The Troll Peninsula (Iceland’s Tröllaskagi) is located in the northern part of Iceland, between the Skagafjörður and Eyjafjörður fjords. Its interior is mountainous and rugged. The highest peaks here exceed 1000 m above sea level, and several small glaciers are located in their highest parts. In the northern part of the peninsula, small fjords and the Fljótavík Bay cut into the land.
There are several towns on the coast of the Tröllaskagi peninsula, including Akureyri, Dalvík and Ólafsfjörður. In its northern part lies the city of Siglufjörður, and on the peninsula’s western side is the settlement of Hofsós.
Troll Peninsula – How to get there and what to see
The main access road is located in the southern part of the peninsula, where National Road No. 1 runs. However, it is worth driving the peninsula along its coastline, using local roads No. 82 and 76, which connect all the major coastal towns. An interesting fact in this region is that tunnels have been carved into the rocks of Héðinsfjarðargöng and Múlagöng, through which the travelling provides not only amazing experiences but, above all, guarantees a faster heartbeat.
In the Tröllaskagi peninsula, mountain and skiing tourism are mainly developing. Visitors are also attracted by the natural and geological attractions and cultural life of the towns. In recent years, one of the region’s most interesting attractions became the Herring Museum, located in Siglufjörður.
You should plan a whole day to visit the Troll Peninsula. The route I recommend starts in Akureyri, on National Road No. 1. Then, it turns right onto Road 82, which goes through the Trollaskagi peninsula.
It is worth stopping at several places on the route, such as Dalvik or Olafsjorur. For lunch and visiting the Herring Era Museum in Siglufiordur, it is worth planning a minimum. 3-4 hours. At the end of the day, stop in the village of Hofsos, where the basalt cliffs are. Overnight outside the peninsula, in the town of Hoffstadir, you can still see the sunset at midnight.
Road tunnels in Iceland
Drilling tunnels are a relatively young phenomenon in Iceland. By the end of the 20th century, only 6 of them were built. As rock drilling technology was perfected and made cheaper, and Iceland became more prosperous, in the late 1990s, drilling tunnels became a viable option to create them in places not previously considered in plans. At the beginning of the 21st century, the construction of tunnels significantly accelerated. A total of 15 tunnels had been opened in Iceland by 2020, but a further 15 can be built soon. Due to geological considerations, tunnels in Iceland are usually cut through mountains, although a tunnel under the fjord has recently been opened.
Main reasons why tunnels in Iceland are built:
- Preventing the winter isolation of distant towns where the only possible access is via high-mountain roads. In winter, due to the heavy snowstorms and icy roads, these roads are often impassable and are closed for up to several weeks.
- Reducing the distance between localities. For example, on National Road 1, thanks to the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel, the road from Husavik to Akureyri has been shortened by 16 km.
- Increasing road safety by avoiding dangerous road sections (for example, when stones fall on the road).
On the way from Akureyri to Siglufjörður
On roads No. 82 and 76 from Akureyri to Siglufjörður, several tunnels run through the centre of the mountains. We drove through four of them, the shortest one less than 900 meters and the longest 3900 meters.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that these tunnels are carved in the rocks, not finished on the inside. The roads in the rocks are carved almost in a straight line, so there are places where you can’t see the end. The most interesting, however, is that two of them have only one road with one lane, and the passage of cars takes place in both directions simultaneously. When a car is coming from the opposite direction, you have to find a bay (there are a dozen of them in each tunnel) and wait there for the car to pass you. Such events trigger a faster heart rate and pressure spikes (at least when you experience it for the first time).
It is worth adding that all tunnels have speed cameras, so despite the “long – straight”, – it pays to follow the rules.
It is undoubtedly worth taking this part of the road because, apart from the tunnels, the whole route is extremely picturesque. The road is dominated by high cliffs, steep mountain slopes, small fishing villages, herds of sheep, and beautiful ocean views.
Tunnels on the Troll Peninsula
- The Múlagöng Tunnel is located on Route 82, between Dalvik and Ólafsfjörður. It was opened in 1991 and has a length of 3,400 meters. This is a one-lane tunnel with passing places. If a vehicle approaches in the opposite direction and the passing place is on your right side, you have to stop and let that vehicle pass by.
- Héðinsfjarðargöng nyrðri tunnel on road 76, between Ólafsfjörður and Héðinsfjörður. Opened in 2010. The tunnel is 7,100 meters long and has two lanes, one in each direction.
- Héðinsfjarðargöng syðri is a tunnel on road 76 between Héðinsfjörður and Siglufjörður. It was opened in 2010 and is 3,900 meters long. The tunnel has two lanes, one in each direction.
- The Strákagöng tunnel is one of the oldest in Iceland. It is 800 meters long and located on Road 76. It is situated west of the town of Siglufjörður. The tunnel was opened in 1967. It is a one-lane tunnel with passing places. The opening of this tunnel was more than 50 years ago. The tunnel has provided a year-round road connection between Siglufjörður and the rest of the country and undoubtedly contributed to the development of the entire region.
Siglufjörður – why is it worth stopping here?
Siglufjörður, also known as Siglo, is a small town north of the Tröllaskagi peninsula. At the turn of the 20th century, Siglufjörður became very popular. It was due to the region’s development of the herring fishing and herring processing industry. During the period of the greatest boom in fishing, Siglo became one of the most important cities in Iceland and the unofficial capital of herring fishing in the entire Atlantic area. In 1918, the town received municipal rights. The city experienced the greatest development in the 1940s and 1950s. About 3,000 people lived there at that time.
Over time, the herring population began to decline rapidly, and the city began to decline. Residents have left the region in search of work in other regions of Iceland.
Currently, around 1,200 people live in Siglo. However, the local community is dynamic and works together to develop their city. One of the most interesting initiatives of residents was opening the Herring Museum—the most interesting attraction of the region and the entire Iceland!
The city also has a folk music centre, and a folk music festival is organized every year.
In the town, it is worth stopping for lunch at the Kaffi Raudka restaurant. It is in a red building that looks like a former port warehouse and is situated in the very centre of the city, right next to the seaport.
The Herring Era Museum
In 1994, a museum was opened. It presents the history of fishing in Siglufjörður and the industry related to herring processing. The Herring Museum is maritime and technical, and it also shows machines used in the 20th century, e.g., during fish oil production.
The Herring Museum sprawls across five buildings, encompassing a vast area of 2,500 square meters, making it a captivating destination! As Iceland’s largest maritime museum, it stands out as the sole Icelandic recipient of the European Museum Award in the industry category. To fully immerse oneself in its wonders, allot at least 2-3 hours for a visit.
- In May and September, the museum is open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- From June to August, the museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In the off-season, it can only be visited by prior appointment.
- Entrance ticket: 1800 ISK (about 14 $); admission is free for children and adolescents under 16 years of age.
Troll Peninsula interesting facts and how to spend time actively
- The Herring Era Museum, history of the museum, visiting hours and entrance tickets – you can read about everything on The Herring Era Museum website
- The nearest passenger airport is in Akureyri, from which Siglufjörður can be reached by car in approximately. 1 hour. There is also an airport near Siglo, but only small private planes land there.
- The town has grown in popularity recently due to the series “Trapped”, filmed by Nettlfix in 2015. Almost all of the series was made in Siglufjörður. The film’s action (2 seasons) also occurs in Siglufjörður and its immediate vicinity.
- Hours of sunshine. In summer, in the period between June 9 and July 1, you can observe the “midnight sun”. That means that the sun does not completely hide below the horizon. In winter, there is no polar night during the December solstice. However, the shortest day in Siglufjörður is only 2 hours and 39 minutes long. The day starts at 11:54 a.m. and finishes at 2:33 p.m. on December 21st.
- Siglufjörður also has the Fjallabyggd Sports Center, which includes a 25-meter indoor pool, sauna, outdoor hot tub, and gym. The town also has a 9-hole golf course.
- Winter sports are a great tourist attraction in the region. The Skarðsdalur ski area is one of the best ski areas in the country. There is a cross-country ski run in Hólsdalur. Few places in Iceland can boast better conditions for this sport than Siglufjörður. In January 2021, the ski run in Siglufjörður was destroyed due to a massive snow avalanche. There are three ski resorts in the area. More information on the Icelandmonitor
Basalt cliffs in Hofsos
The Troll Peninsula hides another interesting attraction located in a small coastal town. Hofsos is a quiet town located on the eastern shore of Skagafjörður fjord. Road number 76 leads there. One of the most interesting attractions of this town is the city’s outdoor swimming pool. It is considered to be the most picturesque facility of this type in Iceland. It is an infinity pool. The pool’s positioning gives the impression that it merges into the surrounding landscape, especially the sea.
- Pool address: Suðurbraut, Hofsós, Iceland
However, we came to Hofsos for different reasons. Picturesque basalt cliffs, or rock formations in Staðarbjargavík, are a great attraction. Although most people come to Iceland to admire the wonders of nature, this place is still not very popular. It can, therefore, be said that it is a “hidden gem” that will surprise you with its unusual form.
To sum up – it’s worth coming here! You will certainly not see crowds of tourists here. Also, cliffs are easily accessible and guarantee close contact with nature. Although the basalt cliffs are small, they provide a unique experience.
The tops of the basalt columns can be walked on, but be sure to be careful. Cormorants and coastal birds often visit this place, and elves are said to have lived there in the past.
The place has a small parking lot and can be easily reached by descent to the basalt cliffs. It is right next to the swimming pool, which I described above.
Hoffstadir and midnight sunset
25 km south of Hofsos, on Route 76, is Hoffstadir Guest House.
There is a small family-run country hotel with 30 rooms. The hotel restaurant provides local cuisine using raw materials from the local area. The view from the restaurant extends over the shores of Héraðsvötn, the fjord and the sea.
We decided to stay there for one night – surrounded by silence and breathtaking nature. We were surprised by an amazing sunset bathed in red, which, at this latitude, we could still observe at midnight.
This is an extraordinary place and worth visiting. We regretted staying there for such a short time. Great impressions, high comfort of accommodation.
Iceland, my other post
I encourage you as well to read my other posts about Iceland
- Akureyri – Northern Iceland
- Diamond Circle North Iceland
- East Iceland – the land of puffins
- Golden Circle – treasures of Iceland
- Húsavík, Iceland – time for whales
- Iceland – tailor-made travel plan
- Iceland in winter – how to organise the trip
- Iceland photos
- Reykjanes Peninsula, South West Iceland
- Reykjavik Iceland’s capital city
- Snaefellsnes Peninsula, West Iceland
- South Coast of Iceland
- Winter in Iceland travel plan