Arctic Henge stands on a rise outside Raufarhöfn, a village at the north eastern tip of Iceland, with the Arctic Circle passing just off the coast. It is a modern monument, not an ancient one. Basalt blocks form a ring of gates around a central column, aligned so that the sun casts shadows onto fixed points and light falls between the arches. Work is not finished, and sections are still going up. The draw is the stonework, the open coastal view and the emptiness around it.
Arctic Henge
Local name: Heimskautsgerði
The gates are set so that the sun casts shadows onto precise points — a working sundial in basalt, and still under construction.
- Parking
- Free. Nearest car park about 170 m from the monument, a second about 775 m away. Street parking is free as well.
- Difficulty
- Easy — a short walk up from the car park to the stones.
- Transport
- No public transport: the nearest bus stop is more than 5 km away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- 676 Raufarhöfn
What makes it special
The main thing here is that the henge is unfinished, and it shows. One section stands part-built, with the machinery cleared off the site. Whether that spoils it is a matter of taste. The unfinished stone can read as a fault, or as part of the piece, showing what it takes to make art on this scale.
What is standing is impressive either way. Heavy basalt gates are set in a circle around a central column, aligned so that the sun throws shadows onto precise points and the light comes through between the arches.
The second thing is the quiet. Raufarhöfn is one of the northernmost villages in Iceland, and the henge is usually free of tourists. Turning up to find nobody else at the stones is normal, and the view over the coast is open.
Good to know
- No toilets and no drinking water. Neither at the henge nor anywhere within 5 km of it.
- Parts are still under construction. Sections of the monument are unfinished, and progress on them is slow.
- The Arctic Circle is offshore. It runs just north of the coast, so the henge itself sits south of it.
- An information board stands on the approach, about 500 m short of the gates.
- Fine for children. The ground is open and the walk up is short.
Getting there
No bus comes out here, so arriving means driving to Raufarhöfn at the north eastern end of Iceland and parking below the monument. The nearest car park is about 170 m from the stones, and a second one about 775 m out. From there you walk up to the gates. An information board stands on the approach, roughly 500 m short of the monument.
Best time to visit
Best: the hours around midnight in summer, when the sun sits low on the horizon and lines up with the gates.
Avoid: turning up expecting a finished monument, or planning a visit around one.
The henge is built as a sundial, so it works with a low sun rather than an overhead one. Timing here is about light, not crowds: the site is usually free of tourists whatever the hour.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Arctic Henge an ancient monument?
No. It is a modern construction, and parts of it are still unfinished. The design borrows the idea of a stone circle and turns it into a sundial, with gateways aligned to catch the sun.Are there toilets at the Arctic Henge?
No. There are no toilets at the site, and none within 5 km of it. There is no drinking water either.Can you reach the Arctic Henge by public transport?
No. There is no bus stop within 5 km of the monument. Visitors drive, and both the car park by the site and street parking in Raufarhöfn are free.Does the Arctic Henge stand on the Arctic Circle?
No. The monument sits south of it. The Arctic Circle runs just off the coast to the north of Raufarhöfn.