold in the store. We appreciate this circular approach, which adds value to every tomato produced. A guided tour of the greenhouse helps you learn more about the growing process, with a tasting of freshly picked tomatoes.
A gourmet family tour, combining entertainment and local produce
Why not sit down to dinner? The restaurant in the heart of the greenhouse immerses you fully in the place. Imagine sitting between rows of red and green tomatoes, literally eating lunch surrounded by growing tomato plants. You’ll enjoy a menu that celebrates tomatoes in all their forms: unlimited hot soup, tomato tortilla, burrata, homemade pasta, green tomato cheesecake, homemade ice creams and sorbets. Culinary creativity that transforms a simple vegetable into a delightful taste experience! Drinks are also thematically tomato-based or served in a fresh tomato.
Since the beginning of 2025, the strawberry has also become a star of the Fridheimar greenhouse, which has been expanded to grow this gourmet fruit.
In summer, you can attend horse shows featuring the five unique gaits of the Icelandic horse, with commentary in several languages. We found this combination of agriculture and horseback riding representative of Icelandic culture, with the experience including a visit to the stables. The family approach is reflected in all services, with children’s menus and free access to the horses that delight young and old alike. The Little Tomato Shop lets you take home sauces, salsas, jams or cosmetics made from tomatoes or cucumbers, all from the farm. You’ll leave with authentic products that bear witness to Icelandic ingenuity and bring this unique taste experience home with you.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
- Get away from it all with Region Lovers’ beautiful destinations!
- Once a month
- Advertising-free
Frequently asked questions
Is the farm open all year round?
Yes, the Fridheimar Tomato Farm is open every day of the year. The greenhouses operate from 9am to 5pm and the kitchen from 11:30am to 4pm. And that’s exactly the point of this visit: to discover fresh tomatoes even in the middle of an Icelandic winter.
Can we visit without booking?
Visits to the greenhouse are generally possible without reservation, but we recommend reservations for the restaurant, especially in high season. Reservations are recommended for summer equestrian shows.
PLAN YOUR TRIP AROUND iceland
- Best of
Things to do in Iceland (coming soon)
Most beautiful waterfalls (coming soon)
Most beautiful black sand beaches (coming soon)
Best excursions from Reykjavik (coming soon)
Best things to do in Iceland in winter
Winter ice caves (coming soon)
- Practical advice
Getting around (coming soon)
How to rent a car in Iceland (coming soon)
Driving tips (coming soon)
Itineraries (coming soon)
Where to stay in Iceland (coming soon)
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days (to come)
- The must-dos
Things to do in Reykjavik (coming soon)
Best attractions in the Golden Circle (coming soon)
South Coast attractions (coming soon)
Snaefellsnes Peninsula (coming soon)
Silver Circle (coming soon)
Lake Myvatn attractions (coming soon)
Jokulsarlon (coming soon)
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
