Ólafsfjördur: Lake, culture and active discoveries

Ólafsfjördur combines the unusual natural features of Ólafsfjarðarvatn with culture at historic Pálshús and a range of opportunities for outdoor activities. The lake is notable for its layers of fresh and salt water; in winter, ice fishing and, when the weather is suitable, ice skating are also possible there.

Pálshús: Museum house and birdlife

Pálshús in Ólafsfjörður is a living museum house with four permanent exhibitions and an art hall. The house is one of the oldest in the town; its oldest section was built in 1892. A visit therefore combines the history of an old house with the exhibitions, rather than being limited to a single themed room.

Pálshús is also home to the Ólafsfjörður Natural History Museum. It showcases Icelandic birdlife and includes the exhibition “Flugþrá,” which explores the human desire to fly. Visitors interested in nature and culture can take these different perspectives into account when planning their trip: birdlife is a subject at the museum and is also part of the diverse birdlife around Ólafsfjörður and Ólafsfjarðarvatn.

The lake and its different activities

Ólafsfjarðarvatn has layers of fresh and salt water, as well as warm water layers in some places. Because of these special conditions, the lake is listed in Iceland’s nature conservation register. Windsurfing and boating take place on the water; motorboat traffic is not permitted. This distinction is useful to know if you are interested in activities on the lake.

Winter brings its own activities at Ólafsfjarðarvatn: ice fishing takes place there, and people go ice skating when the weather is suitable. The weather condition is explicitly part of this. Cross-country ski trails are also laid out in almost the entire town of Ólafsfjörður. As well as activities on the lake, there are therefore trails to consider for different winter interests.

Ski area, golf and black sand

The Tindaöxl ski area in Ólafsfjörður has a ski lift and slalom runs. The area includes a 650-metre-long Doppelmayr platter lift.

Another sporting option is Skeggjabrekkuvöllur: the golf course has nine holes and a par of 66. It is located at the entrance to Skeggjabrekkudalur in Ólafsfjörður. Ólafsfjörður Beach, a black sand beach, is also located near the town. You can reach it from the northern end of town, heading towards Kleifar. The golf course and the beach appeal to different interests and may influence your decision about whether to focus your stay more on sport or on a trip to the sea.

Getting around and connections

The Ólafsfjörður tourist information centre is located in the Fjallabyggð library. The Ólafsfjörður campsite is by the sports facility and has a small pond with diverse birdlife and small fish; younger children enjoy fishing for the fish there. For families planning a trip with children, this is a specific, small-scale nature experience alongside the broader themes of the lake, museum and winter activities.

Ólafsfjörður is connected to Siglufjörður by the 11-kilometre-long Héðinsfjörður tunnels, which opened in 2010. Another connection runs through the 3.5-kilometre-long, single-lane Múli Tunnel to Dalvík on Eyjafjörður. These details help you place Ólafsfjörður in relation to the two towns mentioned. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider not only your interests in the area but also which of these connections is relevant to your travel plans.

Discover more places

You can also discover Hrisey, Háls, Raufarhöfn, Kópasker, Hauganes, Hjalteyri, Siglufjörður and Lundarbrekka as you plan the rest of your trip.

See the wider travel overview: Nordurland Eystra.