Hvolsvöllur: Volcanoes, Trails and Local Experiences

Hvolsvöllur lies on Iceland’s south coast and offers different ways to experience the forces of nature, outdoor activities and local traditions. The LAVA Centre explores volcanoes and earthquakes; outside, trails wind through woodland and over steps, while sports facilities invite you to get active. There is also an outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub and sauna, as well as a festival centred on homemade meat soup. When choosing where to stay, you can consider which of these sides of Hvolsvöllur matter most to your trip.

Iceland’s Volcanism at the LAVA Centre

The LAVA Centre is an interactive exhibition about Iceland’s volcanoes and earthquakes. Its high-tech educational exhibition presents volcanic activity, earthquakes and the formation of Iceland over millions of years. The subject therefore ranges from geological forces to the island’s development. Visitors can also observe the geophysical monitoring of active volcanic systems, earthquake activity and ground movements. If you are interested in Iceland’s natural history, you will find several connected themes here: the formation of the land, its volcanic activity and the monitoring of processes taking place today. This makes the visit different from an outing focused mainly on outdoor activities.

Walking the Hvolsfjall Trail

The Hvolsfjall Trail is a 2-kilometre walking route with 127 metres of elevation gain; the stated walking time is one hour. The well-maintained footpath leads over steps and through woodland. This makes it a specific option for a walk, distinct from the longer training trail in town. Its length, elevation gain and walking time give you useful points of reference for planning your day. The route’s character is also described: the path includes both steps and woodland. If you are looking instead for a designated training route with several stations, you could consider the Hvolsvöllur Training Trail.

Sports Facilities and a Break at the Outdoor Pool

The Hvolsvöllur Training Trail is 4.2 kilometres long and has 15 stations, each equipped with different exercise equipment. The equipment and exercises cater to a range of fitness levels. Unlike the 2-kilometre Hvolsfjall Trail, the focus here is not on walking and elevation gain, but on a longer route with stations for exercises. Which type of activity suits your stay better depends on whether you would rather take a walking trail or use exercise equipment.

The sports grounds also include a nine-hole disc golf course. Frisbees can be rented at the Hvolsvöllur sports centre. This provides another activity option alongside the trails and training stations. Hvolsvöllur’s swimming pool has a 25-metre outdoor pool, two hot tubs and a sauna. The town therefore offers both activities and opportunities to spend time in the water. If you are planning your trip around these activities, you can decide whether walking, training, disc golf or swimming should take priority.

Meat Soup and Festival Atmosphere in August

The Meat Soup Festival takes place in Hvolsvöllur during the last week of August. The festival includes the Soup Stroll (Súpurölt), a walk through Hvolsvöllur during which locals serve guests homemade meat soup. Live music and the colourful decorations throughout the neighbourhoods also help define the festival. Food, music and decorated neighbourhoods give the event several different facets, while the soup remains a central part of the experience. The timing matters when planning your trip: the festival takes place during the last week of August. If local traditions and shared meals interest you, you can take this date into account when choosing your travel dates; at other times of year, the trails, the LAVA Centre and the sports facilities described here offer their own reasons to visit.

Find more ideas for places to visit at Skálholt, Ásólfsskáli, Skeiðflötur, Sólheimar, Stokkseyri, Háfur, Vestmannaeyjar and Laugarvatn.

For the wider travel overview: Sudurland.