Town Guides
The Reykjavík Grapevine tells you all you need to know about the various villages and towns of Iceland outside Reykjavík
Most read
Latest
-
Hveragerði Town Guide: Local Beer & Geothermal Bathing
Hveragerði is the first town people pass through when they drive south from Reykjavík towards the natural wonders of the country’s southern coast. Thousands of people trundle through every day, but few venture beyond the roadside gas stations and long terraces of…
-
Reykjahlíð Town Guide: Nature Hikes, Plane Rides And Cows
Tucked away on the shores of Lake Mývatn lies the tiny village of Reykjahlíð, an unassuming, no-frills place that’s home to only 300 inhabitants. It has a sleepy charm that requires you to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and just…
-
Hafnarfjörður Town Guide: Herbs, Huldfólk And Home Cooking
Although it’s attached to the Greater Reykjavík area, the seaside town Hafnarfjörður is a separate municipality from Iceland’s capital, with a personality all its own. Hafnarfjörður has a small-town feeling that’s long gone from Reykjavík’s puffin shop-infested central strip—with bakeries, independent shops,…
-
Heimaey Town Guide: Fine Dining And A Living Landscape
Vestmannaeyjar—or the Westman Islands—are one of Iceland’s most dramatic spots. Accessible daily by plane or ferry, this tiny volcanic archipelago of eleven islands—and some smaller islets—is home to just one town, located on the main island of Heimaey. The twin volcanoes of…
-
Bolungarvík Town Guide: Camping, Family Trees, and Maritime Museums
The northernmost village in the Westfjords, Bolungarvík, is a fishing village that is home to 900 residents. Despite the small population, the town stands true to the adage of quality over quantity. With lots to do and plenty to see, it is…
-
Sauðárkrókur Town Guide: VR Puffins, Local Craft Beer & Fishy Business
If you’re seeking to get away to a place with a small town’s charm and slow tempo, Sauðárkrókur, located in Northwest Iceland, may well be your cup of tea. The village is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Reykjavík, and home to approximately…
-
Ísafjörður Town Guide: Feeding Foxes and Seafood To Die For
Ísafjörður is the de facto capital of the Westfjords, and despite having a population of just 2,500, it shows. It’s isolated—almost a six-hour drive from Reykjavík—but it boasts a vibrant cultural life and a grand history. Ísafjörður was once one of the…
-
Vík Town Guide: Fish Burgers, Black Sands & Scratchy Magic
Vík í Mýrdal, the southernmost town in Iceland, is a two-and-a-half or three-and-a-half hours’ drive from Reykjavík, depending on how often you get out of the car, and so for many people it’s the natural end point of a day trip taking…
-
Tórshavn Town Guide: Couture Knitwear, Vinyl Records & Faroese Design
The Faroese capital of Tórshavn is an interesting little place, with a historic harbour, colourful seaside houses, a busy marina, and a bustling little shopping centre. We went digging around for some music, culture and a damn fine cup of coffee—here’s what…
-
Flúðir Town Guide: Tomatoes, Ethiopian Food And Soccer Golf
A half an hour’s drive inland from the ring road, Flúðir is a tiny town often overlooked by those looking to circle the island in their limited time in the country. The municipal area is home to 800 people, smack dab in…
-
Siglufjörður Town Guide: Hikes, Herring And Hot Pots
In the international TV hit ‘Trapped’, Siglufjörður is a place of dismembered corpses and human trafficking; dark secrets and guilty consciences; a CGI ferry looming ominously in the harbour; endless nights of snow and wind; and one very tired, very sexy crime-solving,…
-
Seyðisfjörður Town Guide: Music, Waterfalls, Galleries & LungA
Tucked away in the Eastfjords, over a winding mountain pass, lies the small but perfectly formed port town of Seyðisfjörður. Home to 665 people, it feels like a miniature world of its own. Its wooden houses and picturesque blue church are cradled…
-
Stykkishólmur Town Guide: Art, Sushi, Glaciers & Volcanoes
Of all the small towns around Iceland’s coastline, Stykkishólmur—population 1195—is one of the most charming. The small harbour is enclosed by a small, easily hikeable cliff that offers views out into the island-dotted fjord, and for such a small place, there’s plenty…