Our story

What is now the municipality of Borgarbyggð was once an important landing zone for Iceland’s earliest settlers, who followed the rivers inland on their conquest for a new home. By setting up farmsteads along the way, these early adventurers blazing the trail for centuries’ of future development. It is widely regarded that the Hvanneyri community was settled by a member of Egil Skallagrimsson’s Viking tribe, as depicted in Egils Saga.

Hvanneyri Church was built in 1905. The original was destroyed in 1903 during a fierce storm. The building was ripped from its foundations and finally landed where its successor was later constructed. The church is now owned by the Agricultural University of Iceland, which dedicates much of its resources to environmental protection in the area.

White-fronted Geese, for instance, are protected and allowed to roam around the village throughout Spring and Summer.

Hvanneyri is instantly recognizable for its white-walled buildings, red roofs, friendly locals and coastal position. Away from the aesthetic pleasures, Hvanneyri presents a fascinating opportunity to learn more about the agricultural development of Iceland throughout history.

​The Agriculture Museum offers insight into the practice with its displays of both ancient and modern farming equipment. The collection includes the first tractors and horse-drawn wagons imported into Iceland, with some dating back as far as 1880. Black and white photographs, displayed proudly inside, convey the back breaking, uphill struggle of Iceland’s first farmers. Thankfully, the museum comes with modern amenities and thus visitors are able to ponder these thoughts with a warm coffee in their hands.

The village can be easily accessed from the Road 1 (the Ring Road) and has a population of around 285 and up to 600+ inhabitants when university is open.

Accommodations

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Other attractions nearby Hvanneyri

The Settlement Center

In two of Borgarnes’s oldest buildings The Settlement Center is devoted to recreating Iceland’s earliest days and introduces visitors to one of the best known heroes of the Icelandic Sagas, Egil Skalla-Grimsson.It also houses a cozy licensed restaurant, a café and a souvenir shop. The Center consists of three buildings, the warehouse, the merchant house and the reception hall.

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Fossatún

In Fossatún you will find places for hiking, walking, incredible scenery and nature both in the bright summer days and dark winter nights illuminated by the Northern Lights.

The troll walk (Rock´N´ Troll) is something to check out.

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Steðji brewery

Have opened a special tasting room at the brewery, for people to experience our innovative beers and see for themselves how such a unique product is made

A place of folklore and magic that today is the home of one of the most innovative, exciting and exuberant family brewery in the world.

Stedji beer is not just a beer, its an alchemy of pure genius.

Our brewer is a german profession, Philipp Ewers, who is a magician for a brewer.

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Krauma

Experience nature from its core by bathing in the geothermal baths at Krauma. The hot water originates in Europe’s most powerful hot spring Deildartunguhver, at a temperature of 100°C (212°F). To achieve the perfect bathing temperature we mix the hot water with cold water from Rauðsgil, which originates in the glacier Ok, the smallest glacier in Iceland.

Krauma offers five relaxing natural geothermal baths, a cold tub to get your blood circulation going, two calming saunas and a relaxation room where you can rest by the fireplace while listening to soothing music.

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Snorrastofa (Reykholt)

Snorrastofa, cultural and medieval centre in Reykholt

Snorrastofa’s main space hosts the exhibition Snorri’s Saga.

Guidance and information is available from staff.

The exhibition traces the life of Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) in text and images

his environment and the era.

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Húsafell

- A pearl between lava fields and glaciers-

Húsafell is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Iceland.

This is understandable since it is a unique natural gem in a magnificent landscape.

The mild weather, the forest, hot springs and the facilities and services, which have been offered there to tourists in the recent years attract many visitors every year.

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Háafell goat farm

The Icelandic goat is in danger of extinction, and in Háafell the protection and maintenance of the goat stock is being worked on. Guests receive good reception from the very human goats. Goats can be fostered to help protect the breed.

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Langjökull Glacier

Langjökull (Icelandic for "long glacier")

is the second largest ice cap in Iceland (953 km2), after Vatnajökull.

​It is situated in the west of the Icelandic interior or Highlands of Iceland and can be seen clearly from Haukadalur.

Tours available

Into the Glacier

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Hawk The Beard - Super jeep tours

A small family business that specializes in super jeep tours. We love showing our fairy tale-like country we call Iceland. But what we like most of all is taking you to places regular cars or even 4x4 cannot reach. We have a specially modified super jeep that can get you just about anywhere. So take a leap, join us for an adventurous tour, and start crossing of that bucket list.

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