Stays in Raufarhöfn
Raufarhöfn is a fishing village of under 200 people on Iceland's remote Melrakkaslétta peninsula, reached by Route 85 off the Ring Road. Stays here range from a village guesthouse to a small hotel with harbour views, both within walking distance of the co-op store.
Raufarhöfn sits at the end of Route 85, roughly two and a half hours' drive north-east of Akureyri, on the flat Melrakkaslétta peninsula near Iceland's Arctic Circle. Travellers staying here are usually chasing two things: the stone circle of Arctic Henge on the hill above the harbour, and the near-total darkness that makes this one of the country's clearest aurora-watching spots in winter. The village itself is compact, built around a harbour that once handled one of Iceland's busiest herring fleets before the stocks collapsed in the late 1960s. Two stays anchor the current lineup, a budget-minded guesthouse two minutes' walk from the co-op store and a small hotel with a sea-facing terrace, both suited to a short overnight stop on a longer Ring Road detour rather than a week-long base.
Raufarhöfn in numbers
What to expect
- Arctic Henge stone circle on the hilltop above the harbour
- Route 85 access off the Ring Road, about 2.5 hours from Akureyri
- Former herring port with a working harbour
- Melrakkaslétta peninsula birdlife and arctic fox sightings
- Near-total winter darkness for aurora viewing
- Village co-op store and short walking distances
Local tips
- Fill up on fuel before you leave Route 85 for the day; Raufarhöfn's own pump keeps limited hours outside the summer season, and the next station is a real drive away.
- Book ahead in winter. Rooms are few, and a closed road over the interior can turn a planned overnight into a longer stay than you budgeted for.
- Pack for wind, not just cold. The peninsula is flat and exposed, so a stop at Arctic Henge can feel far colder than the temperature on your phone suggests.
- Stock up at the co-op store for the evening if you're staying outside peak season, since restaurant hours shrink fast once the summer crowds leave for good.
- Time a visit to Arctic Henge for late evening in winter, away from the village's own lights, if the forecast favours a clear sky for the aurora.
- Treat Raufarhöfn as a one- or two-night stop on a longer north-east loop rather than a base, since onward drives to Húsavík or Egilsstaðir both take real time.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
Is Raufarhöfn on Iceland's Ring Road?
No. Raufarhöfn sits off Route 1, reached by driving north on Route 85 from the Ring Road in the north-east. The detour adds real time to a Ring Road itinerary, which is why most visitors treat it as a deliberate overnight stop rather than a passing one.
What is Arctic Henge?
Arctic Henge, or Heimskautsgerðið, is an unfinished monumental stone circle on the hill above Raufarhöfn's harbour, designed around Norse mythology and the seasons. It sits a short taxi ride from the village stays and is the main reason many travellers make the Route 85 detour at all.
How far is Raufarhöfn from Akureyri?
The drive from Akureyri to Raufarhöfn takes roughly two and a half hours by car, following the Ring Road east before turning north onto Route 85. It's a realistic day trip but a more comfortable overnight stop given the distance and the road conditions in winter.
What kind of accommodation is available in Raufarhöfn?
The village has a small, budget-minded guesthouse near the co-op store and a compact hotel with a restaurant, bar and sea-facing terrace. Both are simple, harbour-town stays rather than resort properties, which suits the village's own low-key, working fishing-port character.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Raufarhöfn?
Winter months bring the darkest, clearest skies, since the village has very little light pollution to begin with. Clear, calm nights between roughly October and March give the best odds, and stepping away from the village's own streetlights towards Arctic Henge improves visibility further.
Is Raufarhöfn worth visiting outside summer?
Yes, though services shrink considerably once the summer season ends. Fewer restaurants stay open, fuel hours narrow, and the drive in on Route 85 can be affected by wind and snow, so winter visitors should plan fuel, food and road conditions more carefully than in July.