Selfoss: River, Skyr Culture and City Life

Selfoss brings together city life, Icelandic food culture and distinctive places such as the Ölfusá River. The river flows through the town; Selfoss is also the most important transport hub in South Iceland.

City History and Special Places

The Ölfusárbrú is an 84-metre-long suspension bridge in Selfoss, first built in 1891. Selfosskirkja tells another chapter in the town’s history: it was built from 1952 to 1956 and consecrated on Palm Sunday, 25 March 1956. Those interested in chess history can see Spassky’s and Fischer’s scoresheets, as well as a replica of the chessboard used in their match, at the Bobby Fischer Center.

Guided experiences also offer different perspectives. Selfoss Town Tours specialises in historical and culinary tours of Selfoss with an experienced local guide. The tours stop at interesting places and include tastings at restaurants in town. Skyrland also offers groups a short guided walk through the new town centre. It introduces the history of Selfoss and the history of the town centre’s buildings. This gives you the choice of learning about the town’s history on a tour with culinary stops or on a short guided walk.

Skyr and Icelandic Food Culture

Skyrland is a multisensory experience about Icelandic food culture, with a particular focus on Skyr, Iceland’s national dish. The Old Dairy Selfoss – Mjólkurbúið offers another perspective on this food: it has an exhibition on the history of Skyr and a food hall with eight restaurants. If you are interested in the origins and cultural significance of Skyr, you can include the exhibition in your explorations; the food hall offers a different focus, with its range of restaurants.

The new Selfoss Centre opened in 2021. It houses shops, restaurants, hotels and a range of cultural activities. This makes it another place where different aspects of city life come together. Selfoss offers variety, from exhibitions and guided experiences to dining and cultural activities.

Water-Based and Outdoor Activities

The Selfoss Swimming Pool has a 25-metre outdoor pool and a children’s pool with three slides. Facilities also include a steam room, a sauna, and hot and cold pools. For families who also consider activities for children when choosing a destination, the children’s pool is a specific point to bear in mind. Hornið Creative Studio offers pottery workshops and activities for children, adding hands-on creative options to the exhibitions and town tours.

A regular fixture in the events calendar is the annual Brúarhlaup run, which attracts participants from all over Iceland. For a break outdoors, Hellisskógur forest is close to Selfoss. There are trails, walking paths and benches where visitors can pause and enjoy the surroundings. This offers a different way to spend time around the town than the activities in the centre.

Getting Your Bearings

The South Center is a tourist information centre in the centre of Selfoss. The Selfoss Information Office is located in the Árborg Town Hall at Austurvegi 2 and serves residents and tourists. Both are useful places to visit if you need help finding your way around.

Other destinations you may wish to consider: Hella, Blaskogabyggd, Úlfljótsvatn, Háfur, Stokkseyri, Ólafsvellir, Keldur and Grimsnes.

For the broader travel overview: Sudurland.