Major city · Iceland
HöfnHöfn í Hornafirði
Stay one night in Höfn as a Ring Road stop between the south coast and the East Fjords; two nights only if you add a glacier or ice-cave day.
Höfn is a harbour town of about 2,000 people on the south-east corner of Iceland, sitting between Vatnajökull and the sea. It is the natural overnight stop between the south coast and the East Fjords, and the base for glacier walks, ice caves and Jökulsárlón. The town itself is small: one evening, one lobster dinner and a walk around the harbour covers it.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- ISK
- Best months
- Jun–Aug for the Ring Road and midnight light; Feb–Mar and Oct–Mar for ice caves
- avoid Nov–Jan for driving the east (short daylight, storms, road closures)
- Airport
- HFN
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Iceland ↗Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Iceland ↗Driving off marked roads is illegal and fined heavily; F-roads into the highlands open only in summer and require a 4x4.
- Iceland ↗Check the road authority's conditions map and the Met Office forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan on SafeTravel for hikes and remote drives.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Höfn112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Höfn, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK, kr).Iceland-wide
- SIM or eSIMEEA roaming applies: EU/EEA SIMs work at home prices.Iceland-wide
- Tap waterCold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it.Iceland-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Not expected.Iceland-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Iceland-wide
- SafetyVery safe for tourists; the real risks are driving in winter storms, unguided glacier travel and long empty stretches between fuel stops.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFew on long drives; petrol stations and paid toilets (ISK 200–500 (≈ US$2–5)) at sites.Iceland-wide
- Emergency numbers112 emergency (police, fire, ambulance, coast guard) · 1700 Non-urgent doctor (Læknavaktin) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany rural guesthouses and cafés close October–April; highland huts only in summer.Iceland-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckHFN Hornafjörður Airport (About 6 km (3.7 mi) north of town; domestic flights from Reykjavík, and no way into town except by car — check current schedules.).HFN Hornafjörður Airport (About 3.7 mi (6 km) north of town; domestic flights from Reykjavík, and no way into town except by car — check current schedules.).
- Getting aroundThe town is small enough to walk: harbour to the far guesthouses is about 15 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee500–800 kr
- Sit-down mealLobster (langoustine) main course5,000–9,000 kr
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2,000–4,000 kr
- Museum or sight ticketSwimming pool entry1,000–1,500 kr
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personISK 5,000 (≈ US$45)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomISK 22,000 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomISK 32,000 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ISK 9,000 (≈ US$75) · Mid ISK 16,000 (≈ US$130) · High ISK 30,000 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HFN Hornafjörður Airport (About 6 km (3.7 mi) north of town; domestic flights from Reykjavík, and no way into town except by car — check current schedules.)HFN Hornafjörður Airport (About 3.7 mi (6 km) north of town; domestic flights from Reykjavík, and no way into town except by car — check current schedules.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Care
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Feb
Best
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Mar
Best
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Apr
not flagged
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
May
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Jun
Best
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Jul
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Aug
Best
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Sep
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Oct
Best
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Nov
Care
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Dec
Care
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: Feb–Mar, Jun–Aug, Oct. Mixed: Nov–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)), coolest Jan (−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C) low), wettest Jan (14 rain days), driest May (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Höfn: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
14 rd
Feb
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
12 rd
Mar
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
13 rd
Apr
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
11 rd
May
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Jun
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Jul
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
11 rd
Aug
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
12 rd
Sep
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
13 rd
Oct
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
14 rd
Nov
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
13 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is small enough to walk: harbour to the far guesthouses is about 15 minutes. A hire car is the practical way to reach the glacier, the lagoon and the ice-cave meeting points. Public transport is a single taxi (check locally); the coach stop is at the N1 station.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Drive Route 1 west about 80 km (50 mi); or a guided coach from HöfnDrive Route 1 west about 50 mi (80 km); or a guided coach from Höfn
Go early or late: the car park fills in mid-summer. Boat tours on the lagoon run 30–40 min — check season and times.
Vatnajökull glacier walk or ice cave
goDoor to door: Half day to full day
Guided tour from Höfn or from the Skaftafell / Jökulsárlón meeting points
Licensed guides only. Ice caves are a winter product; glacier walks run in summer.
Þórbergssetur at Hali
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Drive Route 1 west about 75 km (47 mi)Drive Route 1 west about 47 mi (75 km)
Small museum on the writer Þórbergur Þórðarson; pair it with Jökulsárlón rather than making a separate trip.
Lónsöræfi
cautionDoor to door: Full day or overnight
Guided or well-prepared hike northeast of town, access via tracks
Wilderness hiking inside Vatnajökull National Park; not a casual walk — go with a guide or solid preparation.
Djúpivogur
goDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive Route 1 east about 100 km (62 mi)Drive Route 1 east about 62 mi (100 km)
Next stop on the Ring Road east; a short harbour break rather than a destination.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Harbour and Hafnarbraut
Guesthouses, the art museum and the lobster restaurants within a 10-minute walk; best for one night without a car.
Víkurbraut (main road in)
The larger hotels, the pool and the N1 station where coaches stop; 5–10 min walk to the harbour.
Farms west towards Jökulsárlón
Guesthouses on working farms 30–80 km (19–50 mi) west; quieter, and closer to the glacier for an early start.Guesthouses on working farms 19–50 mi (30–80 km) west; quieter, and closer to the glacier for an early start.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 8,000–13,000 kr excl. bed
- Mid
- 13,000–22,000 kr excl. bed
- High
- 22,000 kr+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × ISK 22,000 | ISK 22,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ISK 16,000 | ISK 32,000 |
| Lobster dinner, one person2 × ISK 8,000 | ISK 16,000 |
| Guided glacier walk, one person2 × ISK 15,000 | ISK 30,000 |
| Fuel, Höfn to Jökulsárlón and back1 × ISK 4,000 | ISK 4,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ISK 10,400 |
| Trip total≈ ISK 57,200 per person per day, bed included | ISK 114,400≈ US$950 |
2026 estimate in Icelandic króna; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | 500–800 kr |
| Lobster (langoustine) main course | 5,000–9,000 kr |
| Petrol, per litre | about 300 kr |
| Swimming pool entry | 1,000–1,500 kr |
| Museum entry | 1,000–2,000 kr |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 2,000–4,000 kr |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Fuel up in Höfn before heading east or west: the next stations are far apart.
- Glacier and ice-cave trips run only with licensed guides — never walk onto the ice alone.
- Winter storms can close the Ring Road east of town with little notice: check road conditions and keep a buffer day.
- Single-lane bridges and gravel tracks are common; headlights on at all times.
Emergency numbers
- Emergency (police, fire, ambulance, coast guard)
- 112
- Non-urgent doctor (Læknavaktin)
- 1700
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
HöfnHöfn í Hornafirði
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Á þetta heimilisfang, takkTo this address, please
Emergency
- Emergency112
- Non-urgent doctor1700
Embassy
No embassies in Höfn; the US embassy and most others are in Reykjavík.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Coach Reykjavík → Höfn: 8–9 h, may need a transfer at Hvolsvöllur
- Coach Egilsstaðir → Höfn: transfers at Reyðarfjörður and Breiðdalsvík, possibly an overnight
- Höfn → Jökulsárlón by car: about 80 km (50 mi), about 1 habout 50 mi (80 km), about 1 h
Say or show
- Halló — Hello (ha-LOH)
- Þakka þér — Thank you (THAH-ka thyer)
- Hvað kostar það? — How much is it? (kvath KOS-tar thath)
- Get ég borgað með korti? — Can I pay by card? (get yeg BOR-gath meth KOR-ti)
- Hvar er baðherbergið? — Where is the toilet? (kvar er BATH-her-ber-gith)
- Ég þarf hjálp — I need help (yeg tharf yalp)
Fuel, food and lodging are the only things you need cash-free — cards work almost everywhere.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Höfn. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Aug for the Ring Road and midnight light; Feb–Mar and Oct–Mar for ice caves · avoid Nov–Jan for driving the east (short daylight, storms, road closures) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HFN: Eagle Air schedule checked, taxi or hire-car fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: harbour and Hafnarbraut, Víkurbraut and the pool, the N1 stop.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Gamlabúð, Hornafjörður Art Museum, Huldusteinn, the pool) and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and closed-road fixtures so the east and west gates can go green.