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Voykit pocket guide · Iceland
Raufarhöfn
Half a day is enough for the Arctic Henge and a walk around the harbour; use it as a stop on a North Iceland road trip, not a base.
Raufarhöfn is Iceland's northernmost town, a quiet fishing settlement of about 200 people. Its main draw is the Arctic Henge, a concrete sundial under construction inspired by Stonehenge. The town works best as a short stop between Húsavík and Þórshöfn or as a detour from the Ring Road via Dettifoss. Most visitors spend a couple of hours here, then move on.
- Country
- Iceland
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (short days, storms)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ISK
- Money
- Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK, kr). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including remote petrol stations and toilets. About 145 ISK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget kr 8,000–12,000 excl. bed · Mid kr 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · High kr 30,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU/EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Police, Fire, Ambulance 112 · Non-urgent doctor 1700
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected.; Tour guide: Optional; ISK 1,000–3,000 for an excellent guide.; Taxi: Nothing.
- Water
- Cold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it.
- Toilets
- Few on long drives; petrol stations and paid toilets (ISK 200–500) at sites.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dinner at hotel restaurant | kr 4,000–6,000 |
| Coffee | kr 500–700 |
| Petrol (per litre) | kr 300–350 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AEY · Akureyri Airport
- About 2.5 h drive; the closest airport with scheduled flights.
- THO · Þórshöfn Airport
- About 40 min drive; limited service.
Typical fares
- Húsavík → Raufarhöfn (car)
- about 1 h, 70 km (43 mi)about 1 h, 43 mi (70 km)
- Akureyri → Raufarhöfn (car)
- about 2.5 h, 180 km (112 mi)about 2.5 h, 112 mi (180 km)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. For the Arctic Henge, it's a 10-minute walk from the harbour. A car is needed to reach Raufarhöfn.
See and do
Known for
- Arctic Henge
- Northernmost town in Iceland
- Fishing harbour
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Húsavík | Road 85, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Mývatn | Road 85 then Road 1, about 1.5 h | 1.5 h |
| Dettifoss | Road 864 (unpaved), about 1 h | 1 h |
| Þórshöfn | Road 85, about 40 min | 40 min |
Sleep
- Town centre
- All accommodation is within walking distance of the harbour and Arctic Henge.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallóha-loh |
| Thank you | Takktahk |
| Yes | Jáyow |
| No | Neinay |
| How much? | Hvað kostar?kvath kost-ar |
| Where is the toilet? | Hvar er salernið?kvar er sa-ler-nith |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Using titles or surnames — there usually is no family name
- Pools: Shower naked first, keep the hot pot conversational; avoid: Swimwear in the showers
- Driving: Pull into lay-bys for photos, dip lights on single-lane bridges; avoid: Stopping on the road
- Nature: Stay on paths, carry litter out; avoid: Stone stacks, walking on moss
- Conversation: Ask about books, music, weather and the elves with good humour; avoid: Lecturing on whaling
Scams and watch-outs
- No petrol station in town: fill up in Húsavík or Þórshöfn.
- Services are limited: check restaurant hours in advance.
- Road 870 around the peninsula is unpaved and can be rough in wet weather.
Raufarhöfn is very safe. The main risks are weather-related: sudden storms, icy roads in winter and gravel-road driving. Always check road.is before driving.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Raufarhöfn yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Arctic Henge
- Northernmost town in Iceland
- Fishing harbour
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Raufarhöfn, revision 3496137 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3496137
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/raufarhofn). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.