Höfn is a popular base for travellers looping the ring road, offering a wider range of facilities, accommodation, and eateries than other, smaller settlements along this part of the southeast coast. Don’t pass by without sampling a little of what it has to offer: here are the top ten things to do in Höfn and its surroundings.
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Vatnajökull’s immense size means it has many outlet glaciers radiating out from its edge like fingers. One of these is Fjallsjökull glacier, which is above us here at Fjallsárlón, while another is Svínafellsjökull glacier located close by. We’d suggest you make time for both as you travel along Iceland’s scenic south coast, so here’s what to see and do at Svínafellsjökull.
Skaftafell is located in the heart of Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland. It has been protected since 1967 and is a breathtaking wilderness that combines spectacular natural scenery with cultural heritage. You’ll pass by on the way to Fjallsárlón if you’re coming from the west. Like many places in Iceland, Skaftafell boasts extraordinary landscape and is a good focus point for several outdoor activities, not least scenic hikes. At Skaftafell, you will also find food trucks, good camping grounds and tourist information centre if you decide you want to stay overnight.
When you travel, is food your thing? Getting to know an area’s cuisine and trying out its restaurants and cafés can be a great way of finding out about the cultural heritage of a place. But even more than that it’s a chance to enjoy delicious food in new surroundings. If you haven’t eaten at Frost Restaurant while you’ve been visiting Fjallsárlón, you might be feeling peckish by the time you reach Höfn. Or perhaps it’s your next overnight stop. Either way, here’s our food lover’s guide to Höfn in Iceland, including where to track down the best eats and treats.
Fjallsárlón is an exquisite lagoon whose backdrop is Fjallsjökull, one of the outlet glaciers of magnificent Vatnajökull (see photo above). Here, the glacier drops down steeply towards the water, adding drama and accentuating the contrast between the lake and its background. Trust us, this is a landscape worthy of the overused epithet awesome.
In recent years, Iceland has become a popular destination for travelers all year round. This is a big change from the time Iceland was mostly visited in July and August. The Southeast of Iceland boasts of natural attractions such as Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Skaftafell National Park, Diamond beach, Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Mulagljufur canyon.
The Icelandic horse is the original breed that the first inhabitants, vikings of Iceland brought with them in the early settlement of Iceland in 874. Many believe that the settlers picked out the very best livestock possible to transfer oversea when they relocated to a land with such harsh weather conditions. It is also believed that once livestock had been established in Iceland that the settlers that followed soon ceased bringing livestock with them and simply purchased what they needed from previous settlers.
Icebergs are large chunks of ice that break off glaciers. They come in all shapes and sizes and more than one color. At Fjallsarlon iceberg lagoon and Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon in Southeast Iceland you will see them floating around during spring, summer, and autumn.
There is so much to see and do in Iceland! It can be hard to pick which nature attractions to stop at or which boat tours to book with limited time travelling in the country. You could spend weeks or even months travelling and always find some new destinations to explore or tours to book. There are several sightseeing boat tours in Iceland that could change an already good holiday to an unforgettable holiday, read on for more information!
The vast black sands and black beaches you find in the South of Iceland often leave many feeling as though they’ve stepped onto another planet. The most famous black sand beaches in Iceland are the Diamond beach and the Black Beach (Reynisfjara). Another frequently visited tourist attraction is the airplane wreck on Solheimasandur, black sand beach.