Harfnarfjordur

Hafnarfjörður is one of Iceland’s oldest and most historically significant towns, a busy harbour settlement that pre-dates Reykjavík as a trading centre and today sits within the Greater Reykjavík metropolitan area about 10 km south of the capital. The town is built on and around a dramatic lava field — Búrfellshraun — which gives it a distinctive character quite unlike flat, expansive Reykjavík. The lava outcrops between houses, along the harbour, and through the town centre create a landscape that is genuinely unusual for an urban environment.

Hafnarfjörður has cultivated a strong identity around Iceland’s huldufólk traditions — the ‘hidden people’ or elves that feature prominently in Icelandic folklore. The town offers guided ‘hidden world’ elf tours that trace the locations in the lava field where elves are said to dwell, a lighthearted and surprisingly popular attraction. The Viking Village, a re-created Norse settlement on the edge of the lava field, hosts regular Viking Festival events and themed dining experiences.

The town has a pleasant harbourfront, good restaurants, and several galleries and craft shops, making it worth a half-day visit when in the Reykjavík area. It is easily reached by public bus (Strætó) from Reykjavík city centre in around 20 minutes, or by a short drive south on Route 41.