Vestrahorn Mountain & Stokksnes Black Dunes
Iconic 454-metre jagged gabbro mountain rising straight out of tidal black sands and sea grass dunes
Walk across reflective wet sands capturing world-famous mirror reflections of Vestrahorn.
Stokksnes
Höfn & Hornafjörður, Iceland
Ideal: 1–2 daysBest: May–SepPrice: Expensive
In 60 seconds
Höfn & Hornafjörður in 60 seconds
Perched on a narrow peninsula in southeastern Iceland surrounded by immense ocean lagoons and glacial rivers, Höfn is the lobster capital of Iceland. Overlooked by the colossal ice dome of Vatnajökull and the dramatic black sand dunes of Stokksnes beneath the jagged peaks of Vestrahorn, it is the premier gateway for southeastern glacier exploration.
Nature
Best for
- Coast
- Glaciers
- Food
- Photography
Known for
- Höfn Langoustine Festival (Humarhátíð)
- Vestrahorn and Stokksnes black dunes
- Vatnajökull glacier views
- Pakkhús Restaurant
- Gamlabúð Folk Museum
Skip if
You are short on time and cannot make the 5.5-hour drive east from Reykjavík along the southern Ring Road.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Höfn & Hornafjörður fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Höfn Fishing Harbour & Pier
Active commercial fishing harbour where deep-sea trawlers unload fresh catches of langoustine, cod and capelin
Watch fishing vessels navigate the narrow tidal entrance with glacier tongues shining behind.
Hafnarfjara
Gamlabúð Folk Museum
Preserved 1864 wooden merchant storehouse documenting the maritime history and everyday life of southeastern Icelanders
Tour heritage fishing exhibits and learn about early glacier transport across raging glacial rivers.
Keskusta
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Casual
No booking, no ceremony, reliably good.
Humarhöfnin
ExpensiveRenowned culinary institution devoted entirely to Hornafjörður lobster dishes and fresh catch of the day
Taste pan-fried lobster tails, lobster pizza and creamy langoustine bisque.
Hafnarbraut
Kaffi Hornið
ModerateWarm wooden family restaurant in central Höfn serving hearty lobster soups, local lamb and wood-fired pizzas
Enjoy local Vatnajökull craft beers and homemade berry cakes.
Hafnarbraut
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Pakkhús Restaurant
Very expensiveAcclaimed harbourfront restaurant in a historic 1932 timber warehouse specializing in local langoustine
Feast on whole sautéed langoustine tails in herb garlic butter with fresh bread.
Krosseyjarvegur
Íshúsið Pizzeria & Cafe
InexpensiveCharming quayside cafe and pizza oven set in an old icehouse overlooking the fishing fleet
Sip espresso on the sunny harbour deck while watching boats dock.
Krosseyjarvegur
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Hoffell Geothermal Hot Tubs
Cluster of rustic stone-lined geothermal tubs tucked at the foot of Hoffellsjökull glacier tongue
Soak in hot mineral waters while gazing up at immense blue glacier ice cascades.
Hoffell
Viking Village Film Set (Stokksnes)
Elaborate full-scale replica of a medieval turf Viking settlement built for a movie at the base of Vestrahorn
Wander between turf-roofed timber halls, palisades and wooden carving workshops.
Stokksnes
Ósland Nature Reserve
Green coastal headland connected by a causeway, holding walking paths through nesting Arctic tern colonies
Follow shoreline paths to panoramic viewpoints overlooking Hornafjörður lagoon.
Ósland
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Pakkhús Lounge
ModerateUpstairs bar in the historic warehouse stocking regional Icelandic craft ales and gins
Toast the midnight sun with an Icelandic single malt or craft IPA.
Krosseyjarvegur
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Harbour & Krosseyjarvegur
Vibrant waterfront district where historic storehouses meet modern seafood restaurants and piers
Stroll the docks admiring glacier views across the lagoon.
Hafnargata
Ósland Headland
Protected coastal sanctuary with gravel walking loops and rich birdlife
Enjoy peaceful evening strolls listening to crashing ocean surf.
Ósland
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Höfn Town Hotels & Guesthouses
Central accommodations within walking distance of the harbor and restaurants
Convenient base for evening seafood dinners.
Stokksnes & Country Farm Guesthouses
Scenic countryside lodges situated beneath Vestrahorn mountain
Unrivaled landscape vistas and early morning photography access.
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting There
- Situated on the Ring Road (Route 1); daily regional flights link Reykjavík to Hornafjörður Airport (HFN).
- Stokksnes Admission
- A modest private access fee is required at the Viking Cafe to enter the Stokksnes peninsula and Vestrahorn beach.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1897
Founded when merchant Ottó Tuliníus establishes the first permanent trading post on the peninsula.
- 1950s
The introduction of modern trawling turns Höfn into Iceland's unrivaled capital for langoustine fishing.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
World-famous glacial lagoon filled with luminous blue icebergs drifting out to the black Diamond Beach
Take an amphibious boat tour among colossal sculpted icebergs.
50 min west
Heinaberg Glacier Lagoon
Secluded, crowd-free glacier lagoon accessible via gravel track, ideal for kayak tours
Paddle sea kayaks between silent icebergs away from Ring Road crowds.
35 min west