Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the rocky cliffs near the top; the sky is full of evening activity as birds return from a
day's fishing.
Reynisfjall's eastern face
If the weather is fine, the trail up
Reynisfjall's east face
from the highway on Vík's
western outskirts makes for a good hour's walk (despite the vehicle track, don't
attempt driving a normal car up here). You end up by a weather station on the flat
muddy hilltop, with views east of Vatnajökull's mighty ice cap floating above the
desert haze.
2
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
VÍK
By bus
The bus stop is on the eastern side of town at the
N1 roadhouse.
Destinations
Hella (1 daily; 3hr 30min); Hveragerði
(1 daily; 4hr 30min); Hvolsvöllur (1 daily; 3hr);
Kirkjubæjarklaustur (1 daily; 1hr); Reykjavík (1 daily; 5hr);
Selfoss (1 daily; 4hr); Seljalandsfoss (1 daily; 2hr); Skaftafell
(1 daily; 2hr); Skógar (1 daily; 50min).
INFORMATION
Tourist information
There's a desk at Brydebúð on
Víkurbraut (June 15-Sept 1 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun
11am-5pm;
T
487 1395) with toilets, internet, brochures
and souvenirs.
Services
The well-stocked Kjarval supermarket is on
Víkurbraut (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm), next
door to a bank and ATM, and the Vinbúð (Mon-Fri 5-6pm,
Sat 2-6pm). The swimming pool is a couple of streets
behind the supermarket (Mon-Fri 2-8pm, Sat & Sun
11am-7pm), though at the time of writing only the sauna
and hot tubs were operational. Note that the N1 roadhouse
has the only fuel between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Steinar,
15km west of Skógar.
ACCOMMODATION
Campsite
T
897 3587.
Big grassy space on the eastern
side of town opposite the N1 fuel station, between the
road and a low cliff; it's a little exposed but they've put in
some hedges and an embankment for cover. There's also a
large cov
ered kit
chen and dining area, plus toilets and
showers.
1000kr
Edda Hótel Vík
Opposite the N1 roadhouse
T
444
4840,
W
hoteledda.is.
Long, modern, sharp-roofed
affair near the campsite, with bay windows in the lobby
offering views seawards. Rooms are minimalist, with
pine flooring, white walls and two-tone bedspreads; the
cheaper cabins - actually self-contained chal
ets - feel
a
bit m
ore welcom
ing. Breakfast 1800kr extra.
21,900kr
;
cabin
s 18,800kr
Ì
Hótel Lundi
Vikurbraut 26
T
487 1212,
W
hotelpu
n.is.
Vík's original hotel has the pleasantly
cosy atmosphere of a homestay. There are two buildings:
the inn-like main house has the better equipped rooms
with en-suite doubles, while cheaper board is available in
the adjacent tin-sided building
with shared b
athrooms and
self-catering
facilitie
s. Double
s
26,000kr
; dorms with
sleeping bag
6500kr
Ì
IYHA Vík
Suðurvíkurvegur 5
T
487 1106,
W
hostel
.is.
North off the road and up near the church, this spotless
hostel makes a relaxing base for exploring Vík and the
nearby coast, with friendly, helpful and organized staff,
wonderful views seawards and a moder
n kitche
n. It's
almost always full, so book well in advance.
3600kr
Ì
Þakgil
T
893 4889,
W
thakgil.is.
Remote valley
with an exceptional campsite, whose communal dining
area is inside a huge cave. It's about a 30min drive from
Vík, turning inland 5km east of Vík at Höfðabrekka and
following the sometimes rough, twisting Route 214;
contact them in advance for exact directions and to check
on acces
s conditi
ons. Great hiking tr
ails in the
area too.
Camping
1100kr
; four-person cabins
15,000kr
EATING
Halldórska
Brydebúð
T
487 1202.
Convivial place for
a hot drink or light meal inside the snug old wooden
building. There are the usual soup-pizza-burger choices
(1700-2400kr), but the menu stretches to delicious pan-
fried char with baked potatoes (3300kr) and lamb fillet
(4950kr). Coffee is fine but cakes are overly smothered in
glazes and cream.
Daily 11am-8pm.
Strondin
Austurvegur 18
T
487 1230.
Pleasant
bistro-bar behind the N1 roadhouse, with sea views and
an outdoor terrace. Steer clear of the inevitable fast-
food options (or, if you do want them, the N1 roadhouse
is cheaper); instead try catch of the day (3350kr),
smoked lamb with cabbage (3650kr) or - for those
without tastebuds - a platter of
hákarl
(fermented
shark) with the essential
brennevin
chaser (1900kr).
Daily 6-10pm.
