Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Mon-Fri 2-6pm) at Hafnargata 7 down by the harbour.
On the way you'll pass the Bónus supermarket (Mon-Thurs
noon-6.30pm, Fri 10am-7.30pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun
noon-6pm) and excellent outdoor swimming pool, at the
corner of Borgarbraut in the same building as the tourist
o
c, with three hot pots and a sports complex. The post
o
ce and bank (with ATM) are nearby. The state liquor
store,
vínbúðin
(Mon-Thurs 2-6pm, Fri 2-7pm, Sat
11am-2pm), is at Aðalgata 24.
ACCOMMODATION
Ì
Bænir og brauð
Laufásvegur 1
T
820 5408,
W
baenirogbraud.is.
Run by the delightful Greta, this cosy
guesthouse is a real find: friendly, stylish and mercifully no
chintz. Guests can use the hot tub and the barbecue on the
outdoor terr
ace, and t
he freshly prepared breakfast is a
special treat.
14,200kr
Breiðafjörður
Aðalgata 8
T
433 2200,
W
hotel
breidafjordur.is.
Right in the heart of the town, this
friendly, easy-going hotel has just eleven modern
rooms, all with private facilities. There's also a
delightful
l
conservatory with good views over the town.
10,800kr
Campsite
Aðalgata 27
T
438 1075.
The town's
campsite is located next to the sports field at the
entrance to the town, just off the main street. There are
plenty of pitches for tents and caravans, plus a service
build
ing with
showers and toilets. Closed Sept to mid-
May.
1000kr
Ì
Egilsen
Aðalgata 2
T
554 7700,
W
egilsen.is.
Housed in an atmospheric timber building from 1867,
Stykkishólmur's new boutique hotel is the best place to
stay in town: wood-panelled rooms painted in subtle
pastel colours replet
e with to
p-quality beds will ensure a
sound night's sleep.
28,000kr
Höfðagata Gisting
Höfðagata 11
T
694 6569.
A long-
established, comfortable and modern guesthouse, handy
for the centre of town, though with just four rather small
rooms. Although there's no
kitchen,
guests do have access
to a fridge and a barbecue.
14,400kr
Stykkishólmur
Borgarbraut 8
T
430 2100,
W
hring
hotels.is.
Atop a small hill behind the swimming pool, this
eighty-room hotel is the largest of the town's
accommodation options. Rooms here are subtly decorated
in warm, autumnal colours, and
many loo
k out over the
green expanses of the golf course.
21,000kr
3
EATING AND DRINKING
Fimm Fiskar
Frúarstígur 1
T
436 1600.
As the name
suggests, this pleasant place specializes in good quality fish
dishes: the fried catfish with mustard and honey (3600kr) is
particularly tasty. If you fancy it, they also have whale in
pepper sauce at the same price.
Mon-Fri noon-3pm &
daily 6-10pm.
Narfeyrarstofa
Aðalgata 3
T
438 1119.
Cosy brasserie
serving a good range of fresh fish dishes for 3900kr, as well
as meat soup at 1990kr and a delicious lamb plate
consisting of steak and ribs for 4250kr.
Mon-Fri 11.30am-
late, Sat & Sun noon-late.
Sjávarpakkhúsið
Hafnargata 2
T
438 1800.
Housed in
the town's former fish-packing factory, this snug little café
is owned and run by Ocean Safari. The house speciality is
the delicious fish soup (1890kr), though the local blue
mussels and fish pie are also excellent.
Mon-Thurs & Sun
noon-1am, Fri & Sat noon-3am.
Þingvellir
A couple of kilometres south of Stykkishólmur, a small track of Route 58 to the east
(and running parallel with the Nesvogur inlet) leads to the old parliament site of
Þingvellir
, right at the water's edge. This became a meeting place for the surrounding
area following the death of the region's first settler, Þórólfur Mostraskegg. During his
lifetime the parliament was on Þórsnes, and it was from here that Eirík the Red was
outlawed following a spate of murders (see box, p.160). A few ruins can still be seen,
including a
sacrificial site
that served as an altar to the god Þór, as recounted in the
Erbyggja Saga
- the only mention in any saga that the Vikings practised human sacrifice.
Helgafell
From Þingvellir, the small mountain you can see to the southwest conspicuous on the flat
plain is
Helgafell
(73m), or Holy Mountain which - like many mountains around Iceland
with the same name - was regarded sacred in pagan times when it was believed to be an
entrance to Valhalla. Indeed, Þórólfur Mostraskegg considered the mountain so holy that
FROM TOP
STYKKISHÓLMUR
P.164
; LANDNÁMSSETUR ÍSLANDS, BORGANES
P.152
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