Höfn

Understand

In spite of substantial territory, the population of the Hornafjörður area is only around 2400. Höfn is by far the largest settlement with around 2000 inhabitants. The rest of the population is spread along the very narrow patch of arable land between Vatnajökull and the Atlantic Ocean. Höfn's economic activities mainly revolve around fisheries, and the town is especially known for lobster which can be found in abundant quantities in the fishing areas surrounding the southeastern coast. Despite its name which indicates a fjord, Hornafjörður is a very large lagoon with a blend of fresh and glacial water. The 40 km² lagoon is formed by interactions of the Atlantic Ocean and the Vatnajökull glacier, which by its constant movement produces clay and sand, carried by the glacier rivers and ending up as sediment in the lagoon. The lagoon is shallow, but nevertheless navigable by large ships and the town of Höfn (the name means harbor) is located at the first natural harbor on the south coast after Þorlákshöfn hundreds of kilometers to the west. The area is dominated by large mountains, wide rivers, and the ever-present Vatnajökull glacier. All of this has combined to make the area one of the most remote in Iceland until the last few decades of the 20th century when roads were significantly improved.

Getting there

By plane 1 Hornafjörður Airport (HFN IATA). Eagle Air flies from Reykjavík (RKV IATA) most days. The airport is some distance outside Höfn, though, and the only way into town is by driving. The airport does have one Budget Car Rental (book in advance as it's a small rental station).

By bus The bus stop in Höfn is the 2 N1 gas station just off the main road leading into town. From Reykjavík, there are two daily buses{ to Höfn. Buses leave from the Mjódd bus terminal in the south of the city, the ride takes 8-9 hours and may entail a transfer in Hvolsvöllur. Getting in by bus from Egilsstaðir (or Seyðisfjörður, where ferries from Denmark arrive) in the east of the country is doable but requires transfers in Reyðarfjörður and Breiðdalsvík and possibly an overnight stay in the latter.

By car The Ring Road is the main road (and in places, the only road) through the entire Hornafjörður area, but Höfn is a few kilometers off the Ring Road and is connected to it by road nr. 99. Höfn is a little over 450 km from Reykjavík and between 200 and 250 km from Egilsstaðir, depending on which route is taken.

Getting around

By car If you have a car, it's easy enough to get around and quite difficult to get lost.

By public transportation The only means of public transportation is a single taxi which can be ordered by calling ☏ +354 865 4353 – however the town is easily small enough to walk around.

See

In Höfn Höfn can hardly be praised for architectural beauty, but a walk around the harbour can be nice and there is a bird reserve south of the harbor with good walkways. Most of the sights in the area are in fact in the nature outside Höfn. Nevertheless, the town has a few museums that can be of interest:

1 Gamlabúð Folk Museum, Víkurbraut (by the main road leading into town). In an old, white timber building on the outskirts of town, this museum focuses on the lives of local people during the period between 1850 and 1950. (The building and the museum have been moved to the harbor area.) 2 Hornafjörður Art Museum, Hafnarbraut 27. A small gallery which hosts exhibitions of the municipal art collection and contemporary local artists. 3 Huldusteinn, Hafnarbraut 11, ☏ +354 866 2820. 14:00-21:00. Collecting rocks is a popular hobby in East Iceland. This private collection of rocks has been opened in Höfn's old swimming pool. Rather odd, but definitely interesting for geology enthusiasts.

Around Höfn

Organized tours with some of the many tour companies based in Höfn may be the easiest way to get around the area, and the safest way to explore the glaciers. The area surrounding Höfn has some of the most stunning nature in Iceland. The lowland area a narrow band of floodplains between the sea and the glacier-topped mountains, where large glacial rivers are still relatively untamed. These floodplains are of a sort called sandur - the word is Icelandic for sand but has been adopted as the international scientific name for the sandy floodplains of glacial rivers found almost exclusively in Iceland and Svalbard. The largest such sandur is 4 Skeiðarársandur, which wasn't bridged until the 1970s. The mountains are among the highest in Iceland. 5 Öræfajökull is a sub-glacier of Vatnajökull which contains Iceland's tallest mountain, Hvannadalshnjúkur. In the valleys between the mountains, Vatnajökull has a number of icefalls which are accessible by gravel tracks and for t

Do

In Höfn 1 Swimming pool (Sundlaug), Víkurbraut 9. M-F 06:45-21:00, Sa Su 10:00-19:00. The town offers few activities, although the swimming pool is impressive for a town of this size. (updated Sep 2017) During a few days in late June or early July every year the lobster festival Humarhátíð is celebrated in Höfn. The celebrations include concerts and other performances, competitions, a fun fair, general merrymaking and of course different foods made with lobster.

Outside Höfn Many great hiking locations are in the area, most mountains other than the very highest can be safely hiked in good weather. Northeast of Höfn is Lónsöræfi, a wilderness which is one of Iceland's great hiking areas perfect for day-long hikes. Lónsöræfi is a part of Vatnajökull National Park, but not easily accessible from any other part of the park. Most activities in the area are related to Vatnajökull and its many icefalls. Information about licensed guides can be obtained from the local tourist information by calling +354 470 8084. Tour companies include:

Vatnajokull Travel, Bugðuleiru 3, Höfn farm, ☏ +354 894 1616, [email protected]. Transportation and travel packages in the region of Vatnajökull Glacier, all year round. From Coast to Mountain (Öræfaferðir), Hofsnes farm, ☏ +354 894 0894, [email protected]. A number of different tours including ice climbing, kayaking and bird watching. Glacierjeeps, ☏ +354 894 3133, [email protected]. Jeep tours on to Vatnajökull from a base at Skálfellsjökull icefall. Jökulsárlón, ☏ +354 478 2122. Boat tours are available on the glacier lagoon, lasting 30-40 minutes.

Buy

The arts and crafts scene is very active in Höfn and some good souvenir shopping is possible if you keep your eyes open. A few artists have workshops and galleries in Mikligarður, an old building by the harbor. For day-to-day needs, head to the 1 Miðbær mini-mall in the center of town by Hafnarbraut.

2 Handraðinn, Víkurbraut (by the N1 gas station). 1 May-3 Sept: daily 09:00-18:00; rest of the year: F 11:00-18:00, Sa 13:00-17:00. A local crafts center.

Sleep

In Höfn 1 Guesthouse Hvammur, Ránarslóð 2, ☏ +354 478 1503, [email protected]. The main building of the guesthouse is by the harbour with functional rooms (a bed and a wardrobe) and a shared bathroom. A mo