Hvolsvöllur

Hvolsvöllur sits on the flat farmlands south of Eyjafjallajökull volcano, about ninety minutes from Reykjavík. Though modest in size, it punches well above its weight as a travel hub: it is the closest town to the Lava Centre, one of Iceland’s most immersive volcano museums, and it marks the start of the Njáls Saga trail through the surrounding region.

The town has a comfortable selection of guesthouses, restaurants, and services that make it a practical overnight base for exploring the South Coast. A new bridge over the Markarfljót river has improved access to Þórsmörk and Fimmvörðuháls for trekkers.

Hvolsvöllur is on Route 1 and is accessible year-round. It is an excellent base for day trips to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, and Þórsmörk, with the Lava Centre well worth a couple of hours inside town.