Stays in Hvanneyri
Hvanneyri is a small university village on the north shore of Borgarfjordur in West Iceland, reached by a short turn off Route 1 roughly ninety minutes from Reykjavik. The Agricultural University of Iceland anchors the settlement, and a single fjord-front apartment currently covers the village's overnight stays.
Hvanneyri sits on a short spur off Route 1, on the north shore of Borgarfjordur, about a hundred kilometres and roughly ninety minutes north of Reykjavik. The village grew up around the Agricultural University of Iceland, whose farm buildings and white turf-roofed church still anchor the waterfront. Borgarnes, the region's main service town, is a ten-minute drive back toward the ring road, and Deildartunguhver, Europe's highest-flow hot spring, sits a short drive further into the valley. Travellers staying here find one quiet apartment rather than a hotel strip, which suits a stopover on the way to Snaefellsnes or the western fjords more than a multi-night base.
Hvanneyri in numbers
What to expect
- Fjord-front village on Borgarfjordur
- Agricultural University of Iceland campus
- Short drive from Deildartunguhver hot spring
- Borgarnes services ten minutes away
- Turf-roofed Hvanneyrarkirkja church on the waterfront
- Quiet stopover off Route 1
Local tips
- Fuel up in Borgarnes before or after Hvanneyri, the village itself has no petrol station.
- Book the apartment well ahead in summer, it is the only overnight stay in the village.
- Plan meals around Borgarnes, Hvanneyri has no restaurant open to overnight guests.
- Add Deildartunguhver to a Borgarfjordur day trip, it sits a short drive further up the valley.
- Check Route 1 conditions before a winter visit, the coastal stretch closes first when wind picks up.
- Use Hvanneyri as a first or last night off the ring road rather than a multi-night base.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
Is Hvanneyri a good base for exploring West Iceland?
Its position just off Route 1 on Borgarfjordur makes it a quiet overnight stop for reaching Deildartunguhver, Reykholt and the drive toward Snaefellsnes without staying in busier Borgarnes.
How far is Hvanneyri from Reykjavik?
Hvanneyri sits roughly a hundred kilometres and about ninety minutes north of Reykjavik by Route 1, just past the turn for Borgarnes on the northern side of the fjord.
What is Hvanneyri known for?
The village grew up around the Agricultural University of Iceland, whose farm buildings and turf-roofed church still stand on the Borgarfjordur waterfront, alongside a working farming community.
Where can you eat near Hvanneyri?
Hvanneyri itself has no restaurant open to overnight guests, so most travellers plan dinner in Borgarnes, about ten minutes back toward Route 1, or cook in the village's one self-catering apartment.
Is Hvanneyri worth visiting in winter?
Yes, though the single accommodation and lack of a local restaurant mean winter visitors should treat it as a short stopover and check Route 1 conditions before the drive in from Borgarnes.
How far is Deildartunguhver from Hvanneyri?
The hot spring sits a short drive further into the Borgarfjordur valley from Hvanneyri, making the village a workable overnight base for a Reykholt and Deildartunguhver day trip.