Akranes

You’ll find the town of Akranes on the west coast of Iceland is a place with a strong local identity. The area where the town stands today was settled in the 9th century, by the Irish brothers Þormóður and Ketill.

Akranes is located on the mouth of the Hvalfjörður fjord, on road 51. To get there, just take a short detour off the Ring Road (Route 1). 

Developing as a fishing village in the 17th century, Akranes has always been a port town. You can see an icon of the town’s maritime heritage in the form of Akranes lighthouse, located at the southernmost tip of the town.

The star attraction in the town is Akranes Folk Museum, founded in 1959. Here you can admire a handsome collection of 19th-century buildings and boats.

Within Iceland, Akranes its known for its 2 soccer teams. If you like, you could even go along to a match and see one of them play.

There’s also a long stretch of beach, known as Langisandur, opposite the town’s harbor. Nestled in the rocks at the top of the beach you’ll find the Guðlaug hot tubs.

Scattered around the town you’ll find a handful of cafés and restaurants, perfect for grabbing something to eat before continuing with your trip.