{"id":8872,"date":"2014-09-19T06:00:28","date_gmt":"2014-09-18T20:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=8872"},"modified":"2024-09-20T23:52:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T13:52:58","slug":"5-favourite-small-towns-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/5-favourite-small-towns-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"5 of our favourite small towns in Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"

One thing should be made perfectly clear before diving into this list: every city, village, hamlet and fjord in Iceland could likely be considered a \u201csmall-town\u201d by definition.<\/p>\n

The country as a whole boasts a population just north of 300,000. Reykjavik, Europe\u2019s northern most capital and the countries cultural hub, is by far the largest at 120,000. And while the city can often feel like a quaint town in itself (especially when bundled with a warm cup of Humars\u00fapa from Saegreifinn) this list will set out to explore some lesser-known gems that will be perfect for your Iceland Holiday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

V\u00edk – Population 291<\/h3>\n

\"iceland<\/a><\/p>\n

The drive along Iceland\u2019s<\/a> south shore is magnificent. V\u00edk is the country\u2019s southernmost point and has received numerous accolades for having one of the world\u2019s most beautiful beaches. \u00a0The difference between these beaches and the rest of the world are their distinct lack of white sand and crystal blue water.<\/p>\n

In fact the beaches of Vik are unlike anything you\u2019ve seen, where sand is reminiscent of scattered ash and comprised of fragmented lava, due to centuries of volcanic activity. Though small in stature, the bolstering cliffs surrounding the town offer picturesque views of the landscape below. It is truly a unique place that you must see to believe.<\/p>\n

H\u00f6fn \u2013 Population 1,691<\/h3>\n

\"iceland<\/a><\/p>\n

You won\u2019t find the H\u00f6fn city centre in any guidebook. The heart of the town serves as more of a supply hub than tourist attraction, being the only major town for miles. It is a modest fishing village that, although charming, makes it way to this list for other reasons.<\/p>\n

Hofn is located just outside Vatnaj\u00f6kull glacier, home to the famous J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n Lagoon. This incredible glacial lake hosts ominous blue icebergs and is easily one of the country\u2019s most breathtaking sites. In fact, you may already be familiar with it, having appeared in Hollywood hits like Batman, James Bond and Tomb Raider.<\/p>\n

Sk\u00fatusta\u00f0ahreppur \u2013 Population 386<\/h3>\n

\"iceland<\/a><\/p>\n

The Blue Lagoon is perhaps the most well-known tourist attraction in Iceland<\/a>. But it pales in comparison to M\u00fdvatn\u2019s nature baths. M\u00fdvatn is part of the Sk\u00fatusta\u00f0ahreppur municipality and one of Iceland\u2019s most volcanically active areas. Giant pseudo craters present themselves on the edge of town and incredible rock formations are found at every turn, as several powerful eruptions have shaped an eerily beautiful landscape of the town.<\/p>\n

H\u00fasavik \u2013 Population 2,237<\/h3>\n

\"iceland<\/a><\/p>\n

Old folklore suggests some of the country\u2019s first settlers (Swedish Vikings) may have arrived in Husavik. This old fishing village on the northeast coast sits opposite Reykjavik, and their distinct church towers over the harbor. The town is a celebrated whale community.<\/p>\n

Visiting the area, you are likely to spot humpbacks and dolphins, or you can visit the whale museum for a further look into these impressive creatures. After a long day out at sea, one of several waterfront bars will allow for a refreshing beverage and, if you\u2019re lucky, an opportunity to hear tales from the local fisherman.<\/p>\n

H\u00fanavatnshreppur \u2013 Population 417<\/h3>\n

\"iceland<\/a><\/p>\n

Continuing west on the northern coast of Iceland, Osar, on the Vatnes Peninsula, is an incredible place for a peaceful escape. Here, seals abound and can be viewed in their natural habitat. The Hvisterkur rock is only a short distance away and is brilliant sight rising 15 meters out of the water.<\/p>\n

The drive out to the Peninsula is worth the visit in itself. You will pass through open fields and unspoiled environments where wild Icelandic horses roam freely and even outnumber the local population.<\/p>\n

Check out Iceland for yourself on an Intrepid small group adventure.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Images\u00a0c\/o\u00a0Michael Sadowski. Feature image c\/o messicanbeer, Flickr\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"blog-800x150-generic3\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One thing should be made perfectly clear before diving into this list: every city, village, hamlet and fjord in Iceland could likely be considered a \u201csmall-town\u201d by definition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15029,"featured_media":14290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455],"tags":[46,112,677,692,253,681],"class_list":["post-8872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","tag-europe","tag-iceland","tag-intrepid","tag-tours","tag-travel","tag-trips","ipf_region-iceland"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 of our favourite small towns in Iceland | The Good Times by Intrepid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Despite the snow, Iceland is becoming one of the world's hottest destinations. 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