Book your flight to Höfn with Icelandair

Introduction to Höfn

Welcome to Höfn, in Iceland's southeast. It's a small fishing town – there's a population of just 1800 – so this is not a destination for a city break! This is a place to get up-close to the icy side of Iceland, with stunning glacier scenery plus access to unique landscapes and activities. There's the added bonus of some tasty specialty seafood here, too!

Icelandair has added Höfn to its domestic flight network. From September 1, we fly five times a week from Reykjavík domestic airport to Höfn, a flight of just under an hour. Book now for your chance to explore this serene and ultra-scenic corner of Iceland.

Exploring Iceland's southeast

You might see Höfn called Höfn í Hornafirði – the word 'höfn' means harbor in Icelandic, so the longer name explains its location, in the fjord named Hornafjörður. Höfn is the largest town in Iceland's southeast, just 4km or 2.5 miles south of the Ring Road (Highway 1), and it's a popular base for exploring the magnificent icy landscapes Iceland has become famous for.

North and west of Höfn is the incredible Vatnajökull National Park, an immense and spectacular wilderness area that's included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inside the park's boundaries are Vatnajökull ice cap (Europe's largest) and its stunning outlet glaciers, plus lagoons, waterfalls, hiking trails, and more.

Sights and activities in Höfn

Walking around Höfn is a great activity – check out the harbor area and follow the path to Ósland headland. The views here are epic, and the birdlife is rich. Arctic terns nest here in summer, so beware territorial dive-bombing! As you walk, you can admire the striking memorial to fishermen, and follow the nature trail set up to model the solar system.

As in all Icelandic towns, there’s a fun public swimming pool in Höfn – the perfect place to enjoy warm-water relaxation after some icy adventures. There’s also a golf course: Höfn Golf Course (also known as Silfurnesvöllur) offers incredible views of glacier tongues and surrounding mountains. It's a small but scenic nine-hole course that gives golfers a peaceful, remote experience.

Dining in Höfn

For a town of this size, Höfn has some excellent dining options. Local restaurants share a focus on fresh seafood, lamb, and dairy products from the surrounding region (including ice cream made at a farm just down the road).

In Iceland, you'll often encounter lobster soup and other 'Icelandic lobster' dishes on menus around the country. This is humar, or langoustine, the smaller cousin of the lobster, fished in local waters. Höfn is Iceland's unofficial langoustine capital, and every menu in town features langoustine in some form or another, from pizza topping to sandwich filling, but the classic dish of langoustine tails with butter and garlic can’t be beat. If you're a fan, visit in late June when the town celebrates the annual lobster festival.

Natural wonders

North and west of Höfn is the vast Vatnajökull National Park. If you’re driving, a one-hour drive west along the Ring Road delivers you to the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where you can take a boat ride among icebergs. Opposite the lagoon is a place called Diamond Beach, so named because icebergs rest upon the black sands here on their way out to sea. Further west is the Skaftafell area of the national park, with a large visitor center and excellent hiking trails leading to glaciers and waterfalls, including the black basalt columns of Svartifoss falls.

Heading in the other direction on the Ring Road, not far east of Höfn you’ll come to a turning point for Stokksnes, a small peninsula that's a favorite spot for photographers thanks to its black-sand beach backed by the dramatically beautiful Vestrahorn mountain.

Icy adventures

In this region there are a number of companies geared up and ready to get you into the spectacular nature at Höfn's doorstep. The most popular activities include guided glacier walks, which can be done year-round. In winter, guides can help you reach incredible blue ice caves that form in the glaciers. You can also have a fun snowmobiling adventure on a glacier, or kayak among icebergs in the lagoons that form at the end of outlet glaciers. Companies also offer tours in 4x4 super-jeeps to get you to off-the-beaten-track locations guaranteed to be scenic!

After a day exploring, stop for a relaxing soak at the simple outdoor hot pools at Hoffell, about 10km (6 miles) north of Höfn.

Getting around the town

Höfn's small airport is called Hornafjörður airport and it's about 5km (3 miles) north of the town. Car rental is available here through Europcar – be sure to book ahead. Alternatively, tour operators in the area may be able to arrange airport pick-up and drop-off if you're flying in to get a taste of the incredible diversity in nature and activities.

A bigger adventure

Südflorida eignet sich hervorragend für Autoreisen und großartige Ziele von Miami aus sind u. a. die Florida Keys und die Everglades.

We fly five times a week between Reykjavík domestic airport and Höfn, and daily between Reykjavík and Egilsstaðir, the main town in East Iceland. Maybe you'd like to consider flying into one airport and out of the other, exploring the incredible southeast and east of the country – less-touristed areas where you can see a different side of Iceland. About 250km (155 miles) lie between Höfn and Egilsstaðir, filled with incredible fjords and mountains, small fishing towns such as Djúpivogur and Breiðdalsvík, and awesome detours.