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Town in Southern Region, Iceland
Photo: Maryam Laura Moazedi, www.moazedi.org, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Höfn (pronounced something like "herpn", also known as Höfn í Hornafirði, is a town in East Iceland, at the south-eastern corner of the country. Höfn sits by the lagoon (or fjord) Hornafjörður which is also the name of the large municipality of which the town is the centre and which covers the entire area of the county Austur-Skaftafellssýsla. This guide covers the town and the surrounding municipality, excluding the westernmost part which forms one of the main gateways to Vatnajökull National Park. For tourism purposes, the area calls itself the Vatnajökull Region: nowhere else is quite as dominated by Europe's largest glacier, nowhere else have people learned to live in such close quarters with the huge sheet of ice.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
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.)
A small gallery which hosts exhibitions of the municipal art collection and contemporary local artists.
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.
Sundlaug
The town offers few activities, although the swimming pool is impressive for a town of this size.
Transportation and travel packages in the region of Vatnajökull Glacier, all year round.
Öræfaferðir
A number of different tours including ice climbing, kayaking and bird watching.
Jeep tours on to Vatnajökull from a base at Skálfellsjökull icefall.
Boat tours are available on the glacier lagoon, lasting 30-40 minutes.
A fast food joint with burgers and subs. It also functions as a drive-through, though given that Höfn is less than a kilometer across the popularity of this is intriguing.
Specializing in lobster (humar in Icelandic), this slightly up-scale restaurant serves absolutely delicious food in a historic building close to the harbor. Officially only open in summer, but do phone in low season, they may open the restaurant just for you with no extra fees.
A cozy restaurant/café/pub with rather typical soups, sandwiches, pasta dishes, etc., at fair prices.
Restaurant located the same building as Hótel Höfn, specialising in local food at rather high prices.
The main building of the guesthouse is by the harbour with functional rooms (a bed and a wardrobe) and a shared bathroom. A more upmarket set of rooms uptown (right by the N1 gas station where the coaches stop) offer quirky furniture and rather good art and ensuite bathrooms - however you will still need to trek down to the main guesthouse to get breakfast.
A 1960s-style hotel with a great view.
Open all year.
Modern rooms, breakfast included.
A small guesthouse at a working farm 30 km west of Höfn.
A guesthouse at the farm where Þórbergur Þórðarson, one of the largest names in Icelandic literature, grew up.
A country hotel midway between Höfn and Jökulsárlón, open all year.
A local crafts center.
By bus
The bus stop in Höfn is the N1 gas station just off the main road leading into town.
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.
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.
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Höfn · Regional · HFN
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