Hafnarnes Lighthouse

Local name: Hafnarnesviti

The road that would take you to the lighthouse door is deliberately barricaded with large rocks — everyone finishes the trip on foot.

Hafnarnes Lighthouse stands on the coast of East Iceland, at Hafnarnes, a settlement now largely abandoned. It is a typical Icelandic lighthouse, a squat orange tower, and it is kept in good repair. The track leading down to it is closed to cars by large rocks, so the last part of the visit is done on foot. The reward at the end is the view out along the coast. It makes a short, quiet break from driving the ring road.

Viewpoint Lighthouse

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible. The lighthouse is reached on foot only, past a barrier of rocks.
Parking: Parking area before the rock barrier; the track beyond is closed to vehicles.
Difficulty: 5–10 minutes on foot from the parking area to the lighthouse. In winter conditions, with snow and ice on the track, allow 10–20 minutes.
Hours: Open 24 hours, every day.
Address: Hafnarnes, Fáskrúðsfjörður

What makes it special

Two things make this stop. The first is the barrier. Large rocks lie across the track down to the lighthouse, put there on purpose, so nobody drives to the door. Anyone who wants a close look walks.

The second is the setting. Hafnarnes was a fishing settlement, and what is left of it stands quiet along the shore, with the orange tower beyond. The lighthouse itself is nothing rare — this hard-edged concrete design repeats all round the Icelandic coast — but this one is in good shape, and the view from it earns the walk. Traffic on the ring road goes past without stopping, and much of the time the place is empty.

Good to know

Wind — the headland is fully exposed. In March it can be windy and freezing under a clear sky; bring a windproof layer.
Winter footing — the track before the barrier holds snow and ice, and the walk in takes twice as long. Bring boots with grip.
The barrier is deliberate — the rocks across the road are not a temporary closure. Leave the car before them and walk.
Bad weather — the reason to stop is the view along the coast. In low cloud or rain there is little point in the walk.

Getting there

The lighthouse sits just off the main road along the East Iceland coast, which makes it an easy break for anyone driving the ring road. The final stretch of track down to the tower is closed to vehicles by large rocks laid across it. Park before the barrier and walk the rest. The tower is in sight from the barrier, so there is nothing to navigate and nothing to look for.

Best time to visit

Better: summer, when the track in is clear and the walk is straightforward.

Avoid: midwinter, when snow and ice sit on the path and the daylight is short.

The site is open to the sea on every side. Cold and hard wind arrive here regardless of sunshine — a March visit can be bitter even in bright weather. In summer the light lasts most of the night, and the tower photographs best when the sun is low.

Sun & daylight

Viewpoint

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Snæfell