Humpback whales were seen swimming playfully in Hafnarfjörður harbour yesterday attracting plenty of attention among residents and visitors to the town These beautiful marine cetaceans were clearly visible from the coast and people were quick to snap photos and video given the rarity of the occasion Whales do not typically venture this far into shore making this particular wildlife spotting truly unexpected Whale watching just so happens to be one of Iceland’s most popular activities among tourists providing them a few hours out at sea to witness these gentle giants in their natural habitat According to a video taken from the Facebook page, Íslenskir Hvalir / Iceland Whale Sightings there were four humpback whales swimming in the bay—and also one curious seal As aforementioned, it is rare for whales to appear so close to human populations. With that said, another humpback whale did appear in the harbour approximately one year ago. According to the Marine Research Institute the whale had likely followed a school of herring and promptly left when its feeding was done You can read more about this delightful settlement on the Reykjanes Peninsula in our full article: Hafnarfjörður Town in Iceland: Culture & Nature in the Capital Region. In-depth stories and high-quality photography showcasing life in Iceland we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads may adversely affect certain features and functions Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Energy company HS Orka has begun drilling a nearly two-kilometer-deep experimental borehole in Krýsuvík with hopes of uncovering a geothermal resource that could supply hot water to Hafnarfjörður and the greater capital area as well as generate electricity for the national grid Drilling operations began early yesterday at Sveifluháls in Krýsuvík marking a new phase in HS Orka’s extensive geothermal research in the area All preliminary surface studies have been completed and attention has now turned to deep-drilling investigations the Krýsuvík area has consistently shown great potential as a high-temperature geothermal region making it a strong candidate for sustainable energy development Plans are in place to drill a directional borehole reaching a total length of 2,750 meters and a vertical depth of more than two kilometers beneath Sveifluháls The purpose of the drilling is to expand scientific understanding of the geothermal system confirm the presence of a viable high-temperature resource and assess its potential for energy production in the Sveifluháls–Austurengjar area The land being used for this research belongs to the municipality of Hafnarfjörður which has shown interest in developing the area for geothermal energy use Open galleryThe Annual Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður Town in IcelandBy Regína Hrönn RagnarsdóttirVerified localContact Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir the neighbouring town of Reykjavík where I live which is the oldest and biggest festival of its kind in Iceland Visiting this festival will make you feel like you have been transferred back in time a thousand years or so takes place on the second weekend of June and lasts for 4 days! For me this is the most fun time to be in Hafnarfjörður Gudrun the Seeress from Denmark and Guðmann the Shaman from Iceland have a booth at the Viking Festival but some of the photos in this travel-blog are from the festival in 2015 at the Viking Village The Viking Village hosted the festival for many years and a Middle Ages market was set up in between and in front of the buildings of the Viking Village This beautiful Valkyrie is the first woman to be accepted into the Rimmugýgur Viking club - Elín Reynisdóttir  The new location for the Viking festival is at Víðistaðatún Park and the market is open from 11-18 with free entrance.  The Vikings sell their wares at the market;  leather goods, fur and show us the ways of living of the old Vikings.  In 2018 the Viking Festival was moved to Víðistaðatún Park Look up the Viking club on Facebook Rimmugýgur for dates and participation in the Viking Festival Crowds of Vikings from all over the world (mostly Scandinavia plus Icelanders of course) gather at Víðistaðatún park and the fun goes on for 4 days The Viking Festival is becoming more and more popular and it is estimated that some 250-300 Vikings took part in the festival in 2015 166 Vikings took part in the Viking Festival in 2023 Guðrún the Seeress drinking from the Viking horn The majority of the Vikings come from Hafnarfjörður and other parts of Iceland and a Viking club was founded in association with Fjörukráin at the Viking Village This Viking club is called Rimmugýgur, which is a name from the Saga of Njáll the jewel in the crown of the Icelandic Sagas - the axe Rimmugýgur in that Saga belonged to Skarphéðinn Njálsson and means a fighting troll With the Danish Gudrun the Seeress (Völva) at the Viking Festival in 2019 This biggest of all Icelandic Viking clubs has grown in size through the years with around 200 members today - around 60 of which partake in the Viking reenactment fights.  You can read much more about Rimmugýgur in my travel-blog about Viking activities in Iceland today The Vikings at the Viking Festival teach us how to throw spears and axes shoot with bows and arrows, there is wood-carving With Guðrún and Elín at the Viking festival in 2023 in misty weather which affected my photos And from time to time you can have your fortune told by a fortune teller in a tent at the market Guðrún told my fortune at the Viking festival in 2024 and it was very accurate She just published a book about her life as a Völva - a Seeress which I bought from her at the Viking market Iceland is the "Mekka" of Vikings and visiting the festival is a must if you are visiting Iceland on the second weekend of June I make sure not to miss the Viking Festival A Viking combat at the Viking Festival in 2018 - in heavy rain and hail!  on the 17th of June (it varies though whether the 17th of June is the last day of the festival but it is one of the days) Iceland celebrates its National Day so imagine how much fun there is on that day in Hafnarfjörður town - Vikings and a local parade with festivities all over town The Viking market is open from 11-18 and after the Viking market closes the fun doesn't end as that is when the Vikings start partying There will probably be a Viking feast at the Fjörukráin restaurant at the Viking Village - and the fun will last until the wee hours of the morning with a concert and dancing - Viking style!  Jón Gestur of Rimmugýgur in a Viking Reenactment battle the highlight of the festival is the Viking reenactment battles The Vikings put on quite a realistic battle twice daily during the Viking Festival And I can tell you that the battles are quite realistic - minus the blood I took several videos of the Viking battle in 2024 in beautiful weather. You can watch another video of this Viking battle here At the end of the battle, a lot of Vikings lie "dead" in the field, probably on their way to Valhalla Be aware that they then get up and run screaming toward the crowd but when I brought my little nieces to watch the Viking battle I held on to them when the Vikings ran screaming toward the crowd If you look at the photo above I know you will understand why ;)  But these Vikings have a heart of gold so there is nothing to worry about And this is just a reenactment of a Viking battle There are also different Viking battles when the kids "fight" so the Viking Festival is also good fun for the kids When I visited the Viking Festival on the first day of the festival at Víðistaðatún Park it was crowded with kids Children at the festival being taught how to use Viking weapons They can take part in the Viking School for children Viking swords for children made of wood are sold at the Viking Festival On the webpage of the Viking Village, I saw this lovely video of the Viking Festival, and they were kind enough to let me use it here in my travel-blog It was shot by Netkynning - I just love the music they have added to the video My husband was attacked by Björgvin the Viking at the festival in 2024 My photo below is of the initiation of the Viking Festival in 2018 at Víðistaðatún but this was the first time I got the chance to witness the initiation Jóhanna G. Harðardóttir, Kjalnesingagoði - the Priestess of the old Norse faith set the festival by invoking the old Norse gods of the old Icelandic faith Jóhanna Kjalnesingagoði set the Viking Festival The Viking Festival is such good fun - don't miss it if you are visiting Iceland at this time The next festival will be held on the 13th - 18th of June 2025 - here is the Facebook event.  You can contact the Viking club Rimmugýgur for more information This is just my travel-blog about the festival but I don't represent the Viking Festival in any way I am just a big fan and love visiting the Viking Festival :) Jökull Tandri set the Viking festival in 2022 I have written another travel-blog about the Viking Village restaurant, Fjörukráin, and the hotel in the Viking Village, Hotel Viking.  I am totally in love with this place and take all my foreign guests there :) And, if you are interested in the Vikings, then I have written another travel-blog about Viking Ruins and Archaeological sites I have visited on my Travels in Iceland - which is a list of all the archaeological sites and burial mounds While visiting Hafnarfjörður you might also want to check out the elf locations in this beautiful town which is also nicknamed Álfabærinn - the Elf Town of Iceland Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket Download Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link Book your complete trip with the best companies only An ATM at Landsbankinn in Hafnarfjörður was damaged in a failed explosion last weekend Police link the incident to organised crime An attempt was made to blow up an ATM at a Landsbankinn branch on Fjarðargata in Hafnarfjörður in the early hours of Saturday In an interview with Vísir Chief Superintendent at the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police stated that the perpetrators failed to steal any valuables and there was clearly an attempt to blow it up It was wired out through the doors and detonated,” Helgi told Vísir Those who entered the bank reportedly had their faces covered and no arrests have been made in connection with the case Police are currently awaiting access to footage from the bank’s security cameras and nearby surveillance systems Helgi encourages anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or has relevant video footage to contact the police As noted by Vísir an earlier attempt to steal from the same ATM occurred in December an incident that was captured clearly on security footage A masked man reportedly reversed a stolen SUV through the branch’s glass wall climbed through the broken glass with a chain and attached it to the ATM and the vehicle Helgi told Vísir that last weekend’s incident was not the first involving attempts to blow up ATMs “This has simply become part of this organised criminal activity,” Helgi concluded The first attempt to steal an ATM wholesale in Iceland occurred in 1998 a 12-year-old girl was assaulted by an adult man in Hafnarfjörður The girl was on her way to school when an adult man snuck behind her grabbed her by the throat and covered her mouth The girl subsequently went to her school where she contacted her parents who then reported the attack to the police Hafnarfjörður police are investigating four similar cases occurring in the same month where a man has terrorised and followed children Police cannot confirm whether the same perpetrator committed the acts Tourist Held Hostage On May Day Tourist Sexually Harassed In Blue Lagoon Culture Night Killer Sentenced To Prison Starbucks To Open In Reykjavík Soon An Ode to Flateyri Grapevine Events: The Clock, Other-Grounds Film Festival, Icelandic Sorcery Festival & More Police Officers Spied On Citizens For Iceland’s Richest Man From Army Brats To Luxury Flats The Viking Village Restaurant is right next to the Viking Hotel in Hafnarfjordur We had our last dinner here and really loved it since the prices are not cheap—but the food is unbelievable which starts with the famous Hákarl - a piece of rotten shark We were told that the taste varies and that dark meat is usually stronger than the white meat Anthony Bourdain has described hákarl as “the single worst most disgusting and terrible tasting thing” he has ever eaten We had white meat and if you like strong cheese you will be OK with this too It comes with a shot of “Black Death” schnapps Main course was a huge leg of lamb cooked to perfection the meat was simply falling off the bone and melting in your mouth They are allot of fun to watch as they interact with the people in the restaurant There was a large German group inside and they put on quite the show for them and us too since we were all in the same room I would prefer a bit more light inside the restaurant as it is pretty dark - they are trying to recreate the conditions of a Viking longhouse - but apart from that it was a great and delicious experience Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC there were a few things on my list: an active volcano and running into Björk and becoming best friends I kind of knew I wanted to visit Hafnarfjörður home to an idyllic volcanic park known for elf sightings a kitschy stop that I expected to experience as a skeptical tourist rather than a believer.  “More Than Half of [This Country] Believes in Elves,” but obscure what that belief really means something to make the people of Iceland seem naive As if to say: There was a time when it was appropriate This alone is enough to deter most people from fucking with them many people will consult with elf experts like Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir who can liaise with the elves and find out who lives where and whether they’d consider moving on The result is a country that lives in harmony with its expansive A country and a people that moves and develops slowly enough to let nature—and the Huldufólk who protect it—flourish around them and the country-wide presence of volcanic rock is enough to distinguish it from anywhere else I’ve ever been Whole fields of lava feel like a walk on the moon Where another country might have cleared them away Iceland builds tourism around its volcanoes turning large expanses of hardened lava into family friendly parks and attractions I ultimately decided to go to Hafnarfjörður but for this scenery and the quiet that comes with it.  grows around lava and the ever-present threat of volcanic eruption locals say that all that untouched nature creates the perfect environment for elves Hafnarfjörður plays up the legend somewhat with little human-built elf houses and a gift shop that sells elf dust It’s kind of a tourist trap—but a very quiet one While I thought I just wanted to relax in the park I was also primed to retreat into the rocks with the Huldufólk: That morning my phone was filling up with people congratulating me on something that should have been exciting but instead felt overwhelming I set it to airplane mode and set off into the park trying to let myself be in tune with another world which felt easy with an unusually warm Icelandic sun on my back I came across a crack in the lava and crouched down laying my hands on rock that still felt warm clear slime interlaced with rainbows decorated the grass the peace that had been evading me finally gathering I thanked the elves for the quiet and moved on after a while In all of the photos surreptitiously taken of me hanging out by that crack in the rock It hadn’t been raining and I hadn’t seen the rainbow When my fiancée and I later told a friend of his elf slime,” like it was the most normal thing in the world She also gave a stern warning: Do not follow the elves When we later shared our experiences with other Icelandic people it caught me off guard how difficult it was to be embarrassed that the elves didn’t appear to just anyone It didn’t matter that I hadn’t “seen” an elf—the extent of my small interaction was enough but I also felt some gratitude in return that I hadn’t questioned their beliefs or culture willing to see the elves if they would show themselves to me but also a moment of peace that I desperately needed For much of my early life I believed in magic I believed wholeheartedly in the tooth fairy insofar as I believed she would be my friend and bring me gifts So maybe it shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise that I found myself among elves wanting to fall into gaps in the volcanic rock But why shouldn’t we look for magic as adults especially in places like Iceland that offer it up so freely Who does it harm to respect someone else’s version of the tooth fairy I’d loved When—if—we share our supernatural experiences with people who don’t come from cultures that share them readily there’s always a moment of shared trepidation You can sense them tip-toeing around their own experiences hedging with “I don’t usually believe in this stuff” or “it could have been anything.” After a while but what we experience and how we perceive it is real our beliefs—and our confidence in our own experiences—gain power More than that, when we as tourists are lucky enough to spend time in other people’s countries and cultures, we need to honor them. That means trying their food, understanding their customs, learning to fit in. That means not immediately complaining if you don’t get enough ice or the service isn’t fast enough It means exploring temples and monuments and other important sites with respect It means trying your best to speak the language and not just shouting “chips It also means taking on those customs and beliefs that are maybe even more foreign to you It means not laughing at something that means a lot to a lot of people in a country that for the most part gets by just fine without you the Huldufólk maintain the rule of the land Believing in elves or magic or ghosts or God or tree spirits isn’t inherently childish or naive it’s a part of being a human being with a belief system and a desire for rituals and order.  by having patience and respect for the places you visit even when it requires a suspension of disbelief you might open yourself up to a little magic You might make friends and take home experiences that you could never have had if you scoffed at something meaningful to someone else one less reason for people to hate tourists by Marianne Eloise Editorial Independence PolicyCorrections and Clarifications PolicyDonor Transparency Policy SUBMISSIONSSUBMISSIONS@CONVERSATIONALIST.ORGCORRECTIONSCORRECTIONS@CONVERSATIONALIST.ORGJOBSCAREERS@CONVERSATIONALIST.ORGGENERAL INQUIRIESADMIN@CONVERSATIONALIST.ORG Hafnarfjörður is a lovely town in the vicinity of Iceland's capital city It is sometimes called the Town in the Lava When you walk through this town you will see big lava rocks in some of the backyards.  Hafnarfjörður has also been called the Town of the Elves, as it is a well-known fact that the Icelandic elves (hidden people) live in lava rocks. But in this travel-blog Top photo: Fjörukráin at the Viking village in Hafnarfjörður I have written several travel-blogs about the elves in Iceland, as you, who read my travel-blog But I also love writing about the Vikings - and the landmark of Hafnarfjörður town is the Viking Village My all-time favourite restaurant in Iceland is Fjörukráin in the Viking Village, and I take all of my foreign guests there to dinner at Fjörukráin, and I never miss the annual Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður Reenactment of a Viking battle at the Viking Festival The only thing left for me at the Viking Village was to stay at the hotel - Hotel Viking and I got a chance to do so recently. I have often been asked about this hotel and wanted to stay here one day So I was very excited when I finally got the chance to stay at this hotel We stayed in a huge en-suite room with an extra-large bed and beautifully rustic Who needs TV when the view from the windows is this good the bed was so comfy and the duvet and linen were soft and luxurious I went to explore the whole hotel as I was so excited to be there We noticed that each floor had a special theme the second floor has Faroese and Greenlandic names and we were on the third floor where there were house numbers on the rooms The furniture in the lounge is Viking style Having a drink in the lounge of the Hotel Viking The latest addition to the Viking Village is 14 Viking cottages opposite the hotel I have just seen them from the outside though There are plans for expanding the Viking hotel and the new addition will have around 60 rooms We got a corner room with a view to the west and north The view from the west window was of the sea which is just opposite the street from the hotel And, the view from the north was of the city centre and of the Fjörukráin restaurant I have heard that some people have wanted to book exactly the room where I stayed as they want this view :) There is an outside hot pool with a roof in the backyard of Hotel Viking. I had seen photos of it in our newspaper and so wanted to try it out When we visited the hot pool it started raining cats and dogs so we had to find a place to put our clothes so they wouldn't get soaking wet But the pouring rain only added to the romance The geothermal water was hot and lovely.  but it must also be lovely sitting in the pool with candles in the darkness but better to put them in a plastic bag so they don't get wet if it starts raining We didn't bring a plastic bag and put them on the window sill of the room next to the pool.  There are bathrobes for hire at the hotel. We didn't rent a bathrobe and walked from the 3rd floor fully dressed and took our clothes off by the pool having our swimsuits underneath our clothes We had washed in the bathroom in our room before entering the pool But as we got out we had to dry off in the rain wrap ourselves in our towels and walk timidly to the 3rd floor again ;) So do rent or bring a bathrobe When you dine at Fjörukráin it is obligatory to take a photo in the stone chair :) There is also a sauna in the backyard which has to be booked an hour before use so it can be heated up. The rock in the backyard is decorated with small figures dwarfs etc and a prominent statue of fertility gods A terrace on the second floor has tables and chairs and here one can sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the sea which is right across the street from the hotel And there is a lovely goldfish pond in front of the hotel.  After a refreshing bath in the hot pool, we had dinner at Fjörukráin Viking restaurant Fjörukráin is located in the second oldest building in Hafnarfjörður town you feel like you have entered another world There are several dining rooms here on two floors I love dining here and I take all my foreign guests to this Viking restaurant Once I hosted a meeting with 70 foreign friends at the restaurant :) It is a unique experience dining in the Viking Village The staff is dressed in Viking clothes and the environment is beautifully decorated Viking Style My husband's food at Fjörukráin The restaurant is open daily from 6 pm - 10 pm There are several Icelandic specialities on their menu many types of fish, the traditional Icelandic skyr and many other desserts I have noticed that lamb shanks are very popular and every time we go there somebody from the group orders lamb shanks Fjörukráin Viking restaurant at the Viking Village But you don't have to eat the specialities as you can get pizza hamburgers and a vegetarian dish here as well.  which is shaped like a Norwegian Stave church The restaurant is so beautifully decorated and there are many interesting things to look at One of the "things" always attracts attention.. My husband with foreign guests having a look at the Viking stuff upstairs at Fjörukráin On one wall there are myriads of stuffed birds and on one wall you will see a fertility god - you can see another fertility god in the same shape in the backyard of Hotel Viking.  See also my travel-blog: A lovely Christmas Buffet at Fjörukráin Viking Restaurant in Iceland Hotel Viking restaurant at the Viking Village A Viking restaurant at Hotel Viking serves breakfast from 7:30 - 10:00 am but I thought the environment was so interesting that I was just walking around the restaurant taking photos with the coffee mug in one hand and the camera in the other hand :) There are some treasures to be found here; Viking drinking horns which make for good souvenirs from Iceland The surroundings at this restaurant are Viking style and here one can find the Cave bar where kidnappings of groups take place You can see my photos from inside the Cave where one can find a stuffed polar bear (which has been removed now) a statue of a seeress and all kinds of beautiful artwork would love to see such a performance one day You can book a Viking kidnapping for a group and the guests will be kidnapped from their buses They will then be brought to the Cave and get some mead If you are interested in Vikings or just want to stay in a lovely then this is the hotel to choose - I had so much fun staying there The Viking Village is located at Strandgata 5 in Hafnarfjörður Just be on the lookout for a big Stave church and statues of Vikings and the Norse Gods :) Hlið in Álftanes - the Fisherman's Village Jóhannes, the owner of the Viking Village, also offers lodging at the Fisherman's Village It is a beautiful location with 25 rooms and a dining hall If you are interested in the Vikings then I have written another travel-blog about Viking Ruins and Burial Mounds I have visited on my Travels in Iceland - which is a list of all the archaeological sites and burial mounds Further reading in Icelandic: Morgunstund með Fjörugoðanum Have a lovely time at the Viking Village :) Are you curious about what Hafnarfjörður has to offer visitors this town on the edge of the Reykjanes Peninsula has something for everyone Read on to discover its hidden gems and best-known attractions Most travellers to Iceland will pass through Hafnarfjörður on their way from Keflavik International Airport to the capital city Looking out through the windows of their rental car or bus transfer they’ll no doubt comment on the town’s cutesy aesthetic making it the third-largest town in the country coming in just behind the adjacent town of Kópavogur Its rapid growth somewhat mirrors Iceland’s broader development – back in 1910 its population was hardly more than 1500 people The town is soaring in popularity among local people particularly this might be down to the fact that it is fairly vacant of tourists The omission of foreign guests helps to capture something of the Iceland-of-old standing in stark contrast to the ever-growing multicultural metropolis that Reykjavik is becoming – at least Hafnarfjörður has as much for history-buffs as it does nature lovers and cafes provide a strong cultural reason to visit made all the more pressing by its quaint retail stores and interesting museums For instance, we encourage you to stop in and pay a visit to TÍRA Reflective Accessories useful worn souvenirs to help you keep safe in the dark You can read more about it in our full article: Alice Olivia Clarke Presents TÍRA Reflective Accessories Despite the fact that most tourists won’t make a deliberate trip to Hafnarfjörður as part of their holiday itinerary the Iceland of today would look like a very different place indeed Hafnarfjörður translates to “Harbour Fjord,” for obvious reasons but it is not just the ocean that has come to define it the entirety of its urban development is built atop Holocene lava fields that originated from the Krýsuvík volcanic system While there have not been any eruptions here since before the settlement of Iceland Krýsuvík is still very much considered an active volcano Given recent events on the Reykjanes Peninsula there has been a greater realisation recently on the possibility that Hafnarfjörður residents might one day have to deal with an eruption of their own Hafnarfjörður is first mentioned in the ancient saga manuscript it is known that sailors from England traded with local residents before being shooed away by German merchants The town’s reputation as a trading hub was so prevalent that it became a named member of the Hanseatic League a loosely-tied network of commercial towns across Europe but even when Iceland was under Danish rule Further developments came with the arrival of Bjarni Sívertsen (“The Father of Hafnarfjörður”) who founded a hugely influential fishing operation one can still visit his house (now a popular history museum) on Vesturgata street There is plenty of interest in Hafnarfjörður for the culturally-inclined visitor we should mention the historic buildings in the town centre which was built in 1865 and is now home to the Museum of Navigation and now hosts museum exhibitions of its own And while visitors might be taken with the grand architecture of Hallgrímskirkja Lutheran Church those in Hafnarfjörður can turn their sights on the quaintness of the town’s oldest church While discovering these historic locations you’ll notice much of the original downtown streets have been preserved and are still lined with small wooden houses It would be a mistake to think of Hafnarfjörður as completely urban-focused for there are many gorgeous green spaces that are perfect for soaking in nature and is particularly seen as being home to a race of elves known as the Huldufolk Walking between the gnarled lava rocks and creeping flora make sure to keep an eye out for these mysterious Aside from the fact Hellisgerði houses such mythical inhabitants the park also happens to be where the world’s northernmost Bonsai trees once resided the park offers an Icelandic aesthetic that is particularly appealing for those seeking out sights unlike anywhere else in the country is host to a variety of impressive sculptures created by both local Icelanders and foreign artists the tiny little lighthouse Viti might be worthy of your attention and thought of as something of a novelty today it is considered to be the default symbol of the town you’ll likely be surprised by its boxy architecture The lighthouse is far smaller than you’d expect and can actually be found in the front garden of a private residence One of Hafnarfjörður’s biggest draws is its sublime harbour a picture-postcard scene of gently rocking yachts The port has been the lifeblood of Hafnarfjörður residents for centuries providing work and sustenance for the town’s residents it is a highly popular spot for coastal walks and sightseeing In 2024, a humpback whale delighted residents and visitors when it made an appearance at the harbour This majestic creature took its time feeding on the harbour’s herring, providing ample opportunities to be photographed and studied by the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI); an organisation that relocated to Hafnarfjörður in 2020 Another reason for visiting is the prestigious and wildly fun Viking Festival Visitors will immediately take note that festival-goers are dressed in traditional garb reminiscent of early-era paintings portraying Iceland’s settlement period matched with long-flowing capes and wide trousers kept-up with a simple draw-string around the waist band you’re very likely to see more than a few horned-helmets even though these were actually never worn a creation of Scandinavian artists in the 1800s It’s not just the clothes that are worth seeing The Viking Festival also hosts numerous engaging events offering some insights into what combat must have been like in Iceland’s most formative years Health and fitness fanatics will find plenty of ways to warm up their muscles in Hafnarfjörður There are three swimming pools in which to visit – Ásvallalaug and Sundhöll Hafnarfjarðar – and in 2019 the world’s most northern crickets ground was opened by none other than the then Prime Minister the town has a brilliant success record in Handball having won countless championship titles and trophies since as early as 1943 Finally, the Keilir Golf Club was founded in 1967 and provides 18-holes from which to tee-off It is located on the stunning Hvaleyri peninsula and is split between lava fields and farmlands offering some truly unique surroundings in which to master your game it is the top ranked golf course in the whole of Iceland Those interested in golfing under the Midnight Sun – a solar phenomena unique to places south of the Antarctic Circle or north of the Arctic Circle (like Iceland) – could hardly do better than making a pitstop at Keilir then driving between the capital city and its neighbouring town is as simple as following Route 40 for an enjoyable 10-minute drive You’ll find there is ample parking in Hafnarfjörður and will no doubt be a little shocked at just how easy it is to get there posing the question – why don’t more visitors make time for Hafnarfjörður so step out and soak up the town’s local atmosphere while you can If you don’t happen to be using a rental car while in Iceland which is arguably simpler still than driving yourself All you have to do is take either bus 1 or 2 from any of their downtown locations and, after twenty minutes, you’ll find yourself in an entirely new urban locale. You can check Iceland’s public transportation website for more information Hafnarfjörður may be a small town unaccustomed to an influx of visitors but its quiet streets are positively packed with history  Whether you’re strolling through its pleasing downtown or soaking in the sea air of its bustling port Hafnarfjörður offers far more than one might making it the perfect place to slip into your schedule when time allows for it So don’t miss out on your opportunity to experience Hafnarfjörður for it surely the best means of discovering the charms of Icelandic culture without having to worry about the crowds is in Öskjuhlíð to go over the latest news: a shooting in the capital area highest refugee numbers on record and safety for tourists in Iceland Government officials and landowners met Tuesday evening and agreed to install an alarm system on the beach at Reynisfjara to alert visitors about dangerous conditions. Read more here A tourist has been killed after being struck by construction machinery in Djúpivogur in the East of Iceland yesterday. Read more here 1,887 Refugees have arrived in Iceland this year—already the most to have been received by the country in one year. The vast majority are from Ukraine. Read more here A controversial asylum bill has been thrown out by parliament—for the fourth time. Read more here A shooter had been apprehended in the capital area town of Hafnarfjörður, after a 5 hour standoff. No one was injured in the attack. Read more here The Newscast is made possible with the help of our friends at Einstök Beer So pick one for yourself and your family and buddies Hot water will be shut off for a large part of Iceland’s capital area for around 38 hours this week as a new hot water pipeline is installed Water will be shut off at 10:00 PM this evening and is scheduled to be turned on again on Wednesday at noon Water provider Veitur stresses the importance of keeping all taps turned off in the meantime to avoid accidents and damage when hot water is turned on again Hot water will be shut off in Hafnarfjörður Almannadalur and Breiðholt due to the installation of a new hot water pipeline Around 120,000 residents call the affected area home nearly one-third of Iceland’s total population Swimming pools will also be closed in the affected areas “This is, I think, the largest area we’ve ever shut off,” Sólrún Kristjánsdóttir, CEO of Veitur told RÚV “[T]here are just more people in the system now and we need to increase our capacity both for current generations and also to ensure future generations this quality of life that we’re providing.” The installation occurring this week is the initial phase in doubling the capacity of the Suðuræð pipeline Veitur encourages residents to heat their homes well before hot water is shut off this evening and keep their windows closed to retain indoor heat and Veitur asks residents to report any leaks immediately so they can be addressed promptly More information for residents is available in English on Veitur’s website (below the Icelandic-language information) Veitur will provide updates as the installation unfolds both on its website and Facebook page Open galleryNorthern Lights in HafnarfjörðurBy Lyonel PeraboVerified localContact Lyonel Perabo The great thing about being a Northern Lights hunter is that your average day is far from average It is impossible to say how any given tour will go and while sometimes you end up seeing nothing at all the fact of not knowing the outcome or the unfolding of the tour brings much excitement the Weather and Solar Activity levels were a bit worrying and it seemed that we might end up going home without seeing anything…Well We drove out with a relatively tiny group (23 pax) and set off to Reykjanes we had to escape the Light pollution and drove out of Reykjavík first explaining what the Northern Lights were about what were the conditions and our chances for the night…it’s a talk that I can make last for hours and hours but I literally only had the time to open my mouth when our driver Bennie silenced me The clouds were actually much more open than expected and could clearly be seen from the bus’ windows Bennies drove a little bit further and parked on a tiny and lying on the rocks was a little bit painful The Northern Lights were actually evolving quite interestingly: since the beginning of the evening they had moved higher and higher up the sky what I (and I think all the other) was waiting for happened: The Northern Lights burst I even managed to capture a Comet flashing throughout the Northern Lights This burst lasted for about half an hour and then the clouds started coming in again That’s when we moved back to the bus and headed home We were back in town half an hour earlier than expected but I think no-one had any problems with that The people of Hafnarfjörður and nearby areas didn't let the extreme cold stop them from taking to the sea and swimming in a cabin on the first day of the year The company Trefjar provided a cabin that was hoisted onto the bank at Langeyrarmalir and invited the sea swimmers to warm up after their swim The sea swimming group Happier You (Glaðari þú) participated in the sea swimming and was aptly named because there was so much joy in the water Hafnarfjörður and Trefjar worked together on the project I remember one spring day in 2023 when a quiet evening at home was suddenly flipped on its head Thunderous punk music emanated from my neighbour’s house on the other side of the street in downtown Hafnarfjörður “Nice to hear some garage rock in the neighbourhood,” I thought to myself wondering whether this would lead to housing prices going up or down a 30-strong group of people suddenly rushed up the street toward the sound The source of that ravageous rock music was Faroese punk band 200 who were preparing their set for that year’s edition of the Heima í Hafnarfirði festival I got a closer look at the crowd who stood anxiously outside the open garage it’s an evocative experience of the HEIMA festival Every last day of winter for the past 10 years Hafnarfjörður residents have opened up their homes to musicians and guests The festival takes place entirely within the confines of people’s homes (plus local venues Fríkirkjan and Bæjarbíó) producing intimate moments between artists and spectators a total of 14 acts will occupy the various Hafnarfjörður houses — the largest line-up to date Artists take the living room stage as curious guests travel between the makeshift venues to lay eyes on the next act HEIMA was spearheaded by Hafnarfjörður locals Ólafur Páll Gunnarsson (“Óli Palli”) known for his staple radio shows Rokkland on Rás 2 “I invited Kiddi to see Yo La Tengo at Iceland Airwaves in 2013 we met a Faroese man named Jón Tyril [member of band Clickhaze] which Kiddi had known since 2001 through a festival called Fairwaves,” Óli Palli reminisces “And there he tells us he’s starting a festival in the Faroe Islands — a concept he called an anti-festival,” Óli Palli continues ‘I want to organise a festival where it’s just about people and music Nothing else.’ So he came up with this idea called HOYMA festival which would take place in people’s homes the pair found it to be a fitting spot for a festival of this calibre “Suddenly [the organising team] was having talks with the town council and assumed the management of Bæjarbíó theatre,” he explains went through redevelopment and was transformed into a live venue during the first years of HEIMA “So this short meeting at Iceland Airwaves created HEIMA festival in Hafnarfjörður and reopened Bæjarbíó,” Óli Palli says proudly the establishment of HEIMA has inspired several similar festivals around the country guests from Keflavík were enamoured with the idea and decided to try it in their hometown “That developed into a Friday night show during the Ljósanótt festival,” he recalls the Westman Islands have their version named Hljómey and Sauðárkrókur is preparing their iteration of the festival this year we’re not focusing on a particular genre,” Óli Palli remarks explaining that the festival’s lineup does its best to reflect a catch-all music taste “And then there’s this special element of visiting people’s houses and standing in a crowd.” both Fríkirkjan and Bæjarbíó venues are used for performances This year’s lineup features artists Rebekka Blöndal Óli claims the organisers attempt to book at least one Faroese artist every year Heima í Hafnarfirði happens on Wednesday, April 24. Tickets are available for 7.900 ISK at tix.is Wristbands are picked up at the Ægir 220 brewery until 19:00 The first show starts at 19:30 at Fríkirkjan and the last concert is at 23:15 in Bæjarbíó This article is brought to you in partnership with Sól Restaurant What delicious dishes can be found on the menu at Sól Restaurant How far is this airy greenhouse away from the capital Learn more about this natural and sophisticated eatery here Established in 2024, Sól restaurant is located in the idyllic town of Hafnarfjörður only a short drive or bus ride from Iceland’s capital The restaurant itself is situated in an organic greenhouse its tables surrounded by the lush sight of blooming flora One of the most alluring aspects of this locally-beloved eatery is the fact that they grow much of their own vegetables in-house and cucumbers laid out in neatly organised plots adding touches of vibrancy and novelty to the overall experience of dining here if you’re looking for a good meal during your time in Iceland you’ll hardly find one more fulfilling for the mind and body than Sól restaurant Sól Restaurant’s homespun ethos ensures their food’s freshness and outstanding quality leaving diners satisfied after each and every bite This is largely because they have refined and shortened the farm-to-table experience in ways that is simply not possible most other places they have cut out any need to transport much of their produce long distances Through all of this, guests can immediately recognise Sól restaurant’s commitment to sustainability Living in connection with the environment is an ideal the Icelandic people hold dear in all aspects of their life Sól Restaurant offers us a glimpse into an utopian future; one where all restaurants are as meticulous and closely linked with their ingredients as this one You can see this in their modern yet welcoming interior summer diners bear witness to the radiant orange glow of the Midnight Sun This is not merely surface level symbiosis Their menu harmonises beautifully with the natural order of Iceland as a whole This willingness to change and reflect the outside world makes it a fantastic dining option for repeat visitors to Iceland They’ll find the winter menu is quite different from the summer one—we’ll leave you to decide which one is more delicious It is also possible to book a table so that you have no chance of missing out on the delectable Parties of 8 people or more should contact the restaurant directly as they will be ordering from the perfectly curated group menu If you’re looking to pop in for a quick visit to soak up Sól’s charming ambience there are a variety of smaller dishes that are sure to make a lasting impression.  a classic staple of any fine-dining restaurant. Crunching down on this delicately constructed brioche you’ll find the flavours transport your taste buds to the sunny mediterranean—a particularly welcome experience should the weather that day be uncooperative we are in Iceland and fish is the go-to classic in Icelandic cuisine it is the bounty of the sea that local chefs prepare with ancestral expertise those seeking more authentic tastes should aim for the asparagus and prawns rye bread topped with smoked arctic char and buttermilk.  if you’ve travelled all the way to Hafnarfjörður you’ll be seeking out something a little more substantial to feast on You can even sample dishes that are more Icelandic than you might realise Other lip-smacking options include catfish and salted cod with brioche and beurre blanc (a traditional French sauce.) If choosing from the variety of tasty options on offer proves too challenging—expect someone in your party to say “but everything looks so good…”—you can always opt for one of the set menus Each course provides a sample of what makes Sól such a welcome addition to Iceland’s culinary scene and is almost guaranteed to leave you tempted by a return visit it is also possible to opt for a delicious and filling six-course menu based on the chef’s personal recommendations This would be the best option for those with limited time in Hafnarfjörður and truly makes an entire evening out of the dining experience picking this option is sure to provide you with the best insights into what Sól restaurant has set out to achieve with its cuisine you’ll have a choice between the likes of chocolate mousse topped with strawberries and pistachio nuts or a creamy cheese carrot cake with added lemon and oats you could also pick out Sól’s own interpretation of the famous kleina—a favourite among locals—which is a twisted dough pastry made with cardamom Sól restaurant can be found at Óseyrarbraut 27c allowing for fabulous views of the local scenery The best ways of reaching Hafnarfjörður are by taking the 1 or 2 bus lines from downtown Reykjavik You can find the exact location on the map below:  A new technical school will be constructed in Hafnarfjörður according to an agreement reached today between the government the city of Hafnarfjörður and Tækniskólinn the new trade school is slated to be completed in the fall of 2029 “This signing here today is a monumental step in strengthening vocational and technical education as we can finally start the implementation,” stated Ásmundur Einar Daðason “This has been a priority for me as the Minister of Education and the government during this term and it is very gratifying to see yet another milestone in this journey come to fruition both among students and the business sector and it is therefore pleasing that we are taking this important step together now to meet this need.” a key institution for vocational and technical education in Iceland’s capital area currently operates out of outdated buildings spread across multiple locations The new college will centralize operations and better meet the growing demand from students and the business sector This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to strengthen vocational and technical education in the country A new 30,000-square-meter building is planned for the Technical College designed to house around 3,000 students in the harbour area Construction will be executed in two phases: a 24,000-square-meter building in the first phase followed by a 6,000-square-meter expansion in the second phase The site also allows for potential future expansions An earthquake near Trölladyngja has led to a discussion of the possibility of erecting protective barriers in Hafnarfjörður The director of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has stated that such discussions are premature On Wednesday, a large earthquake occurred near Mt. Trölladyngja, a volcano located on the Reykjanes peninsula, between Grindavík and the capital area. Speaking to Vísir yesterday a geologist on duty at the Icelandic Meteorological Office stated that there had been about 640 tremors since the earthquake The geologist also stated that there had beeen no signs of geological unrest in Svartsengi where a volcanic eruption occurred in December Speaking to Stöð 2’s evening news on Wednesday volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson discussed the earthquake and its potential implications He expressed interest in exploring the construction of protective barriers in the westernmost part of Hafnarfjörður given that the tremor might indicate possible eruptions near the town in the coming years Víðir Reynisson, Director of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told Vísir yesterday that any discussion of protective barriers for the capital area was premature while a comprehensive hazard assessment for volcanic activity in the area was still underway “This work on hazard assessment for Iceland’s volcanoes started in 2012 and has been ongoing since and the assessment for the capital area began over a year ago Many scientists are involved,” Víðir stated Several volcanologists have called for such a risk assessment and Víðir was surprised that they were not aware that this work had long been in progress: “We know to some extent where eruptions can occur and are familiar with these areas It’s possible to simulate lava flows from these locations but the hazard assessment is the foundation of everything we do It’s being actively worked on,” Víðir noted As noted by Vísir land uplift near the Svartsengi Power Station has continued although the rate has significantly slowed in recent days A similar pattern occurred before the eruption in Sundhnúkagígar in mid-December The man found dead in an industrial area in Hafnarfjörður on Saturday morning is believed to have died from stab wounds, RÚV reports The police have arrested the man’s co-tenant on suspicion of murder A man discovered unconscious in an industrial area in Hafnarfjörður on Saturday morning is believed to have died from stab wounds The man’s co-tenant has been taken into police custody on suspicion of murder This incident marks the third homicide in Iceland in two months “We are investigating a suspected homicide,” Grímur Grímsson, Chief Superintendent of the Icelandic Police’s central investigative department, told RÚV yesterday While he declined to disclose specific details he clarified the ongoing nature of the case “At this point, I’m not prepared to go into too much detail in this investigation,” Grímur told RÚV it is not feasible to delve deeper into it.” RÚV sources indicate that the attack occurred inside the victim’s bedroom early on Saturday morning following which he managed to exit the residence before succumbing to his injuries “While the exact circumstances remain uncertain the deceased exhibited injuries consistent with stab wounds leading us to work on the assumption that he died as a result of such an injury,” Grímur stated when addressing concerns about alternative causes of death An autopsy is expected to determine the definitive cause of the man’s death The deceased was in his forties and the suspect about forty years old The men knew each other and shared a residence the suspect reportedly confided in a third party about the attack leading to a subsequent call to the police one at the scene and the other a short distance away,” Grímur remarked to RÚV The latter individual was released on Saturday after it became evident that he had no involvement in the case has been remanded in custody for five days This incident marks the third homicide of the year and the third within the past two months When asked about the significance of these occurrences Iceland has experienced an average of 1.7 to 1.8 homicide cases per year Sometimes these incidents cluster together we do not attribute any particular meaning to this pattern at present.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Seventeen people were registered as residents of an industrial building in Hafnarfjörður in the Reykjavík capital area that was heavily damaged when a fire broke out yesterday A couple and a family of four were sleeping inside the building when the fire broke out but were woken up by good samaritans who saw the rising smoke and ran over to help No injuries or fatalities have been reported The fire broke out at Hvaleyrarbraut 22 around noon yesterday and firefighters did not manage to quell the flames entirely until around 4:00 AM this morning Duty Officer Þorsteinn Gunnarsson of the Greater Reykjavík Fire and Rescue Service said the building was heavily damaged and a part of it had been torn down in order to put out the fire Guðrún Gerður Guðbjörnsdóttir called emergency number 112 immediately when she spotted the fire. When she realised it was in the building where her daughter lived, she made her way in. “I ran up the stairs, jumped onto the roof and ran to the window where my daughter lives,” Guðrún told RÚV reporters She managed to open the window and wake up her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend There was already a lot of smoke in the apartment when she reached them Another civilian working near the building told reporters that he had run over when the fire broke out and woken up a family of four that was fast asleep inside the building The building was also used as storage and firefighters did their best to save valuables that were stored on the lower floor of the building though accessing the storage rooms proved difficult says 17 people were registered as living in the building which was not approved as residential housing “Residing in commercial [or industrial] buildings is still not permitted though there is a lot of it in the capital area,” Birgir stated Ambassador He Rulong visited Hafnarfjörður and met with Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir as an important commercial port in Iceland and a vital city in the Greater Reykjavik Area Hafnarfjörður has carried out various cooperation with the city of Baoding since their establishment of sister city relationship in 1994 The Chinese side is hopeful that the two sides will continue to strengthen exchanges and further tap the potential of cooperation The Embassy is willing to render its assistance in this regard Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir extended a warm welcome to Ambassador He and introduced in details the city’s industrial structure port construction projects and its future development plans Hafnarfjörður is willing to keep in close touch with Baoding and bolster the cooperation in various fields Located in the Greater Reykjavik Area with a population of about 30,000 Hafnarfjörður is the third largest city in Iceland Due to the connection of new heating mains there will be no hot water in all of Hafnarfjörður and parts of Garðabær between Monday night and Wednesday morning next week The new mains are expected to ensure Hafnarfjörður’s hot water supply over the coming decades Veitur (Iceland’s public utility company) announced yesterday that Hafnarfjörður and select parts of Garðabær would be without hot water from 10 PM on Monday This interruption owes to the integration of new heating mains the new mains will bolster transport capacity addressing the growth in residential demand in Hafnarfjörður stemming from town expansion; the aim is to ensure Hafnarfjörður’s hot water supply over the coming decades Laying new main pipes in established neighbourhoods is rare, and the process is extensive. However, Veitur commits to swift, safe completion. Updates will be available on Veitur’s website The following streets in Garðabær will be affected by the closure: Boðahlein A young kitten named Koddi was discovered on Wednesday atop the fire-damaged industrial building in Hafnarfjörður where a blaze erupted on Sunday, RÚV reports The kitten was among four pets reported missing in the wake of the fire Questions have been raised about the building’s fire safety as the industrial structure was inadequately equipped to protect its occupants Authorities are still determining the number of people who may have been living in the facility The building is now considered a total loss Upon realising her daughter lived in the affected building Gerður rushed into the building to awaken her daughter and her partner The young couple shared their home with one dog and three cats Rescue teams successfully located and rescued the couple’s dog and one of the cats soon after the fire was extinguished Efforts continued to find the remaining missing pets Sandra Ósk Jóhannsdóttir, a volunteer with animal welfare organisation Dýrfinna, stated in an interview with RÚV: “We saw the reflection of Koddi’s eyes from the road above the fire site the young kitten refused to budge from the rooftop.” Koddi’s owner was eventually brought to the scene “Koddi became noticeably more vocal upon hearing a familiar voice; it was so relieved” Sandra observed the kitten made his way down and jumped into its owner’s arms While Koddi was discovered near his former home the apartment is among the structure’s total losses Sandra observed that it had been heart-rending She added that Koddi had been visibly relieved frequently purring and napping since being reunited with his owner The animal welfare organisation Dýrfinna continues to search for three additional cats believed to have survived the fire The organisation is urging the public to report any sightings of the missing pets (see below FB post) are being detained by capital area police in connection to the death of a Hafnarfjörður man they were tipped off around midnight to a confrontation between the suspects and victim in the parking lot of Fjarðarkaup in Hólshraun The victim was transported to the emergency room The other four parties were arrested in connection with the case Capital area authorities note that the investigation is still in its early stages and no further details are available at this time The seaside town will soon be festooned with classic jokes that poke fun at people from Hafnarfjörður Every country has their region or city that is the butt of jokes, typically depicting the residents there as not particularly bright, but more naive and possibly backwards than downright stupid. In Iceland, the target for humour is Hafnarfjörður. Vísir reports that Marín Hrafnsdóttir the Culture and Tourism representative for Hafnarfjörður is engaging in a reclamation of sorts where these jokes are concerned “I have often thought about how we could use the Hafnarfjörður jokes,” she told reporters “Although there are towns overseas with similar jokes Hafnarfjörður is in a naturally special place in Iceland.” Twenty Hafnarfjörður jokes will be stencilled along the seaside path of Strandstíginn These jokes will be in both Icelandic and English Some examples of Hafnarfjörður jokes include: A major cloud of smoke was visible from the capital area as a fire broke out in an industrial building by Hvaleyrarbraut in Hafnarfjörður The capital region‘s fire department finished its efforts well into Monday morning having extinguished the fire around 04:30 after midnight Chief of fire department Birgir Finnsson said that 17 people lived in the house Despite not being zoned for residential use many industrial buildings in the capital area are inhabited In an effort to crack down on unsafe housing the fire department keeps a list of buildings that need safety monitoring No information was available on the number of residents in the building stated that authorities had closed down a part of the building‘s residential area a few years ago Update 22.06.22 12:53 PM: RÚV reports that the suspected shooter came out of the apartment building around 12:20 PM and was arrested and taken to the police station A formal investigation of the incident will now begin Police will open the cordoned-off area shortly Affected residents are advised to call the Red Cross helpline at 1717 if they require support Update 22.06.22 10:00 AM: RÚV reports that the incident involves a gun being shot at a car outside an apartment building on Miðvöllur street The police believe the shooter is in their apartment in the building and police are on the phone with him The area is considered unsafe and has been cordoned off by police who are ensuring that no one enters the area Special police forces are on the scene in Hafnarfjörður in the Reykjavík capital area due to a suspected shooting, RÚV reports Víðivellir preschool has been closed and parents have been notified that the children who have arrived at the school are safe the response is due to a possible shooting near the preschool Superintendent of Hafnarfjörður Police Skúli Jónsson confirmed that special forces had been called out but declined to provide further information on the incident at this time All access routes to and from the school have been closed In a recent interview with Vísir volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson said that residing in Grindavík is currently not safe due to volcanic activity He emphasises the need for people to relocate The latest eruption, which began on Sunday morning, January 14th, only lasted two days, yet reached the outskirts of the town of Grindavík, claiming three homes before petering out. Read our coverage here It is primarily the fissures in the town that pose the greatest threat to people,” says Ármann “While the volcanic eruptions are happening it is not be advisable for people to stay in the town and alternative accommodations need to be found similar to what was done in Vestmannaeyjar.” It is unlikely that residents will be able to return to Grindavík soon Considering how rapidly the land is rising in between This means that this state of uncertainty will continue at least this year I firmly believe that we won’t see the end of this before another five to ten years.” Ármann mentions that when eruptions begin in Eldvörp people may start talking about the end of eruptions in Grindavík Asked if other settlements in the Reykjanes Peninsula could be at risk Ármann says that this has been considered since 2021 “The most challenging area in the future will be Hafnarfjörður But the advantage is that we have seen how this works and anticipating how we respond if something happens there.” He also notes that if eruptions occur in the Hengill area it becomes a bigger problem than it is now because then Hellisheiði Power Station and Nesjavellir Power Station are in the danger zone That means it could affect the heating supply in the capital area Most of us live here and need a substantial amount of hot water but we definitely need to start thinking about the future and integrate this threat into our overall planning This is here to stay and will be for the next 150 to 200 years.” Unrestricted access to Leiðarendi cave has led to heavy vandalism and damage to the site, RÚV reports Graffiti covers large sections of the lava cave’s walls; most of its dozens of stalagmites have been broken; and at least one visitor left behind human excrement Stefánsson of the Icelandic Speleological Society says the natural formation should be monitored to protect its fragile and unique contents Leiðarendi stretching 1,000m (3,280ft) long It sits on public land within the town of Hafnarfjörður but it’s not until the last few years that traffic to the cave has boomed Its walls are host to patterns created by unique micro-organisms “It’s like the underpasses in the suburbs of a big city,” says Árni “It was completely untouched at the turn of the century The first graffiti appeared here around 2006 or 2007 and then there was an explosion in tourism and simultaneously in the graffiti which roughly translates to “final destination,” got its name from a lamb skeleton which lies deep inside the cave The lamb is believed to have gotten lost there some 100-200 years ago Its remains have not been left undisturbed by visitors “[The skeleton] has been moved a lot and the skull was taken at one point Árni set up a chain to protect the cave’s stalagmites – rock formations rising from its floor – but the measure has not been successful Árni says that hundreds of thousands of visitors have been to the cave in recent years or as part of organised tours via tour companies “These are many billions that the cave has brought in for the community and for these tour companies noting that none of the profits have been used to protect the cave from damage He says it is essential to start monitoring admission to the cave – such natural formations are simply too sensitive for traffic to be left unchecked chairperson of Hafnarfjörður’s environmental and development council the process was delayed because it was not clear whether the cave was under the jurisdiction of Hafnarfjörður or the neighbouring town of Kópavogur “We will start inside the cave to try to fix what has been damaged,” Helga stated She says the town will also look at ways to improve visitors’ experience by for example placing lighting in the cave Other planned measures include restoring the entrance to the cave “The counter will give us an indication of what steps need to be taken next.” Police received reports of the fire around 8:30 PM last night and all available firefighters were called out to the scene but the fire spread to an attached storage unit and burned the contents inside Some gas cylinders inside the burning building caused minor explosions A favourable wind direction blew the smoke out to sea limiting the spread of the fire and smoke pollution in nearby areas As the building was covered with corrugated iron on the outside firefighting crews had to rip off the roof to get at the fire No firefighters were sent into the building as there were no valuables to recover which in the ownership of fishing operator Haraldur Reynir Jónasson Haraldur lost another building in Hafnarfjörður harbour to a fire four years ago Reporters were unable to get a statement from Haraldur The part of the warehouse where the fire is believed to have broken out has not been in use for some time but was previously used as a shipbuilding workshop Two companies operate in the other part of the building a machine shop and a company that uses part of the building as a storage space Parents of children a year and older in the town of Hafnarfjörður may now apply to receive a monthly childcare stipend from the local government, mbl.is reports These payments are equal to those made to professional childminders or “day parents,” and are intended to allow parents stay at home with their children longer therefore bridging the gap between when their parental leave ends The town has also approved higher hourly rates for day parents as well as the establishment of a special fund that will provide grants for day parents who have been municipally employed for at least a year The Hafnarfjörður town council approved the measures In Focus: The Preschool System Day parents are self-employed professionals who are licensed by These individuals care for children who are either too young to enter preschool children who are still on the waitlist for a place in the overcrowded pre-k system Licensed day parents generally look after small groups of young children in at-home settings In its announcement about the new measures the Hafnarfjörður town council said it believes that new parents need a wider variety of practical solutions for childcare and is looking into such options as extending parental leave and creating more choice within the pre-k and day parent systems which has a population of just over 29,700 people currently has just 26 licensed day parents Day parents ‘an important pillar of childcare system’ Hafnarfjörður appreciates that “day parents are an important pillar of the daycare system,” and the town hopes to recruit more qualified individuals to the profession Day parents who have worked for Hafnarfjörður for a minimum of 12 months can now apply for a grant of ISK 300,000 [$2,105; €1,944] Hourly wages for day parents will also increase from ISK 8,433 [$59; €55] to ISK 12,800 [$90; €83] an hour The council also seeks to better support low-income families and families with multiple young children Low-income parents can apply for additional subsidies and ‘sibling discounts’ are available for siblings who go to the same day parent The second child receives a 75% discount on fees and the third 100% The District Prosecutor is appealing the sentences of three young men involved in a fatal stabbing in Hafnarfjörður; a fourth individual, who recorded the incident, will not face an appeal on her suspended sentence, RÚV reports In April of this year, four individuals, three of them under 18, were detained by the Capital Area Police following the death of a 27-year-old man in front of the Fjarðarkaup grocery store in Hafnarfjörður All of the individuals were later sentenced to prison The District Court ruled that he had not shown a deliberate intention to kill the victim received a twelve-month suspended sentence As reported by RÚV the District Prosecutor has decided to appeal to Landsréttur (i.e the Court of Appeals) the verdict of the Reykjanes District Court against three young men the verdict for the young woman who recorded the attack on video will not be appealed An eight-year-old boy was fatally struck by a cement truck in Hafnarfjörður on Monday A prayer service was organised by the Ástjarnarkirkja church last night An eight-year-old boy died in a traffic accident in Ásvellir First responders were notified about the accident at 5 PM and arrived promptly at the scene The accident occurred in the southern part of Ásvellir near a car park situated between the Ásvallalaug swimming pool and the Haukar sports hall who practised football with the Haukar athletic club was on a bicycle when he was struck by a cement truck Mayor of Hafnarfjörður Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir described the accident as tragic beyond words. “This is a day of profound sorrow in Hafnarfjörður, and our thoughts are with the family of the little boy, to whom I extend my deepest sympathy,” Rósa told Mbl.is yesterday A prayer service was organised by the Ástjarnakirkja church last night Vísir notes that local police and the Traffic Accident Investigation Board are examining the circumstances surrounding the accident The roommate of the man who was found unconscious in Hafnarfjörður this weekend is in police custody as a suspect a man in his 50s was found unconscious in a Hafnarfjörður industrial area the man was attacked in his room where he escaped and subsequently passed out Though the police have yet to confirm the correlation it is suspected he died from his stab wounds The police arrested two men; one at the scene of the crime This is Iceland’s third homicide this year; the third in two months, and the second murder to be committed in Hafnarfjörður Iceland’s average murder rate is 1.8 per year Icelanders’ belief in elves is playing havoc with planning laws and building projects, as rocky homes for the ‘hidden people’ become protected. Here the photographer Svala Ragnars documents the various elf homes being saved from demolition Icelanders’ belief in elves is playing havoc with planning laws and building projects, as rocky homes for the ‘hidden people’ become protected. Here the photographer Svala Ragnars documents the various elf homes being saved from demolition we’d like to thank you for joining the debate - we’re glad you’ve chosen to participate and we value your opinions and experiences Please choose your username under which you would like all your comments to show up Please keep your posts respectful and abide by the community guidelines - and if you spot a comment you think doesn’t adhere to the guidelines please use the ‘Report’ link next to it to let us know Please preview your comment below and click ‘post’ when you’re happy with it Rio Tinto, the parent company of the Alcan aluminium smelter in Hafnarfjörður, is currently reviewing its operations of the plant, RÚV reports according to an announcement from the company the mayor of Hafnarfjörður tells reporters that she takes the matter very seriously Rio Tinto has apparently been contending with operational losses for entirely too long now and as such are looking to make cuts where they deem necessary The Straumsvík plant is one of the possible locations on the chopping block The plant has been a tremendous consumer of electricity and one of the country’s top polluters It has been the plummeting price of aluminium and the local cost of electricity that have been making the most significant dents in remaining profitable Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, the mayor of Hafnarfjörður, told Vísir that she is taking the situation very seriously “This is one of the largest employers in town and holds a lot of meaning for the entire town,” she said Employees of the plant were invited to a meeting this morning and informed of the situation A more definitive decision on the matter will be taken at the end of the first half of this year She has appeared in a number of notable Icelandic films including Baltasar Kormákur’s ‘White Night Wedding’ She is now working on a Danish film called ‘Sticks and Stones’ from director Martin Skovbjerg Read more perfect days here Volunteers from the animal rescue organisation Dýrfinna found a young cat that had gone missing after a large fire at Hvaleyrarbraut 22 in Hafnarfjörður, reports Vísir we saw a bright orange eye on top of the burnt ruins and knew that it was the cat we were looking for,” says Sandra Jóhannsdóttir The organisation had been searching for lost cats that lived in the house that burned down August 20 which was a densely populated residence and was completely destroyed by the fire but four of the residents’ cats went missing Sandra mentions that Dýrfinna confirmed that the fire brigade had rescued two cats from the roof of the house during firefighting operations The third cat had been spotted in the area the evening after the fire both Dýrfinna and the owner were unable to capture it volunteers have been patrolling the area in the evenings with flashlights and setting up traps in an attempt to capture the missing cats “The floor he lived on is no longer there He was on the roof closest to his apartment,” says Sandra “It was remarkable to see him [Koddi] there but now he’s safe and on his way to a veterinary examination today.” One of them was seen the evening after the fire and Dýrfinna has received tips about a cat resembling Ogis near Krónan supermarket on Hvaleyrarbraut Dýrfinna will continue to monitor the area for the missing animals Hildur Guðnadóttir’s beaming face emerges from the digital blur her features springing into sharp resolution Her long hair is tied up into a loose bun with several pixelated spikes and her bright eyes glitter above a broad smile and she peers from the screen Hildur is speaking from her studio in Berlin a sunny peach-coloured room that’s suffused with soft late-summer light “I love going back to Iceland—it’s expansive and you always have the horizon—but it’s difficult to make a living there as a musician.” Her credits include long-term collaborations with múm and countless works with the late Jóhann Jóhannsson She has contributed to a diverse range of experimental projects including Throbbing Gristle Hildur has become an in-demand film composer A piece of hers was employed to dramatic effect in the 2018 season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ and she scored 2018 movies ‘Sicario 2’ and ‘Mary Magdalene.’ When we speak some news has just broken—her next big project will be ‘The Joker,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro it would be fair to say that Hildur is hitting the big time It’s been a long road from Hafnarfjörður to Hollywood Hildur has been around music for as long as she can remember—her father is a composer clarinet player and teacher who runs the CAPUT chamber ensemble and her brother—also a close collaborator—is a member of Agent Fresco “Everyone around me was a musician,” says Hildur “The normal thing in my family was to do music My punk rebellion would have been to be an athlete Her early exposure to music as a part of day-to-day life would prove formative “I remember being with dad in a chamber rehearsal and falling asleep under his chair;” she says “Being around musicians and their instruments all the time formed the way I think about music in the sense that every personality became an instrument the flute took on the character of Kolbeinn Music became so personal to me and more about the people that were involved than the music that was being played.” She has known many of her collaborators for most of her life and speaks about them with a joyful sense of familial fondness “It’s very important that the people who work with me are close to me personally,” she says “The people who worked on ‘Soldado’ [the Sicario sequel] and ‘Mary Magdalene’ were my little brother my fiancé and my best friend who I grew up with But her reasons for maintaining such a close circle go beyond shared history Hildur describes how knowing collaborators well enables a wordless dialogue and a mutual understanding that eases the process along “It’s such a vulnerable thing to make music,” she says You’re exposing things that you wouldn’t even be able to express in words I can only share that with people who really know me and know what I mean without me having to find the exact words I can be like ‘This sounds a little bit too… pointy,’ and they’ll say she was listening to a lot of Jacqueline Dupre who’s very fiery and full of passion and strength I think I was a tough foetus—she had a hard time when she was pregnant with me She was certain the child she was carrying would be called Hildur So when it came to me choosing my instrument “For a long time she said I chose it myself but she just recently admitted that’s not entirely true.” Her training with this large instrument was somewhat fraught “I had a weird love-hate relationship with the cello,” says Hildur and I was walking to rehearsal in the middle of winter and a big gust of wind swept in and grabbed the cello as I walking over a sheet of ice the teenaged Hildur channeled her musical curiosity into various band projects which culminated in studies of electro-acoustic programming in Berlin “You spend weeks writing code just to get a little beep It wasn’t a satisfying working progress for me.” She picked up her cello one day for some relief sound!’ I fell head over heels in love with it again It was like having a boyfriend for twenty years that you didn’t really like and then realising: ‘You’re actually great!’” and carrying the strong notion that constant rehearsal wasn’t best path for her progression as a musician Hildur found a more comfortable environment for her experimental urges in band projects She started collaborating with her friends Gunni and Örvar in the band Andhéri “Múm was such a crucial part of my musical upbringing,” she says “It was always about hanging out and the friendship and the collective space and camaraderie was a huge part of everything Despite loving musical communication and her close collaborative bonds “I started doing solo music because I’d been playing with other people so long but I need a lot of solitude and space as a contrast I started making solo music as a way to contemplate and be with myself and sound—not having to communicate That’s why a lot of the music I make is very contemplative It’s a space where I come and meet myself.” Hildur is seeking a balance between these divergent processes “Music for me is all about communication,” she says or making a message in a bottle for someone you don’t know yet That’s why it’s so nice to meet people who really respond to the music I was speaking to you!’ It’s like beautiful alien communication.” Communication and social interaction also sits at the heart of her history as a collaborator She explains that most of her projects came about through social meetings that organically evolved into working together “I can understand why people would look at the collaborations and ask ‘Why is she so schizophrenic?’” she laughs I don’t have a huge social life outside of music it’s usually related to music.” She laughs “You’re basically looking at my social life These are the only people I met in the last fifteen years!” This fluid approach has led to some unlikely pairings “I was just recording with Sunn O))) and Steve Albini and people were like ‘How can you be in a doom metal band?’” she smiles They’re the sweetest people in the universe Hildur has risen to prominence as a film composer She’s been working with theatre and film for over a decade the scope and frequency of these projects has ramped up exponentially “I never had any plans or ambitions to become a film composer,” she says Then me and Jóhann Jóhannsson crossed paths pretty strongly and started working on every project that the other was doing from 2003 on and he dragged me into the stuff he was doing we shared a studio and we were working hand in hand on all the films he was doing.” Composing for the screen is an entirely different process for Hildur but it’s one that she takes great pleasure in She’s able to maintain a certain amount of autonomy in her film work partially because people come to her expecting a certain signature sound because as a musician I have a pretty distinctive sound that people approach me to get,” she says “There are composers who can ‘be anyone,’ but I’m normally very open that I have to be myself—you can’t ask me to write a Hans Zimmer or John Williams score It wouldn’t be good communication on my part.” Communication is—as in all aspects of Hildur’s practise—absolutely key “Working in film is a huge exercise in human communication,” she says and I obviously have a pretty strong opinion too Hildur squeezes in emails and Skype meetings on LA time “It’s not necessarily the most healthy rhythm,” she laughs I’ve never had a manager of a booking agent and book concerts… I’ve never been career focussed in that sense But all of a sudden it’s escalated into a very big project I do have a film agent who’s been a huge part of it in the last year.” Hildur has found that staying true to her open and amiable working method has served her well in this new scenario “It’s very different to being in a room with someone,” she says it’s difficult for musicians to describe music But when you hit the sweet spot of what a director wants I’m not interested in the red carpet situation and that whole fiasco—I just try to hide in my Berlin Hildur is also currently deeply engrossed in a soundtrack for forthcoming HBO series about the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl As part of the project she recorded some music in a Lithuanian nuclear power plant that’s in the long process of being decommissioned “You arrive and you have to put on these Soviet uniforms and hats and so on,” she says “Being able to spend a few days in the lives of the people who work in these environments is phenomenal The show will be a dramatisation that stays true to actual events which has engaged Hildur in creative a process of active learning during and after the accident there is unbelievably fascinating,” she says “It’s been so great learning about nuclear energy it seems Hildur is more of a renewable energy source Alongside ‘Chernobyl’ she’s also starting on ‘The Joker’ soundtrack and working the second season of ‘Trapped’; she’ll performing live with Éliane Radigue at Union Chapel in London next month and has several other performances in the works “I’m taking part in a few memorial concerts for Jóhann We have such a great situation at the studio—it’s a whole floor of an old factory So Jóhann’s ‘Last And First Men’ project is being finished on the floor.” She pauses for a long second Early Friday morning, a group of refugees was evicted from their accommodation, as the people face total deprivation of their rights. Blessing Newton, whose case has been covered in the media in recent weeks, told Vísir that she has no place to go The refugees in question had their applications for asylum rejected the women have been refused social and medical service since 30 days have passed from the formal rejection The women in question fled to Italy from Nigeria where they were sold in a sex trafficking scheme Due to Iceland’s lack of bilateral agreement with their home country it is unclear whether the women can be sent back Ponant’s new luxury expedition cruise ship Le Lapérouse was christened by Maryvonne Pinault the wife of French billionaire businessman François Pinault The most popular stories of the month delivered to your inbox Open galleryVikings Descend Upon Hafnarfjörður - Viking Festival 2016By Beth RogersVerified localContact Beth Rogers Though Iceland has recently been making headlines for its performance in the 2016 Euro games that often means repairs and projects on the farm hiring more hands to help care for the growing foals and lambs born in the spring and planning the harvest for the long winter to come a small village just 15 minutes away from the capital city Like a horde of invaders from history itself craftsmen and enthusiasts descend on the Viking Village in early June every year hosting demonstrations of the fighting arts hundreds of Vikings piled into the Viking Village at Fjörukráin which began with a single restaurant in 1990 by Jóhannes Viðar Bjarnason and has since grown to 2 restaurants a hotel and 14 Viking cottages meant to capture the feeling and look of a bygone era Katelin Anderson, an American who studies medieval Icelandic history at the University of Iceland, turned up on Saturday, June 17. This is Iceland’s National Day in which the nation celebrates its independence from Denmark in 1944 so it was a perfect time to celebrate the past She had a good time wandering the booths and watching the fighting demonstrations saying “It was a fun way to spend an afternoon and there was a lot of cool stuff for sale in the tents Watching people pretend to kill one another Many locals enjoy being part of the festival every year enjoys bringing family and friends who have never experienced it before “We make most years,” she said though it’s frustrating not to be able to see the battles!” Three times per day throughout the weekend the children merrily whacking each other with wooden swords and shields were shooed away for a proper fighting demonstration on the a grassy knoll behind the booths but perhaps as the festival grows there will be more space arranging the children in front so they can see Combat is led by men and women in historical garb who would bang their shields to signal the start of the battle let out a scream like a gutted buffalo and charge at each other with swords raised high Katelin and I put our semester of Old Norse to good use: “Þetta ér banasár,” she said nodding sagely to me as two warriors were run through Our Old Norse professor would have been thrilled to hear us voluntarily speaking the language of the sagas after a year of classes these men and women were soon on their feet again laughing and smiling before the cheering crowd making their way back to their booths or off to get a drink before returning to their duties Every Viking knows how important it is to stay hydrated Beyond the fighting and the booths filled with crafts from silver jewelry to woolen hats and scarves leather bags to bone cloak pins and hair clips people could enjoy freshly brewed mead or an assortment of barbeque at the food tent Find culture tours here music of different sorts played throughout the day the startling twang of a real Faroese cowboy filled the air as he sang country western songs storytelling and a demonstration from the world’s strongest disabled man could also be seen Customers and reenactors come together for a Viking feast at Fjörukráin restaurant to mark the end of each day who has been a member of Rimmugýgur reenactment group and other groups for 10 years “It’s a way to do something fun and different and catch up with friends I haven’t seen in a year or so.” Many of the participants come from all over the world and participate in similar faires and festivals throughout the year “Everyone enjoys being there,” says Theodór Árni Söebech Hansson a member of the Rimmugýgur group for almost 10 years.“The atmosphere is great everyone is welcoming and there is a general feeling of warmth and happiness.” A nice surprie Tony Hawk visited the Hafnarfjörður skate park yesterday. Here he is with Jón Óskar Borgþórsson. Photo/Brettafélag Hafnarfjarðar Facebook  The American professional skateboarder Tony Hawk paid the skate park in the Reykjavík suburb of Hafnarfjörður a surprise visit yesterday The skateboarding legend and his partner are spending a few days in Iceland after having attended a charity event in Stockholm Jóhann Óskar Borgþórsson, director of the Hafnarfjörður Skateboarding Association likened Tony’s visit to the park to that if basketball player Michael Jordan dropped by to practice with the town’s local basketball team “This guy is a true legend in the sport of skateboarding,” Jóhann told Vísir. Tony Hawk is probably best known for completing the first documented 900 and for his licensed video games Jökulsárlón Glacier is so goth right now. A photo posted by Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) on Iceland! Thanks @bennettfilm for the renegade tourist tips. ... and this happened last night. Seriously, visit Iceland if you can. pic.twitter.com/imVMcsD1Vo — Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) March 18, 2015 Do you want to know more about this subject? Please send us a line at icelandmag@365.is Have you had an experience related to the contents of this article? Let us know! Join our weekly hand curated newsletter to have all the latest news from Iceland sent to you 2022 Torg ehf. Terms & Privacy The Viking Society Rimmugýgur is moving to the Yellow House at Lækinn in Hafnarfjörður to hold its operations there for the next four years According to a report by Fréttablaðið Rimmugýgur has struck a deal with the town to receive housing without remuneration for five years to hold their activities use the storage for tents and equipment and have workshops The Viking Society is an association for Viking culture and martial arts enthusiasts and was founded in 1997 with the goal of promoting an increased interest in the Viking Age and the nation’s origins According to their website the association is governed by an earl (jarl) a treasurer and a secretary elected for one year at a time and all full members are free to run for office Rimmugýgur has participated in many Viking festivals in Iceland and abroad They also organize exhibitions for tourists The annual Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður had to be cancelled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic tells Fréttablaðið in their report that the society has members of all ages younger ones often joining through their parents and that from the age of 16 teenagers can start practicing fighting and from age 18 they can take part in shows members can also partake in crafts like learning how to work with wood iron and silver and how to weave according to the Viking tradition though the pandemic certainly hasn’t helped the club but that since contact sport is now allowed again he expects training to start again in September Note: Due to the effect the Coronavirus is having on tourism in Iceland, it’s become increasingly difficult for the Grapevine to survive. If you enjoy our content and want to help the Grapevine’s journalists do things like eat and pay rent, please consider joining our High Five Club You can also check out our shop that you can buy and have delivered right to your door A huge fire is currently burning in Skipalón in Hafnarfjörður The capital area fire department has arrived but no further information is available at this time there are also a number of police cars and ambulances on site The area is smouldering and the smoke is visible everywhere Employees at the Hvaleyrarvöllur golf course in Hafnarfjörður arrived to an usual site on Friday, RÚV reports: naturally formed rolls of snow all over the frozen green According to meteorologist Óli Þór Árnason such rolls form through a unique combination of specific weather conditions and then the temperature rose by one or two degrees and little drops of rain fell over the golf course “It’s a bit of a coincidence—everything needs to happen at the same time,” he said in order for [the snow] to start rolling itself.”