HVOLSVÖLLUR

The history of Hvolsvöllur

Hvolsvöllur is a small town along the south coast of Iceland. It’s in the heart of a relatively flat area of the country that’s historically been very important in Icelandic agriculture. Unlike a lot of other areas of Iceland, this is a really fertile area.

It might come as a surprise then that Hvolsvöllur itself is a very young settlement. It was first established as a town only in 1930. Before that, farmers had their own plots of land, but there was no real settlement to bring them all together. Now Hvolsvöllur holds the curious distinction of being the only settlement in Iceland not to be built on a river or the coast. In fact, its name—meaning “hill field”—gives a sense of the features in this part of the world.

While it might be a new town, that’s not to say that Hvolsvöllur wasn’t an incredibly important place long before the 20th century. Due largely to its fertile land, the area has been at the centre of much Icelandic storytelling throughout the country’s history.

For example, what’s known as “Njál’s Saga” was based in this area. This is a book from the 13th century that tells the story of feuds between Icelandic families over many years. Based largely on true events, it’s considered to be one of the great Icelandic literary works.

Since 1930, the town has been slowly growing. Thanks to its position on Iceland’s Route 1, it’s now an important hub for travellers leaving Reykjavík to explore the rest of the south coast of Iceland. Many people come to see the Lava Centre, a fascinating interactive museum about Iceland’s volcanoes. Plus, Hvolsvöllur is a strategic place from which to visit Iceland’s highlands, including the valley of Þórsmörk.

Not even the many local volcanoes has stopped this growth. Hvolsvöllur sits at the extreme western edge of the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. In 2010, the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano caused many people in the surrounding area to be evacuated into the town itself.

How to get to Hvolsvöllur

Hvolsvöllur sits at the very heart of southern Iceland. It’s a really convenient base wherever you’re going in the region. In fact, it’s become an important hub for travellers precisely because it’s strategically located between Reykjavík, the south coast, and the highlands.

If you’re travelling from Reykjavík, all you need to do to reach Hvolsvöllur is to follow route 1, the Ring Road that draws a loop around the country. It’s about 108 kilometres (67 miles) and usually takes around 1.5 hours by car.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to drive, you can take the bus. The best option is to use the Highland bus, which leaves Reykjavík from the BSÍ station. There are two departures each day during the summer, at 07:00 and 15:00, on the route to Þórsmörk. Returning to Reykjavík, buses leave Hvolsvöllur at 17:40 and 22:00. Most journeys take about 2 hours.

If you’re exploring the rest of the south coast from Hvolsvöllur, it can be a good idea to rent a car. On route 1, you can visit the small fishing village of Vík, with its black-sand beach, or stretch out to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

What to do in and around Hvolsvöllur Iceland

Most visitors to the south coast of Iceland don’t tend to stop in Hvolsvöllur, choosing to pass on to the more famous sights on the south coast. Really, though, there are many exciting and interesting things to see in the Hvolsvöllur area.

The town of Hvolsvöllur itself offers one of Iceland’s most fascinating museums: the Lava Centre. In a landscape that’s been so scarred and transformed by volcanoes, this is the place to come to learn about them. They’re probably the most powerful force in Icelandic history—and the Lava Centre tells you everything you need to know.

Outside of the city, why not visit some of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls? The cliffs that trace a line though southern Iceland are where many of them can be found, including the elegant Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Gljúfrabúi. They’re a breathtaking sight in any season.

If you’re into hiking, don’t miss Þórsmörk, Iceland’s top outdoor destination. With miles of hiking trails traversing volcanic landscapes, deep valleys, glaciers, and mountain passes, it’s a stunning place to explore. And it’s only a short distance from Hvolsvöllur.

In Hvolsvöllur, the whole of the south coast is at your disposal. For instance, you can tour the Golden Circle or stretch out to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, or even take a day trip to the Westman Islands. With its incredible choice of food, shops, accommodation options, and more, the town is a perfect place to use as a base to explore the region.