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Have you ever heard of the Tröllaskagi Peninsula? This mountainous peninsula in North Iceland is maybe probably the most stunning detour from the Ring Highway.
Tröllaskagi, which is Icelandic for Troll Peninsula, has lengthy been a well-liked vacation spot for Icelanders. However in the previous couple of years, it’s grow to be fairly a treasure for vacationers within the know.
Tröllaskagi was super-high on my listing of priorities for my Iceland highway journey. And I completely LOVED it right here.
So why ought to you come to Tröllaskagi?
For starters, this a part of Iceland is off the overwhelmed path — you received’t even discover crowds in excessive season.
Secondly, the surroundings is completely spellbinding. Tröllaskagi is dwelling to Iceland’s tallest mountains exterior the Highlands, tall and jagged and swooping over one another, forming deep valleys dotted with brightly coloured cottages. It’s a scenic drive for the ages.
Lastly, this peninsula is filled with attention-grabbing gems. An unimaginable museum. A spectacularly set swimming pool. The oldest church in Iceland. Basalt columns. And beautiful small cities with brightly painted cottages set towards the snow-capped mountains.
Visiting Tröllaskagi isn’t difficult — the roads are paved and it solely provides about an additional hour and a half of driving time.
So resist your dogmatic urge to remain on the Ring Highway — and are available detour across the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. You’re going to like it right here.
The place is Tröllaskagi?
The Tröllaskagi Peninsula is among the central peninsulas extending from Northern Iceland. It’s surrounded by a deep fjord on either side: Skagafjörður to the west and Eyjafjörður to the east. See the map above for the websites I point out.
The primary roads on this route are Route 76, operating from Varmalið to Ólafsfjörður, and Route 82, operating from Ólafsfjörður to Akureyri.
Town of Akureyri, generally known as the capital of the North, is within the southeast nook of the peninsula. Akureyri is nearly at all times a cease for Iceland Ring Highway vacationers, which makes Tröllaskagi a straightforward detour so as to add.
Including Tröllaskagi to an Iceland Ring Highway Itinerary
In case you are following the Ring Highway precisely, you’ll drive straight from Varmalið to Akureyri (or vice versa) and miss Tröllaskagi in its entirety. Driving Route One straight between these two cities will take you about 70 minutes.
And you realize what? There’s virtually nothing to see on that drive. It’s Iceland, so after all it’s stunning, however count on a number of limitless inexperienced hills and never a lot else.
BUT — in the event you head northward from both Varmalið or Akureyri by way of Siglufjörður, the drive will take you about two hours and 40 minutes. And it’ll embrace among the most dramatic surroundings you’ve seen within the nation.
Some individuals drive from Akureyri to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and even Reykjavík (eek!) in a single day. I do NOT advocate that; it’s a LONG day with method an excessive amount of driving. As an alternative, in a single day in Blönduós, a city in North Iceland with a number of lodging choices.
What to See in Tröllaskagi
I’m together with the listing of locations to see so as, from Sauðárkrókur to Akureyri, as that’s the order by which I visited them (and my Ring Highway guides on this website are all clockwise).
However you’re completely welcome to drive the peninsula in both path.
Black Seashore of Sauðárkrókur
Sauðárkrókur isn’t often a cease on an Iceland highway journey, nevertheless it does have a stunning black seaside with views of the mountains. Love Iceland’s black seashores? This one has considerably fewer individuals than Reynisfjara!
Sauðárkrókur can be the place you will get tours to Drangey Island, a nature haven crammed with puffins and different wildlife. Excursions take 3.5-4 hours, so I don’t advocate this until you’re spending just a few days in Tröllaskagi.
And in the event you want one thing to eat, Sauðárkrókur has a big N1 fuel station with an honest meals choice. (This was an enormous deal after our lengthy, desolate drive via rural West Iceland the day earlier than.) We loved our quick meals and Collab sodas earlier than shifting on.
Grafarkirkja
Grafarkirkja, positioned on the outskirts of Hofsós, is considered the oldest church in Iceland! This turfed church was constructed within the seventeenth century. That is your first cease in the event you’re driving the route clockwise.
Whereas Iceland has a number of church buildings with turfed roofs you could nonetheless go to right this moment, Grafarkirkja is exclusive in its decor, that includes beautiful hand-carved wood beams inside. And its location, in entrance of the mountains, makes for pretty pictures.
To get right here, you’ll must open a gate, drive via, shut the gate, park, after which stroll all the way in which as much as the home.
Hofsós
Hofsós is a really small city (inhabitants: 200) that was as soon as one of many main buying and selling facilities within the north of Iceland. At present it’s a relaxed and quiet place to go to, with beautiful views over Skagafjörður and the islands of Drangey and Málmey.
Hofsós can be dwelling to the Icelandic Immigration Center, which tells the tales of Icelanders who migrated to North America. The primary Icelanders believed to make this migration have been Thorfinnur Karlsefni and his spouse Guðríður Thorbjarnardóttir, who migrated from Hofsós to Vinland (now Newfoundland).
Hofsós has a campground and is value a fast stroll round — however what actually makes Hofsós particular is its swimming pool.
Hofsós Swimming Pool
This swimming pool put Hofsós on the tourism map! Hofsós Sundlaug is probably the most spectacularly set swimming pool in all of Iceland, on the sting of a cliff overlooking Skagafjörður. Whereas technically not an infinity pool, it seems like one — and you’ll’t beat these views.
The pool is a bit on the cooler facet by Icelandic requirements, however there’s a smaller scorching tub if you wish to soak. Although a tiny bit dear for Icelandic swimming pools, it’s a cut price in comparison with the Blue Lagoon or some other geothermal spa.
Admission to Hofsós Sundlaug is 1,090 ISK for adults and 325 ISK for youngsters 6-18, and free for youngsters underneath 6. The pool is open all day throughout summer time hours (often June 1-August 28), with noon closings through the winter. More info on their website here.
Staðarbjörg Basalt Columns
Proper subsequent to the swimming pool in Hofsós are the Staðarbjörg Basalt Columns — a stunning edge alongside the fjord. Right here yow will discover rows and rows of tall, elegant basalt columns, much like those you see in Stuðlagil Canyon in East Iceland.
There are climbing paths that lead additional down previous the columns for extra stunning views of the fjord. On a transparent day, there’s no higher view in Hofsós.
Viewpoints
The most effective viewpoints we noticed on our journey have been between Hofsós and Siglufjörður. That is probably the most visually putting stretch of Highway 76 by far! There may be one little cease with a picnic desk overlooking the deep valley between the mountains.
As at all times, solely pull over when there’s ample room to take action. Stopping randomly in the midst of these slim streets might be harmful to the individuals round you.
Langhús Farm
There are just a few locations for horseback driving in Tröllaskagi — and Langhús Farm is in an simply accessible a part of the Troll Peninsula, proper between Hofsós and Siglufjörður.
Langhús affords a wide range of horse driving excursions, together with Viking rides via the mountains, rides alongside black sand seashores, and a few longer mixture choices.
In the event you’re excited by horses, you completely should go horseback driving in Iceland. Icelandic horses are genetically distinctive and have a particular gait. Plus they’re quick, furry and so candy! And you may’t beat the landscapes.
Siglufjörður
When you get to Siglufjörður, you’ll be enchanted. Siglufjörður is the gem of Tröllaskagi — a timeless, impossibly stunning city, crammed with vibrant colours and set in a shocking fjord, snuggled in by mountains.
Simply strolling round Siglufjörður and admiring the colourful buildings is a pleasant strategy to spend a day. However it’s essential to go to the Herring Era Museum, simply probably the greatest museums in Iceland. Extra on that beneath.
Additionally on the town are Þjóðlagasetur, often known as the Folk Music Centre, the place you get free admission with a Herring Period Museum ticket; and the Saga Fotographica Museum, specializing in the historical past of images in Iceland.
In the event you’ve received time, don’t miss the Seagull 67 brewery and the various cute eating places and cafes that dot the small city. Regardless of the place you go, you received’t have the ability to cease taking pictures! The favored Icelandic TV collection Trapped (Ófærð) was filmed in Siglufjörður, and it’s value watching earlier than your journey.
Siglufjörður has probably the most vacationer exercise in Tröllaskagi, and if you wish to in a single day on the peninsula, I like to recommend you accomplish that right here. There are many lodging choices at totally different value factors.
Herring Period Museum
Sure, the Herring Era Museum will get its personal itemizing as a result of it’s simply that extraordinary. I like museums that focus hardcore on one uncommon subject, and that’s the Herring Museum in a nutshell.
Siglufjörður was the middle of the Icelandic fishing business within the Forties and Nineteen Fifties, and it’s no exaggeration that this enterprise ran the entire city. Herring fishing declined sharply within the early Nineteen Seventies and it’s not fished right here.
The museum has three buildings. The primary constructing is a re-creation of a fishing dock, with unique boats and captains’ quarters. The second is a re-creation of a fish meal and oil processing manufacturing unit with all unique gear.
And the third, my favourite, was a glance into how the individuals lived. Rooms the place “herring ladies” slept in bunk beds, their attire hanging up, books and music and a kitchen with cooking provides from many years previous. The most effective sort of historical past museum.
The Herring Period Museum is open June via August, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Might and September, 1:00-5:00 PM; and October via April by appointment solely. Admission is 2200 ISK ($15 USD) for adults and 1200 ISK ($8 USD) for seniors.
Ólafsfjörður
Simply south of Siglu is Ólafsfjörður — one other pretty seaside city. It’s possible you’ll find yourself ready fairly some time to enter the one-lane tunnel, as we did. However if in case you have the time, it’s at the least value a brief stroll or picture shoot!
Fairytale at Sea affords two-hour jetski excursions round Ólafsfjörður, together with stops in entrance of beautiful waterfalls you may solely see from the water. In the event you’re actually fortunate, you would possibly spot some minke whales! Amazing Mountains affords snowmobiling, climbing, and tenting excursions.
Mígandifoss is a waterfall simply south of city that’s value a fast go to. You’ll must park on the facet of the highway and climb over the grass on foot.
Dalvík
Dalvík isn’t fairly as fairly as Hofsós, Siglufjörður or Ólafsfjörður — however that is the most important city within the space and it makes an honest stopover.
Many whale watching excursions go away from Dalvík, together with Arctic Sea Tours. I like to recommend whale watching in Húsavík in the event you can, but when not, this can be a good possibility (with a lot better whale-sighting odds than Reykjavík).
Dalvík can be the place ferries depart to Hrísey island (half-hour every method) and Grímsey Island (three hours every method). You’ll be able to e book ferries by way of Saefari.
Hrísey is a unusual little island with colourful cottages, a museum, and excellent chicken life.
Grímsey is the one place in Iceland that lies north of the Arctic Circle, and attracts numerous bucket listing vacationers for that cause. However it’s best to know that the Arctic Circle is definitely fairly removed from the port, so if you wish to go above the Arctic Circle, your greatest wager is planning an in a single day journey.
Bjórböðin Beer Spa
How would you wish to spend the day soaking in a scorching tub, beer in hand? And even higher — soaking in a shower of beer itself? Bjórböðin Beer Spa is the place for you! This spa and restaurant is positioned in Árskógssandur, simply south of Dalvik.
Right here they serve beer from the close by Kaldi brewery, simply down the highway. You’ll be able to take an indoor bathtub in beer, water, and herbs, the place you may pour your self beer to drink proper from the faucet. Alternatively, soak in one of many two scorching tubs exterior, overlooking the fjords.
The restaurant dishes up pub grub like burger, pizza, bacon fries, and fried cauliflower. In addition they have loads of wine and mushy drinks in the event you’re not a beer drinker.
I reside in Prague, a metropolis the place beer spas are each low-cost and ample, so I skipped this one. However in the event you’re intrigued, go for it!
Locations to Go to Between Blönduós and Tröllaskagi
In the event you’re driving Tröllaskagi in a single day, it’s smart to start out or finish in Blönduós. The drive between Blönduós and Tröllaskagi is stretch of fairly however boring inexperienced landscapes — however there are just a few locations value exploring within the Varmalið space.
Glaumbaer Museum — This museum reveals how Icelanders lived centuries in the past of their turf homes, and succeeded regardless of the weather.
Church in Víðimýri — One other of Iceland’s grass-roofed church buildings, and this one is certainly value a go to.
Reykjafoss is a cool waterfall to start with — nevertheless it additionally has a pure scorching pot, known as Fosslaug, on the sting of the waterfall! A really cool spot for a soak.
(Be sure to get instructions to the Reykjafoss car parking zone on Google Maps, not the waterfall itself — in any other case it can ship you within the flawed path.)
Locations to Go to in Akureyri
Amanda and I spent three nights in Akureyri, which was probably the greatest choices of our journey. It gave us a much-needed breather after altering lodging every evening, and there’s fairly a bit
In Akureyri you may go to the Forest Lagoon Geothermal Spa, the Akureyri Botanical Gardens, and there are some bars, eating places and buying. Simply exterior city is the Akureyri Christmas Home, bringing vacation cheer year-round!
And the city of Húsavík is an ideal day journey from Akureyri! Only one hour away, it has the very best whale watching in Iceland (severely, FAR higher than Reykjavík), horseback driving on a black sand seaside, and Jaja Ding Dong Bar, full with a mini Eurovision Museum inside it!
You too can go to Goðafoss, a strong waterfall proper off the Ring Highway.
Ideas for Driving the Tröllaskagi Peninsula
Is Tröllaskagi a terrifying place to drive? I wouldn’t go fairly that far, however I don’t advocate Tröllaskagi for anxious drivers or individuals with a concern of heights. There are virtually no guardrails, and the realm west of Siglufjörður is very twisty with steep drop-offs.
Tröllaskagi has two one-way tunnels — a shorter one close to Siglufjörður and an extended one close to Ólafsfjörður. These tunnels are free to drive via, however observe the site visitors lights and solely enter the tunnel after they’re inexperienced.
Amanda was driving within the shorter tunnel and we had the suitable of method, however a number of vacationers had mistakenly pushed via and wouldn’t pull into the pull-outs. Amanda expertly backed up the automobile via the tunnel however that by no means ought to have occurred.
You don’t want a 4×4 to drive the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. The roads are paved and in respectable situation. Our sedan made the journey simply high-quality.
Whereas there are not any site visitors cops in Iceland, there are various pace cameras. Observe the pace restrict (90 km/hour on paved roads until in any other case posted) or you would get a shock ticket out of your rental firm.
You must also maintain an eye fixed out for rogue sheep on the roads. They’re in all places!
Finest Time to Go to Tröllaskagi
The most effective time to go to the Tröllaskagi Peninsula is between June 1 and August 28. Sure, these dates are exact, and it’s for a cause: these are the dates that the Hofsós Swimming Pool and Herring Period Museum are open all day.
In the event you go barely exterior that season, each locations have a lot shorter hours, and the Herring Period Museum does visits by association solely, which might make it powerful so that you can go to every little thing cool in Tröllaskagi in a single day.
(Initially I used to be planning a Might 31 journey, and it was stressing me out that I must go away SO early to have the ability to go to each the Herring Period Museum and the Hofsós Swimming Pool. That journey was rescheduled to mid-August, and I didn’t have to fret about lacking something.)
The summer time months additionally convey the warmest climate and longest days, particularly in June and July, which might help you see much more in a single day.
Tröllaskagi is a well-liked place for Icelanders within the winter, because it’s dwelling to among the nation’s high ski resorts! Boggvisstadafjall, close to Dalvík, is a perennial favourite. Winter sports activities and Northern Lights are different high attracts within the colder months. Simply watch out of winter driving on these curvy mountain roads.
The place to Keep in Tröllaskagi
Do it is advisable to keep in a single day on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula? You don’t must, and we didn’t on our journey. However in the event you do determine to remain in a single day, I like to recommend staying in Siglufjörður. This charming city is the best place to remain, and I might have cherished the prospect to discover it extra.
The place to Keep in Siglufjördur
Siglo Hotel is my first alternative of the place to remain. What a pleasant lodge! I seemed on with envy on the visitors having fun with their steaming scorching swimming pools with a view of the harbor!
Soffia’s House is the closest factor to price range lodging in Siglufjördur — a cute guesthouse run by pleasant locals, with shared bogs, a kitchen, and a front room for all visitors.
Find deals on places to stay in Siglufjördur here.
The place to Keep in Blönduós
Hvammur 2 Guesthouse, a farm on the outskirts of Blönduós, is the place we stayed. It was a stunning throwback to what guesthouses was once like earlier than social media! Rooms have been clear with shared bogs, there was an enormous kitchen and a lounge with a TV the place individuals have been hanging out. And a cute kitten who seemed similar to my Murray.
Funniest of all, we have been by no means checked in — we simply received an electronic mail telling us our room quantity, that the keys have been within the door, and to have enjoyable!
Hotel Húni can be exterior city within the countryside, with a swimming pool and breakfast included.
Find deals on places to stay in Blönduós here.
The place to Keep in Akureyri
IG Akureyri – Guesthouse Akureyri is a top quality price range possibility, with easy guesthouse rooms. It’s proper on the pedestrian road within the coronary heart of Akureyri.
K16 Apartments is a top-rated possibility if in case you have a bit extra to spend. These flats are central and have all of the facilities you want for just a few days’ keep. We stayed in an house (not this one) in Akureyri and it was so good having a kitchen and front room for just a few days.
Find deals on places to stay in Akureyri here.
Is Tröllaskagi Price It?
I completely cherished my day in Tröllaskagi and want I’d had further days to discover! This was SO a lot better than merely driving straight via to Akureyri.
After I consider my reminiscences of Iceland, this picturesque shoreline route is seared in my reminiscence perpetually. Simply probably the greatest locations I’ve visited within the nation.
Do I need to return? YES. And this time I’ll keep in a single day in Siglufjördur and do the jet ski tour with Fairytale at Sea. Or perhaps even come again in winter for snowier views.
Tröllaskagi is so value visiting. I hope it’s simply as magical for you.
Extra on Iceland:
My Favourite Locations in Iceland:
Have you ever been to Tröllaskagi? What else would you advocate?
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