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Have you heard of the Tröllaskagi Peninsula? This mountainous peninsula in North Iceland is maybe essentially the most lovely detour from the Ring Road.
Tröllaskagi, which is Icelandic for Troll Peninsula, has lengthy been a well-liked vacation spot for Icelanders. But in the previous few years, it’s turn out to be fairly a treasure for vacationers within the know.
Tröllaskagi was super-high on my record 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 crushed path — you gained’t even discover crowds in excessive season.
Secondly, the surroundings is completely spellbinding. Tröllaskagi is residence 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.
Finally, this peninsula is filled with fascinating gems. An unbelievable museum. A spectacularly set swimming pool. The oldest church in Iceland. Basalt columns. And attractive 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 Road — and are available detour across the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. You’re going to adore it right here.
Where is Tröllaskagi?
The Tröllaskagi Peninsula is without doubt one of the central peninsulas extending from Northern Iceland. It’s surrounded by a deep fjord on both sides: Skagafjörður to the west and Eyjafjörður to the east. See the map above for the websites I point out.
The principal roads on this route are Route 76, working from Varmalið to Ólafsfjörður, and Route 82, working from Ólafsfjörður to Akureyri.
The metropolis of Akureyri, generally referred to as the capital of the North, is within the southeast nook of the peninsula. Akureyri is sort of all the time a cease for Iceland Ring Road vacationers, which makes Tröllaskagi a simple detour so as to add.
Adding Tröllaskagi to an Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
If you’re following the Ring Road 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 recognize what? There’s nearly nothing to see on that drive. It’s Iceland, so after all it’s lovely, however count on a lot of limitless inexperienced hills and never a lot else.
BUT — if you happen to 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 folks 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. Instead, 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 record of locations to see so as, from Sauðárkrókur to Akureyri, as that’s the order by which I visited them (and my Ring Road guides on this web site are all clockwise).
But you’re completely welcome to drive the peninsula in both path.
Black Beach of Sauðárkrókur
Sauðárkrókur isn’t often a cease on an Iceland highway journey, but it surely does have a beautiful black seaside with views of the mountains. Love Iceland’s black seashores? This one has considerably fewer folks than Reynisfjara!
Sauðárkrókur can be the place you may get excursions to Drangey Island, a nature haven full of puffins and different wildlife. Tours take 3.5-4 hours, so I don’t advocate this until you’re spending just a few days in Tröllaskagi.
And if you happen to 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 by way of 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. This is your first cease if you happen to’re driving the route clockwise.
While Iceland has a number of church buildings with turfed roofs that you would be able to nonetheless go to immediately, Grafarkirkja is exclusive in its decor, that includes attractive hand-carved wood beams inside. And its location, in entrance of the mountains, makes for beautiful photographs.
To get right here, you’ll must open a gate, drive by way of, shut the gate, park, after which stroll all the best way 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. Today it’s a peaceful and quiet place to go to, with attractive views over Skagafjörður and the islands of Drangey and Málmey.
Hofsós can be residence to the Icelandic Immigration Center, which tells the tales of Icelanders who migrated to North America. The first Icelanders believed to make this migration had 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 essentially the most spectacularly set swimming pool in all of Iceland, on the sting of a cliff overlooking Skagafjörður. While technically not an infinity pool, it looks like one — and you may’t beat these views.
The pool is a bit on the cooler aspect by Icelandic requirements, however there’s a smaller scorching tub if you wish to soak. Though a tiny bit expensive for Icelandic swimming pools, it’s a discount in comparison with the Blue Lagoon or another geothermal spa.
Admission to Hofsós Sundlaug is 1,090 ISK for adults and 325 ISK for kids 6-18, and free for kids below 6. The pool is open all day throughout summer season hours (often June 1-August 28), with noon closings throughout the winter. More data on their web site right here.
Staðarbjörg Basalt Columns
Right subsequent to the swimming pool in Hofsós are the Staðarbjörg Basalt Columns — a stunning edge alongside the fjord. Here you will discover rows and rows of tall, elegant basalt columns, just like those you see in Stuðlagil Canyon in East Iceland.
There are mountain climbing paths that lead additional down previous the columns for extra lovely views of the fjord. On a transparent day, there’s no higher view in Hofsós.
Viewpoints
The greatest viewpoints we noticed on our journey had been between Hofsós and Siglufjörður. This is essentially the most visually placing stretch of Road 76 by far! There is one little cease with a picnic desk overlooking the deep valley between the mountains.
As all the time, solely pull over when there’s ample room to take action. Stopping randomly in the course of these slender streets may be harmful to the folks round you.
Langhús Farm
There are just a few locations for horseback using 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 using excursions, together with Viking rides by way of the mountains, rides alongside black sand seashores, and a few longer mixture choices.
If you’re fascinated with horses, you completely should go horseback using in Iceland. Icelandic horses are genetically distinctive and have a particular gait. Plus they’re quick, furry and so candy! And you possibly can’t beat the landscapes.
Siglufjörður
Once you get to Siglufjörður, you’ll be enchanted. Siglufjörður is the gem of Tröllaskagi — a timeless, impossibly lovely city, full of brilliant colours and set in a shocking fjord, snuggled in by mountains.
Just strolling round Siglufjörður and admiring the colourful buildings is a pleasant solution to spend a day. But you could go to the Herring Era Museum, simply among the finest museums in Iceland. More on that beneath.
Also on the town are Þjóðlagasetur, also referred to as the Folk Music Centre, the place you get free admission with a Herring Era Museum ticket; and the Saga Fotographica Museum, specializing in the historical past of pictures in Iceland.
If you’ve received time, don’t miss the Seagull 67 brewery and the numerous cute eating places and cafes that dot the small city. No matter the place you go, you gained’t have the ability to cease taking photographs! The in style Icelandic TV collection Trapped (Ófærð) was filmed in Siglufjörður, and it’s value watching earlier than your journey.
Siglufjörður has essentially 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 loads of lodging choices at completely different worth factors.
Herring Era Museum
Yes, 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 trade within the Nineteen Forties and Fifties, and it’s no exaggeration that this enterprise ran the entire city. Herring fishing declined sharply within the early Seventies and it’s not fished right here.
The museum has three buildings. The first constructing is a re-creation of a fishing dock, with authentic boats and captains’ quarters. The second is a re-creation of a fish meal and oil processing manufacturing facility with all authentic gear.
And the third, my favourite, was a glance into how the folks lived. Rooms the place “herring girls” slept in bunk beds, their attire hanging up, books and music and a kitchen with cooking provides from many years previous. The greatest form of historical past museum.
The Herring Era Museum is open June by way of August, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; May and September, 1:00-5:00 PM; and October by way of April by appointment solely. Admission is 2200 ISK ($15 USD) for adults and 1200 ISK ($8 USD) for seniors.
Ólafsfjörður
Just south of Siglu is Ólafsfjörður — one other beautiful seaside city. You might find yourself ready fairly some time to enter the one-lane tunnel, as we did. But when you’ve got the time, it’s no less than value a brief stroll or photograph shoot!
Fairytale at Sea affords two-hour jetski excursions round Ólafsfjörður, together with stops in entrance of attractive waterfalls you possibly can solely see from the water. If you’re actually fortunate, you may spot some minke whales! Amazing Mountains affords snowmobiling, mountain climbing, and tenting excursions.
Mígandifoss is a waterfall simply south of city that’s value a fast go to. You’ll need to park on the aspect 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 biggest city within the space and it makes an honest stopover.
Many whale watching excursions depart from Dalvík, together with Arctic Sea Tours. I like to recommend whale watching in Húsavík if you happen to can, but when not, it is a good possibility (with significantly 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 can e book ferries by way of Saefari.
Hrísey is a unusual little island with colourful cottages, a museum, and excellent hen life.
Grímsey is the one place in Iceland that lies north of the Arctic Circle, and attracts lots of bucket record vacationers for that purpose. But you must 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 prefer to spend the day soaking in a scorching tub, beer in hand? Or 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.
Here they serve beer from the close by Kaldi brewery, simply down the highway. You can take an indoor bathtub in beer, water, and herbs, the place you possibly can 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. They even have loads of wine and smooth drinks if you happen to’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. But if you happen to’re intrigued, go for it!
Places to Visit Between Blönduós and Tröllaskagi
If you’re driving Tröllaskagi in a single day, it’s clever 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 exhibits how Icelanders lived centuries in the past of their turf homes, and succeeded regardless of the weather.
Church in Víðimýri — Another of Iceland’s grass-roofed church buildings, and this one is certainly value a go to.
Reykjafoss is a cool waterfall to start with — but it surely additionally has a pure scorching pot, referred to as Fosslaug, on the sting of the waterfall! A really cool spot for a soak.
(Make certain you get instructions to the Reykjafoss parking zone on Google Maps, not the waterfall itself — in any other case it’ll ship you within the improper path.)
Places to Visit in Akureyri
Amanda and I spent three nights in Akureyri, which was among the finest selections of our journey. It gave us a much-needed breather after altering lodging every night time, and there’s fairly a bit
In Akureyri you possibly can go to the Forest Lagoon Geothermal Spa, the Akureyri Botanical Gardens, and there are some bars, eating places and buying. Just exterior city is the Akureyri Christmas House, bringing vacation cheer year-round!
And the city of Húsavík is an ideal day journey from Akureyri! Just one hour away, it has the most effective whale watching in Iceland (critically, FAR higher than Reykjavík), horseback using on a black sand seaside, and Jaja Ding Dong Bar, full with a mini Eurovision Museum inside it!
You may go to Goðafoss, a robust waterfall proper off the Ring Road.
Tips 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 folks with a concern of heights. There are nearly 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 by way of, however comply with the visitors lights and solely enter the tunnel after they’re inexperienced.
Amanda was driving within the shorter tunnel and we had the precise of method, however a number of vacationers had mistakenly pushed by way of and wouldn’t pull into the pull-outs. Amanda expertly backed up the automotive by way of 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 first rate situation. Our sedan made the journey simply wonderful.
While there aren’t any visitors cops in Iceland, there are a lot of pace cameras. Follow the pace restrict (90 km/hour on paved roads until in any other case posted) or you may get a shock ticket out of your rental firm.
You also needs to hold an eye fixed out for rogue sheep on the roads. They’re in all places!
Best Time to Visit Tröllaskagi
The greatest time to go to the Tröllaskagi Peninsula is between June 1 and August 28. Yes, these dates are exact, and it’s for a purpose: these are the dates that the Hofsós Swimming Pool and Herring Era Museum are open all day.
If you go barely exterior that season, each locations have a lot shorter hours, and the Herring Era Museum does visits by association solely, which may make it powerful so that you can go to all the things cool in Tröllaskagi in a single day.
(Originally I used to be planning a May 31 journey, and it was stressing me out that I must depart SO early to have the ability to go to each the Herring Era 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 season months additionally convey the warmest climate and longest days, particularly in June and July, which will help you see much more in a single day.
Tröllaskagi is a well-liked place for Icelanders within the winter, because it’s residence to among the nation’s prime ski resorts! Boggvisstadafjall, close to Dalvík, is a perennial favourite. Winter sports activities and Northern Lights are different prime attracts within the colder months. Just watch out of winter driving on these curvy mountain roads.
Where to Stay in Tröllaskagi
Do you want to keep in a single day on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula? You don’t need to, and we didn’t on our journey. But if you happen to do resolve to remain in a single day, I like to recommend staying in Siglufjörður. This charming city is the perfect place to remain, and I’d have cherished the prospect to discover it extra.
Where to Stay in Siglufjördur
Siglo Hotel is my first alternative of the place to remain. What a pleasant resort! I seemed on with envy on the company 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 company.
Find offers on locations to remain in Siglufjördur right here.
Where to Stay in Blönduós
Hvammur 2 Guesthouse, a farm on the outskirts of Blönduós, is the place we stayed. It was a beautiful throwback to what guesthouses was once like earlier than social media! Rooms had been clear with shared bogs, there was an enormous kitchen and a lounge with a TV the place folks had been hanging out. And a cute kitten who seemed identical to my Murray.
Funniest of all, we had been by no means checked in — we simply received an electronic mail telling us our room quantity, that the keys had 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 offers on locations to remain in Blönduós right here.
Where to Stay 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 when you’ve got 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 offers on locations to remain in Akureyri right here.
Is Tröllaskagi Worth It?
I completely cherished my day in Tröllaskagi and need I’d had additional days to discover! This was SO significantly better than merely driving straight by way of to Akureyri.
When I consider my reminiscences of Iceland, this picturesque shoreline route is seared in my reminiscence endlessly. Easily among the finest 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 possibly even come again in winter for snowier views.
Tröllaskagi is so value visiting. I hope it’s simply as magical for you.
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Have you been to Tröllaskagi? What else would you advocate?