The Lovely Towns of Iceland

The Arctic Coast Way

Akureyri is a beautiful fishing village in the northern part of Iceland. Its roots date back to the 9th century when Norse Vikings settled here.

The main street Kaupvangsstraeti winds its way through the village and is also known as Art Street. There are many art galleries selling local art. At the small eateries, you can try traditional foods.

On interest to visit are the Akureyri Art Museum and the Hof Cultural Center showcasing local visual and performing arts.

Other attractions include the Akureyri Church, Glasir Medieval Trading Place, and the Botanical Garden which is one of the northernmost in the world.

Outdoor activities are very popular here with local excursions to places for hiking, bird-watching, fishing, rafting, and horseback riding. Snowcat tours will take you out into the mountains. You can ski at Eyjafjordur Fjord or take an evening tour to see the aurora borealis.

For off the beaten path touring take the Arctic Coast Way stretching for 900 kilometers along the northern Iceland coast and will take you to some of the most remote areas on the island. Along the way, you can enjoy traveling through 21 fishing villages to the most northern point in Iceland which is close to the Arctic Circle.

Icelandic Poetry

Egilsstadir is a town at the east end of Iceland and can be accessed from the Ring Road. The town also has a small regional airport. It is surrounded by lovely landscapes with mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, and farmland. You can hike through the trails or join up with the local hiking club and hike in the mountains.

Visit the East Iceland Heritage Museum, the farmstead of Saenautasel, and the former monastery of Skriduklaustur.

Of interest in Eglisstadir is the Icelandic poetry that can be found of some walls and windows around town. It commemorates the work of local poets and the history of the town. Walk around the town to discover the creative tributes of scrolling poetry.

Outdoor adventures can take you through the lush green Laugarvalladalur Valley with large boulders and landscape at Storuro.

Viking Culture

Hafnarfjorbur is located in the southwest of Iceland and it is the hub of Viking culture. Each year the town hosts the Viking Festival. This is one of the oldest towns on the island. There are many things to do here take horseback riding tours or trips to see traditional Icelandic costumes.

There are many lava fields since the town was built on 7,000-year-old lava rock. Among the geothermal attributes to the town is Kleifarvatn Lake, the subject of local folklore.

At the Krysuvik Cliffs, you can see the Atlantic Ocean crashing against the rugged coast. You can enjoy bird-watching. Two hours from Hafnarfjorbur is Helgafell Mountain with undisturbed lava fields and formations and centuries-old artifacts from early Icelandic settlers.

There are art galleries to visit and a public art sculpture park. All around town are public geothermal pools to experience.

The Vatnajokull Glacier

Hofn is a charming fishing village on the southeast coast of Iceland surrounded by glacial lagoons. It is close to the Vatnajokull glacier which is the largest in Europe. There are smaller islands off the coast of the village.

There are hiking trails, a golf course, thermal pools, places for camping, and you can go kayaking. Visitors enjoy taking glacial treks in Vatnajokull National Park. You can choose from different ice adventures with local guides like jeep treks and snowmobiling.

It is nice to stroll through the old harbor at sunset with the light reflecting off the water and lighting up the colorful fishing boats docked for the night. At the small regional airport, you can get daily flights to the capital Reykjavik.

Seal Colonies

Hvammstangi is located in the northwest. Here you can enjoy many outdoor activities like horseback riding in the countryside or visiting the Kolugijufur waterfall.

Visitors enjoy taking seal watching tours and visiting the Icelandic Seal Center in the village.

Majestic Waterfalls

Isafjorour is a town in the northwest and the largest municipality in the Westfjords peninsula. The town has roots in the fishing industry. Outdoor activities here include hiking, skiing, kayaking, and bird-watching.

It is one of the best locations to see puffins on the cliffs of Latrabjarg. You can enjoy seeing the Drangajokul glacier and the majestic waterfalls at Dynjandi.

The town has many cultural and music festivals. Visit the folk museum to see the oldest house in Iceland that was built in 1734.

Seal Pup Bay

Kopavogur has the second largest population after the capital Reykjavik. It is located in the southwest region and its name translates to "seal pup bay." Seals are frequent along the shoreline.

You can see impressive architecture, especially the Kopavogur Church and the Gardarsafn Kopavagur Art Museum. Among the hills, there are hiking trails and you can find flatter trails in the Kopavogsdalur Valley. There are many public parks, thermal pools, and places for bird-watching,

The town has two shopping malls.

Puffin Colonies

Seydisfjordur is a small town on a fjord on the eastern side of Iceland. Here you can enjoy seeing puffin colonies that inhabit the remote regions of Iceland. The town is surrounded by mountains and shorelines.

There are quaint timber homes built in the early 19th century and a tranquil lagoon. Mt. Strandartindur and Mt. Bjolfur border both sides of the valley. This Norwegian fishing village was established in the late 1800s.

The Church also known as The Blue Church is one of the main landmarks in Seydisfjordur.

You can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing. The town has a small golf course and ski area. Day excursions are available for bird-watching and viewing both whales and seals.

The town is at a great location for viewing the Northern Lights and aurora borealis excursions are available.

Ice Caves

Vik i Myrdal or Vik is a tiny village located on the southernmost tip of Iceland. The coastal village has amazing ice caves to explore and you can take an ice cave tour.

Some of Iceland's most amazing waterfalls can be easily accessed from Vik among them Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Svartifoss, and Gljúfrabúi.

You can also enjoy seeing the puffin colonies. The puffins are only present for about three months of the year and are found near Vik when they come to nest.