Time Hvítserkur with the tide
At low tide you can walk right up to the rock; at high tide it stands in the middle of the sea. Check the tide tables on vedur.is.
Northwest
Norðurland vestra
The region everyone drives through and nobody stops in.
- Suggested time
- 1 day
- Places
- 12
- Best months
- All year
The stretch of the Ring Road between the West Region and Akureyri. Most visitors drive straight through, yet the Vatnsnes peninsula has seal colonies, Skagafjörður has Iceland’s best rafting river, and there’s the strange silhouette of Hvítserkur. Stopping for one night adds very little to the trip.
Quick tips
Before you go to Northwest Iceland
Don’t disturb the seals
Around Illugastaðir and Hvítserkur you must stay at least 50 metres from the colonies; the pups are born in June.
The turf houses are here
Glaumbær is the country’s best-preserved turf-roofed farmstead. It’s right on the road, and half an hour is enough.
Places to see
12 places in this region
Sauðárkrókur
TownOn the shore of Skagafjörður, Sauðárkrókur is one of the liveliest towns in the north, known for its Icelandic horse culture, rich seafood restaurants, historic museums and as the gateway to nearby Drangey Island and the Grettislaug hot pool.
1.5 hours
Blönduós
TownFounded where the powerful Blanda river flows into Húnaflói Bay in the north, Blönduós is a charming coastal town on the Ring Road with the island of Hrútey in the river, an iconic modern church and a historic textile museum.
1 hour
Drangey Island
ViewpointRising sheer from the middle of Skagafjörður like a fortress wall, Drangey is famous as the refuge of the legendary Grettir Ásmundarson of Grettis Saga; home to puffins and thousands of seabirds, it is reached by boat.
1 hour
Glaumbær Turf Farm
MuseumOne of the open-air museums that best preserves Iceland’s traditional architecture and rural way of life, Glaumbær is a historic farm complex that takes visitors back in time with its thick turf walls, grass-covered roofs and wooden interiors from the 18th and 19th centuries.
1 hour
Grettislaug Hot Pool
Hot springOn the shore of Skagafjörður, this historic geothermal pool takes its name from the famous Grettis Saga: according to the story, the outlaw Viking Grettir warmed himself in these hot waters after swimming through the cold sea from the island of Drangey.
1 hour
Hofsjökull Glacier
GlacierIceland’s third-largest glacier, Hofsjökull lies in the island’s empty Highlands; a magnificent natural wonder, its ice cap hides one of the island’s most active subglacial volcanoes and a huge caldera.
1 hour
Hofsós Swimming Pool
Hot springDesigned as an infinity pool on the steep shore of Skagafjörður, the Hofsós Swimming Pool is one of Iceland’s most iconic pools, giving you an uninterrupted view of the island of Drangey and the ocean as you swim in its geothermal water.
1 hour
Hveravellir Hot Pool
Hot springBetween the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers on the empty Kjölur highland road (F35), Hveravellir is one of Iceland’s most spellbinding protected areas, with bubbling mud pools, colourful geothermal springs and a natural open-air hot bath.
1 hour
Icelandic Seal Center
MuseumIn the town of Hvammstangi on the Vatnsnes peninsula, the Icelandic Seal Center (Selasetur Íslands) is an important science and visitor centre, with interactive exhibitions on seal species and marine life and guidance to the region’s natural seal-watching spots and boat tours.
1 hour
Vatnsnes Seal Watching
ViewpointOn the west coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula, home to Iceland’s largest seal colony, Illugastaðir is a peaceful coastal spot famous for its dedicated path and hide for watching harbour and grey seals basking on the rocks in their natural habitat.
1 hour
Hvítserkur
ViewpointRising 15 metres out of the sea in the middle of a black beach on the east coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula, this basalt rock is one of Iceland’s most iconic natural landmarks, with its unique shape like a dragon or rhino drinking water, its legends and the seabirds that nest on it.
30 min
Kolufossar
WaterfallRushing through Kolugljúfur, the deep and dramatic canyon carved by the Víðidalsá river, Kolufossar is an impressive group of waterfalls named after the legendary giantess Kola, with a spellbinding view from the bridge over the canyon.
25 min
Times are time spent on site, not including the drive. Limited months show when the highland F-roads and fjord passes are open.