Iceland - Route 1 and Beyond

Iceland - Route 1 and Beyond If you're considering a visit to Iceland, you might find this Page a helpful place
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Update: The Hornafjörður TollThe time window to pay the toll is now 12 hours. After commencing charging for the new toll...
07/09/2026

Update: The Hornafjörður Toll

The time window to pay the toll is now 12 hours.

After commencing charging for the new toll road last week with a 5-hour window, this has now been extended to 12 hours.

You’ll need to visit www.spolur.is to enter your plate, with charges starting at 1500 ISK for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes.

The Turf-Roofed Church at VíðimýrarkirkjaClose to Varmahlíð in North Iceland, there’s a turn off Route 1 to visit the pr...
06/09/2026

The Turf-Roofed Church at Víðimýrarkirkja

Close to Varmahlíð in North Iceland, there’s a turn off Route 1 to visit the pretty church of Víðimýrarkirkja.

An excellent example of Iceland’s famous turf-roofed churches, Víðimýrarkirkja was built around 1834, following earlier places of worship located here that date back to the 12th century.

Víðimýrarkirkja is a timber-frame structure, covered with turf on its outer walls and roof.

There are six turf-roofed churches like this remaining in Iceland, three of which still serve as parish churches.

Hofskirkja is another example, on the other side of the country in southeast Iceland.

In 1936, Víðimýrarkirkja became the first historical building to be acquired by the nation for the National Museum of Iceland, which subsequently restored it to its original condition.

An ideal photo stop, Víðimýrarkirkja is well worth a visit!

The Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ RollEven if you haven’t visited Iceland yet, you’re almost certain to have heard music ...
04/09/2026

The Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Even if you haven’t visited Iceland yet, you’re almost certain to have heard music from the Land of Fire and Ice.

There’s Björk, Sigur Rós, Of Monsters and Men, KALEO, Emilíana Torrini, Daði Freyr, Laufey, Ásgeir, Ólafur Arnalds, and many more incredible artists.

How can a country with such a small population produce so many great artists?

Rokksafn (the Icelandic Museum of Rock ’n’ Roll) is the place to go to find out!

And it’s free to enter!

It’s the perfect place to learn about Iceland’s rich musical heritage.

Located close to Keflavík, it’s a great option if you have spare time before or after your flight.

The opening hours are 09:00–18:00 on weekdays and 10:00–17:00 on weekends.

You can find Rokksafn at Hljómahöll, Hjallavegur 2, Reykjanesbær.

And if you’re interested in hearing more Icelandic music, this Spotify playlist is somewhere to start!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0lzaXiJTUxctjWbaOTbZw9?si=5cd394e657f84b61

Akureyri’s Swimming Pool has a new indoor pool!If there’s one thing that all Icelanders love, it’s spending time in thei...
03/09/2026

Akureyri’s Swimming Pool has a new indoor pool!

If there’s one thing that all Icelanders love, it’s spending time in their marvellous hot pots and geothermally heated swimming pools.

Long before bars and coffee shops became popular, this is where Icelanders met every day to relax, share their news, and see friends and family.

Sundlaugs in Icelandic communities serve much the same purpose as the sauna in Finland, the pub in England or the café in France.

One of the finest leisure complexes in the country, Akureyri’s stunning swimming pool is an attraction for the whole family.

Sundlaug Akureyrar has two 25-metre outdoor pools, five hot tubs, wading pools for the children, and a “cool-down” tub.

https://sundlaugar.is/en/sundlaugasafn/akureyri-swimming-pool/

And now, after an extensive renovation project, its indoor pool is ready for visitors!

* The interiors have been modernised to create a brighter and more welcoming atmosphere
* A wheelchair ramp has been added and walkways have been widened, improving accessibility
* Water filtration and circulation has been modernised

The outdoor pools are heated to comfortable temperatures year-round, using the abundant geothermal energy Iceland is famous for.

The towering water slides (including the longest in Iceland) add a sense of fun, and all three have water jets to increase the speed of descent into the splash pool!

Adult admission is just 1400 ISK, a fraction of the price of the more famous geothermal spas.

Sundlaug Akureyrar is at the top of a steep hill, and the views over Eyjafjörður are extraordinary!

Winter hours: Mon–Fri 06:45–21:00, Sat–Sun 09:00–19:00

Summer hours: Mon–Fri 06:45–21:00, Sat 08:00–21:00, Sun 08:00–19:30

Winter Whale Watching with The Friends of Moby DickEven though summer is coming to an end, the whale watching season nev...
02/09/2026

Winter Whale Watching with The Friends of Moby Dick

Even though summer is coming to an end, the whale watching season never really ends in Iceland.

More and more whales are staying in Icelandic waters all year round, so almost every day offers an opportunity to see them.

If you’re heading to Húsavík for a whale watching trip, you might wonder which tour operator to use.

There’s a lot of cooperation and mutual support between the companies to help visitors make the most of their time in Húsavík.

Choosing the right tour for you depends on the sailing schedule, the time of year you’re visiting,and the type of experience you’re looking for.

You can choose to sail out into Skjálfandi Bay in traditional oak fishing boats, fast RIB speedboats, multi-sail schooners or silent and carbon-neutral electric boats.

Or you can combine whale watching with puffin spotting, horse riding, or sea angling to add to the experience.

One option is Friends of Moby Dick, a small, family-run company with more than thirty years of experience in whale watching in Húsavík.

Intentionally small-scale and focused on a more personal, relaxed experience, Friends of Moby Dick also runs tours in the winter months.

Friends of Moby Dick have two boats: a traditional oak boat with an open deck called Moby Dick for the summer, and Vinur, an all-season boat with a heated indoor saloon, huge windows, and multiple outdoor viewing decks.

That means you can keep warm and snug indoors until Vinur reaches the whales, making it a much more comfortable experience in the winter months.

That’s ideal for visitors coming to Iceland on the easyJet service to Akureyri in the winter.

You can rent a car in Akureyri and be in Húsavík an hour later, take a whale watching tour and be back in Akureyri that evening.

Friends of Moby Dick prides itself on decades of knowledge and experience, with responsible whale watching at its core, led by head captain and owner Arnar Sigurðsson and head guide and marine biologist Madalena Gaspar.

Check their website for more details.

https://www.friendsofmobydick.is/

The new toll road across HornafjörðurAs of this morning, Iceland has TWO toll roads.The new Ring Road section across Hor...
01/09/2026

The new toll road across Hornafjörður

As of this morning, Iceland has TWO toll roads.

The new Ring Road section across Hornafjörður, which opened in June, is now chargeable, starting at 1500 ISK for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes.

You won’t need to register online or pay at booths - it’s all automated, with cameras recording your vehicle’s licence plate.

https://www.vegagerdin.is/en/about-us/operation/news/gjaldtaka-a-hringvegi-1-um-hornafjord-hefst-i-september

This new causeway shaves 12 kilometres off the old Ring Road route between Jökulsárlón and Höfn, and takes three single-lane bridges out of the route.

It’s estimated that drivers will save 15-20 minutes on this new route.

The other toll road in Iceland is the Vaðlaheiði tunnel outside Akureyri.

Of course, you could just continue to drive the “old route” at no charge!

The Swimming Cow of FlateyriBack in 1987, a cow named Harpa was being led by her owner to the slaughterhouse in Flateyri...
27/08/2026

The Swimming Cow of Flateyri

Back in 1987, a cow named Harpa was being led by her owner to the slaughterhouse in Flateyri, in the Westfjords.

But instead of meekly accepting her fate, she made a break for freedom, jumping into Flateyri’s harbour and swimming across Önundarfjörður.

She kept going, all the way across the fjord, until she reached a farm called Valþjófsdalur, a distance of nearly three kilometres!

She survived the swim, and the people of Flateyri, moved by this feat of endurance and spirit, spared her original fate and renamed her Sæunn (She of the Sea).

She lived happily on the farm for the rest of her days, and was buried by the shore, overlooking the scene of her Great Escape.

You can enjoy the whole story in this excellent illustrated book, available at The Old Bookstore in Flateyri.

Sæunn’s swim is now recreated every year wth Sæunnarsund, when as many as thirty brave locals swim the other way, from Valþjófsdalur towards Flateyri.

https://saeunnarsund.is/

If you’re in the Westfjords on Saturday, why not pop along to Flateyri and watch Sæunnarsund?

On the way, pop into Kaffi Sól, a charming café with extraordinary views, near the turn for Flateyri off Route 60. When the Icelandic flag is flying outside, it’s open!

Try the cinnamon buns or the lumpfish on rye bread, enjoy a lovely chat with the owner, Guðrún, and maybe learn more about that famous cow!

Hamraborg Festival: August 28 – September 4Starting on Friday, the Hamraborg Festival will take place in Kópavogur, clos...
27/08/2026

Hamraborg Festival: August 28 – September 4

Starting on Friday, the Hamraborg Festival will take place in Kópavogur, close to the capital.

There’s an exciting line-up of visual art exhibitions, live music performances, scavenger hunts, readings, screenings, dance works, street art, and more!

It’s all free and open to everyone.

This year’s festival runs from August 28 to September 4 and takes place at cultural centres, shops, cafés, offices, and public spaces throughout Hamraborg.

Look out for events taking place at the Natural History Museum, Gerðarsafn, the Kópavogur Library, Visitor, EuroMarket, Polo V**e Shop, and elsewhere.

Check out these links for more details!

https://www.hamraborgfestival.is/en

https://www.hamraborgfestival.is/en/artist

https://www.hamraborgfestival.is/en/event

https://www.facebook.com/Hamraborgfestival

Where art is everywhere — and everyone is welcome!

The Street Art of ReykjavíkAs you might expect in a country that punches well above its weight in most areas of life, Re...
26/08/2026

The Street Art of Reykjavík

As you might expect in a country that punches well above its weight in most areas of life, Reykjavík has a healthy, vibrant street art scene, with dozens of eye-catching displays scattered across the city.

A walk down Laugavegur will reveal some of the city’s finest examples of street art.

And if you venture further into Vesturbær, you will discover more marvellous murals in the residential streets surrounding the Old Harbour and around Grandi, the old fish-packing district.

This fantastic map, made by the City of Reykjavík, will tell you where to look to see the best of the capital’s street art scene.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1BXUgX_wMVL4f_uVkDHo4TWijdMYqyduV&ll=64.13034707159426%2C-21.883313785742185&z=11

Currently, there are 201 street art scenes to see, up from 162 this time last year.

In an ever-changing city, don’t be surprised to find new works going up too.

Have fun searching for as many as you can find!

https://www.facebook.com/Reykjavik

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