11 Best Things To Do In Höfn, Iceland

things to do in Hofn Iceland
Shamika
Shamika 
Updated
| 5 min read

Höfn, also known as Höfn í Hornafirði, is a beautiful and picturesque fishing town that is the capital of South Eastern Iceland. Known to be a popular tourist destination, it attracts people from all over the world as it has a lot to offer to anyone interested in traditional Icelandic culture and cuisine. In addition, it is also favoured by nature enthusiasts due to its proximity to breathtakingly beautiful mountains where you can go hiking, mountain climbing or boating in the springs. However, the biggest highlight of this lovely old town is the public that lives here. The open-minded yet reserved Icelandic people make you feel welcome here in their own way, and it is truly a pleasure to be able to make new friends. So if you are planning a trip to the town of Höfn, read on as we explore the various interesting things to do in Höfn, Iceland.

1. Go for a dip at Sundlaug Hornafjarðar

Í dag er frábært veður til þess að skella sér í laugina. Opið til klukkan 21:00!

Posted by Sundlaug Hafnar on Thursday, 3 October 2013

Sundlaug Hornafjarðar is a sprawling and huge outdoor pool that was constructed fairly recently. It is a great place to spend a quiet morning doing some laps. There is a special children’s swimming pool if you are travelling with kids, as well as two hot tubs and sauna facility. The sauna culture is something you must experience when in Iceland, so don’t miss out on paying this lovely place a visit!

Sundlaug Hornafjarðar

Address: Sundlaug Hornafjarðar, Höfn, Iceland

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6:45am - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm

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2. Swing by Listasafn Svavars Guðnasonar Art Museum

Posted by Svavarssafn on Tuesday, 20 August 2019

If you are interested in art and culture, this is a great place to check out when you are in Iceland. The Listasafn Svavars Guðnasonar is a famous art gallery and museum that hosts a wide variety of over 500 paintings and art exhibits for you to enjoy. It especially has Eastern art, but you can also find more contemporary art pieces here. The gallery also hosts multiple events and workshops for you to attend, where you can learn about the history of art. So be sure to look up any upcoming workshops or events online so that you don’t miss any while you are here in Iceland.

Listasafn Svavars Guðnasonar

Address: Hafnarbraut 27, Hofn 780, Iceland

Website: Listasafn Svavars Guðnasonar

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 3pm; Sat - Sun: 1pm - 5pm

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3. Explore interesting books and artefacts at Gamlabúð

Posted by Gamlabúð - Vatnajökull National Park on Sunday, 31 March 2019

Another must-visit venue when you are in Höfn is the Gamlabúð visitor centre that is adjacent to the National park. This place explains in detail the history of the flora and fauna in this fishing town, and also shows nature documentaries that are extremely interesting to watch. There is a shoppe where you can buy books, souvenirs and other unique artefacts to take home with you. This visitor centre pays special attention to the incredible birdlife in the town, as they wish to impress upon their audience how dangerous climate change will be to the bird population in the future.

Gamlabúð

Address: Heppuvegur 1, 780 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Gamlabúð

Opening hours: 9am - 7pm (daily)

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4. Try some delicious seafood at Pakkhús Restaurant

Humar er svoooo góður, braðnar alveg í munni :) Our langoustine tastes sooo good :) #pakkhusrestaurant #pakkhus #hofn...

Posted by Pakkhús Restaurant on Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Constructed in a beautiful warehouse setting like the kind you see in bars these days, this awesome restaurant offers authentic Icelandic cuisine along with some international flavours. The prices are extremely reasonable for anyone, and the food is highly praised by its customers. Because Höfn is a fishing town, it would be a mistake to not try the seafood here. Go for the delicious lobsters, we are sure that you will be left smacking your fingers and asking for more!

Pakkhús Restaurant

Address: Krosseyjarvegur 3, 780 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Pakkhús Restaurant

Opening hours: 12pm - 10pm (daily)

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5. Attend an interesting lecture at Nýheimar

Posted by Nýheimar þekkingarsetur on Friday, 20 January 2017

This is a government-run museum that has a ton of different kinds of artefacts on display. This is also a knowledge centre that hosts lectures for its visitors on a regular basis, and you can attend some of the lectures that open to the public. The organisation is very welcoming and will encourage you to discover your own area of interest here, and engage with it. The building it is located in is also well worth witnessing, with its unique architecture.

Nýheimar

Address: Höfn, Iceland

Website: Nýheimar

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6. Shop till you drop at Handradinn

Posted by Handraðinn Hornafirði on Monday, 16 September 2019

If you are interested in Scandinavian knitwear and unique local souvenirs to carry home for yourself or your loved ones, head on over to Handradinn. With a wide range of different clothes, knitwear, accessories, home decor elements and more, you are sure to find some amazing stuff here. From adorable handmade sweaters to beautiful paintings for your home, from unique showpieces and desk decor elements to spooky dolls, everything here is just so adorable that you will feel like buying out the whole store!

Handradinn

Address: 4, Víkurbraut, 780 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Handradinn

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7. Witness the Northern Lights at Höfn Universe Sculpture

Aurora Borealis
Source: Unsplash

The Aurora Borealis has mesmerised and enchanted humans for a very long time. One of the places you can witness this magical phenomenon is at the Höfn Universe Sculpture. The beautiful monument is set in the scale of the universe and has interesting architecture, making for very unique and photogenic pictures. This is a great place to rent a vehicle and drive out here in the middle of the night to sleep under the stars.

Höfn Universe Sculpture

Address: Óslandsvegur, 780 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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8. Try glacier hiking at Glacier Adventure

Our Ice Cave Adventure Tour is starting on the 1st of October. The tour starts from our meeting point Hali, only 15...

Posted by Glacier Adventure on Friday, 27 September 2019

Have you ever wanted to try ice climbing or glacier hiking atop a glacier? If you have an adventurer’s spirit, then you are sure to love this activity. Ice climbing is a popular sport in countries where glaciers form steep mountains made of ice. This is a great opportunity to push yourself past your comfort zone and brave the cold. The view underneath the glaciers is breathtakingly magnificent and unlike anything else you might have seen, making the effort completely worth it.

Glacier Adventure

Address: Hali 2, Suðursveit, 781 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Glacier Adventure

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)

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9. Go on a unique adventure at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours

Posted by Glacier Lagoon - Jökulsárlón on Tuesday, 9 July 2019

Everyone has been boating, but boating amongst glaciers as you witness the amazing picturesque mountains in the background is another experience entirely. With Jökulsárlón boat tours, you can experience adventure boating, taste ice that is over 1000 years old and check out the marine creatures that live underneath the freezing waters. This company does multiple trips throughout the day, but the most favourable seasons for tourists are in the relatively warmer summer months of July to October.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours

Address: Jökulsárlón, 781 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours

Opening hours: 9am - 7pm (daily)

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10. Eat a slice of pizza at Ishusid Pizzeria Restaurant

Posted by Íshúsið Pizzeria on Thursday, 20 September 2018

Imagine enjoying fresh seafood to the sound of the waves rushing up the shore in the distance, as you smell the cool sea breeze. This is exactly the kind of experience you can expect at Ishusid Pizzeria Restaurant, as you enjoy delicious Italian food. Whether you love pizzas or you are a fan of traditional Icelandic food, you will get a wide assortment of different foods prepared lovingly here. This is a great place to go if you have younger kids who are craving pizza.

Ishusid Pizzeria Restaurant

Address: Heppuvegur 2a, 780 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Ishusid Pizzeria Restaurant

Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 5pm - 9pm; Sat: 5pm - 9:30pm

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11. Enjoy classic fast food at Hafnarbuðin

Posted by Hafnarbúðin on Monday, 19 March 2018

Sometimes we all want some comfort food that costs less and fills you up quickly. If you are craving for a classic old-school diner experience with fast food such as burgers and French fries, this is the only restaurant you should consider. The service here is rocket fast, so if you find your tummy growling, you can be assured that the servers will get your food out as soon as possible. Guests loved the sandwiches here, as well as the hearty breakfast spread. Go for this restaurant to pile on the carbs before heading out for a glacier hike in the freezing, biting cold.

Hafnarbuðin

Address: Ránarslóð 12, Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland

Website: Hafnarbuðin

Opening hours: 9am - 10pm (daily)

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Experience a different and unique beach vacation at Höfn

Whether it is treating yourself to some delicious seafood or warming up in front of a fire with the wind roaring against the windows, Iceland represents the best of cosy and relaxed living. The town of Höfn has grown to what it is today because of its booming fishing industry. So take advantage of the opportunity to eat freshly caught seafood, and enjoy the best Icelandic life has to offer at Höfn. Book your tickets today!

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Being a military kid, Shamika has lived and travelled all over India, and her nomadic childhood has fueled an immense hunger and fascination for new cultures and languages (she's a polyglot!)...Read more

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