Hvalnes Lighthouse stands on a peninsula on the coast of South Iceland, in the municipality of Hornafjörður. The orange tower was built in 1954 to guide ships along this stretch of coast. It still works, and the light is now automated. Most people stop for the view rather than the building. Vestrahorn rises across the water, and rock and mountain follow the coastline in both directions. The road reaches the tower, parking is free, and the site is open at any hour.
Hvalnes Lighthouse
Local name: Hvalnesviti
Built in 1954 and still in service, now automated — and the road runs close enough that you can watch Vestrahorn from the driver's seat.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair-accessible entrance to the lighthouse. The car park is at the tower, so the view can be had from the car.
- Parking
- Free. A car park sits 9 m from the lighthouse, with a second free one 212 m away.
- Difficulty
- No walking involved: the road runs to the lighthouse and parking is at its base.
- Transport
- No bus stop within 5 km — a car is needed.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
What makes it special
Hvalnes Lighthouse is an orange tower on an exposed peninsula, and the view is the reason to stop. Vestrahorn stands across the water, with rock and mountain running along the coastline in both directions. Overcast weather does not spoil it. Heavy cloud gives the landscape more drama, not less. In rain the view goes altogether, and the tower still holds up as a stop. Drivers going anticlockwise round the coast reach it just after Vestrahorn.
Good to know
- Facilities: none. No toilets, no drinking water and no information board within 5 km of the lighthouse.
- Wind: the peninsula is fully exposed. On rough days the view is as good from inside the car, which is parked at the tower.
- Rain: the view towards Vestrahorn disappears in rain, and there is nothing else here to fill the stop.
- Drones: the site suits drone flying, but register the drone first and leave it in the bag in strong wind.
Getting there
There is no bus stop within 5 km of Hvalnes Lighthouse, so this is a drive. The road runs to the tower itself and the car park is at its base, which leaves nothing on foot. That also makes it a stop that works in bad weather: you can take in the view without getting out of the car.
Best time to visit
Best: a clear day, when Vestrahorn is visible across the water.
Avoid: rain and strong wind.
Rain removes the view completely, and the stop then rests on the tower alone. Heavy cloud is a different matter — an overcast sky suits this coastline and adds to the photographs. Wind decides how long you last outside, and there is nothing on the peninsula to break it.
Sun & daylight
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Hvalnes Lighthouse on the map
The peninsula is fully exposed and the wind here is the real hazard. Hold on to car doors when you open them, and do not put a drone up in it.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you drive right up to Hvalnes Lighthouse?
Yes. The road runs to the tower and the free car park sits at its base, so nothing is left to walk. There is a second free car park 212 m back.When is Hvalnes Lighthouse open?
It is open 24 hours, every day of the week. The light is automated.Are there toilets at the lighthouse?
No. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information board within 5 km of the site.Can you fly a drone at Hvalnes Lighthouse?
Yes, with a registered drone, and only when the wind allows. The peninsula is open on all sides and gusts here are strong.Is it worth stopping in bad weather?
Overcast skies suit the landscape, and the coastline still reads well under cloud. In rain the view towards Vestrahorn goes, and you can wait it out in the car.