Friðheimar
Friðheimar is a family-run farm near Reykholt on the Golden Circle in South Iceland, best known for its geothermal greenhouse operation that grows fresh tomatoes year-round using hot water from a borehole 200 metres from the greenhouses, where the water emerges at 95 degrees Celsius. The farm produces over a tonne of tomatoes per day and uses around 600 bumblebees for natural pollination. Visitors can tour the greenhouse and dine in the restaurant set inside the growing environment, eating tomato soup with freshly baked bread while surrounded by ripening vines. The farm also breeds Icelandic horses and offers demonstrations of the five gaits unique to the breed. Friðheimar was founded by Knútur and Helena in 1995 and has expanded from a working farm into one of the most visited stops on any Golden Circle itinerary.
A Golden Circle Farm Where Geothermal Energy Grows Fresh Tomatoes Year-Round, and 600 Bumblebees Do the Pollinating
Friðheimar sits in the Hrunamannahreppur municipality in South Iceland, a short detour from the main Golden Circle route between Geysir and Þingvellir. The farm began as a conventional Icelandic agricultural operation before its owners recognised that the country's abundant geothermal resources could make year-round intensive horticulture economically viable. A borehole 200 metres from the greenhouses draws hot water at around 95 degrees Celsius from the geothermal system beneath the farm. This water is piped through the greenhouse heating system, maintaining optimal growing temperatures regardless of the outdoor conditions. The same system provides the energy for powerful grow lights that compensate for Iceland's short winter days, meaning the tomato plants receive a consistent growing environment every day of the year. The farm produces over a tonne of tomatoes daily and uses no pesticides, relying instead on approximately 600 resident bumblebees for natural pollination.
The restaurant at Friðheimar operates inside the working greenhouse, with dining tables set among the growing tomato plants. The menu is built almost entirely around the farm's own produce: fresh tomato soup served with homemade bread is the signature dish, alongside tomato-based pastas, salads, and a tomato ice cream that surprises most first-time visitors. A wine lounge in one of the older greenhouse sections offers a more relaxed experience. The farm-to-table concept here is about as literal as it is possible to be: the tomatoes on the table were growing in the same room minutes before service. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, particularly during summer, as the restaurant fills quickly and walk-ins are often turned away.
Friðheimar also operates an Icelandic horse centre adjacent to the farm. The Icelandic horse is the only horse breed permitted in Iceland and is known for its small stature, dense coat, and five gaits, the fifth being the tölt, a smooth four-beat running walk unique to the breed. Daily horse shows demonstrate all five gaits for visitors. The farm is about 100 kilometres from Reykjavík on Route 35, a drive of roughly 90 minutes, and is most commonly visited as part of a Golden Circle day tour. It operates year-round and is one of the few Golden Circle stops that combines food, agriculture, and animal experience in a single visit.
