Stays in Stöðvarfjörður
Stöðvarfjörður is a fishing village of under 200 people on Route 1 between Egilsstaðir and Iceland's south coast, its harbour tucked into a quiet fjord below steep mountains.
Stöðvarfjörður sits directly on Route 1 in East Iceland, about 74 kilometres by road from Egilsstaðir Airport, squeezed between steep mountainsides and the narrow fjord that gives the village its name. Fewer than 200 people live here, and overnight stays run through two small properties on Fjarðarbraut, the village's main street: a family lodge with sea-facing rooms and a kitchenette, and a budget guesthouse with its own coffee house and minimarket. Travellers usually stop for one or two nights while working the Ring Road between Egilsstaðir and the south coast, using the harbour, Petra's stone and mineral collection, and the Fish Factory art residency to fill an afternoon before an early start the next morning.
Stöðvarfjörður in numbers
What to expect
- Two properties total: a family lodge and a budget guesthouse, both on Fjarðarbraut
- Sits directly on Route 1 between Egilsstaðir and the south coast
- Egilsstaðir Airport is about 74 km away, the nearest air link
- Petra's stone and mineral collection and the Fish Factory art residency fill a short stop
- Kaffi Kvörn coffee roastery and a village minimarket cover basic supplies
- Harbour, shops and hiking paths sit within walking distance of both properties
Local tips
- Book the family lodge if you want a kitchenette and a sea-facing room, since the guesthouse rooms open onto the street rather than the water and fill up fast with budget travellers passing through on the Ring Road.
- Stop at the guesthouse's on-site coffee house for a Brauðdagar sourdough breakfast box if you're leaving before the village's few kitchens open, since breakfast isn't automatically included at either property here.
- Walk to Petra's stone and mineral collection before dinner, it sits close enough to both properties that you don't need to move your car once you've parked on Fjarðarbraut.
- Fill your tank before arriving if you're continuing south along Route 1, since Stöðvarfjörður's own services are limited to the minimarket and coffee house on Fjarðarbraut.
- Plan on one night here rather than a base for day trips, the village works best as a Ring Road stop between Egilsstaðir and the south coast rather than a hub.
- Check with Stöð-INN directly if you're travelling with pets, since the budget guesthouse doesn't allow them while the family lodge across the street does on request.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
What neighbourhoods should I consider for a stay in Stöðvarfjörður?
The village itself is the only real choice: every overnight stay in Stöðvarfjörður runs through one of two properties on Fjarðarbraut, its short main street between the harbour and the mountainside, so there's no separate district to weigh against another.
What types of accommodation are available in Stöðvarfjörður?
Stöðvarfjörður currently offers a family lodge with kitchenette rooms and sea views, plus a budget guesthouse with an on-site coffee house and minimarket, covering a couple's weekend stop and a family's self-catering night about equally well.
When is the best time to visit Stöðvarfjörður?
Summer keeps Route 1 clear and the coffee house and minimarket on longer hours, while winter can bring closures on the mountain passes either side of the village, so build in a spare day if you're driving the Ring Road between October and April.
Where should I stay in Stöðvarfjörður if I'm travelling with children?
The family lodge on Fjarðarbraut is the better fit, with its own kitchenette for preparing food on a village stop with limited restaurant hours, plus sea-facing rooms and a garden for younger travellers to burn off a long drive.
How far is Stöðvarfjörður from Egilsstaðir Airport?
Stöðvarfjörður sits about 74 kilometres by road from Egilsstaðir Airport, a stretch of Route 1 that typically takes a little over an hour depending on the mountain pass conditions on either side of the village.
Is Stöðvarfjörður a good base for hiking?
The village works better as a one-night Route 1 stop than a hiking base: both properties list on-site or nearby hiking access, but Stöðvarfjörður's own trail network is modest compared with larger East Iceland towns further down the coast.