Borgarfjörður: Culture, Hiking and Hotels

When looking for hotels in Borgarfjörður, it is worth considering the main activities you have planned for your stay. In Bakkagerði, the options include cultural heritage and art as well as hiking, along with seasonal birdwatching at Hafnarhólmi and a cycling route. The timing information distinguishes these activities: puffins are there only during a particular part of the year, and a seasonal period is also specified for the cycling route. This can help you assess the destination according to which of these activities are important for your trip.

Cultural Heritage and Art in Bakkagerði

Of the similar coastal houses dating from around 1900, Lindarbakki is the only surviving building in Bakkagerði. It is considered a valuable testament to earlier times and ways of life. Bakkagerðiskirkja stands on the edge of the village and was consecrated in 1901. Its altarpiece was created in 1914: Jóhannes S. Kjarval painted Christ at the Sermon on the Mount on Álfaborg, with the Dyrfjöll mountains in the background. The painting combines a religious subject with a precisely identified landscape. The dates refer to different events—the consecration of the church and the creation of the painting. The house and church thus offer different points of interest for anyone interested in the history and art of Bakkagerði.

Hiking Trails and Birdwatching

Víknaslóðir, also known as Trails of the Inlets, is an extensive network of varied, well-marked hiking trails. It stretches from the village of Bakkagerði to Loðmundarfjörður. The climb to Álfaborg offers a different scale: it is considered easy and begins near the campsite in Bakkagerði. This means there is both an extensive trail network and a climb described as easy among the hiking options. Conditions on individual trails may vary seasonally.

Hafnarhólmi is about seven kilometres outside Bakkagerði. It has two viewing platforms and a birdwatching house. Puffins stay there from around mid-April to early August. If you would like to see this bird species, this period provides a specific point of reference for planning your trip. This approximate seasonal window sets birdwatching apart from the hiking trails, which are not assigned a specific season.

Cycling Route and Festival

The 19-kilometre cycling route from Borgarfjörður to Húsavík runs from Bakkagerði over the Húsavíkurheiði pass. It follows a good 4×4 track for most of its length. The route’s seasonal window is from July to October. The distance and season answer different planning questions: How long is the route, and during which months is it considered seasonal?

The Bræðslan music festival has been held for many years in an old fish factory in Bakkagerði. If attending a festival is important for your trip, check the specific dates when planning, as individual festival days may vary.

Local Tastes and Art

In the taproom at KHB Brewery & Distillery in Bakkagerði, guests can sample various beers, locally distilled gin and the Icelandic spirit Landi. Products and visitor arrangements may change; if you are planning a tasting, check the current visiting options in advance.

Álfacafé serves waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries; its opening schedule may vary seasonally. The café also displays objects made from local rocks and other pieces representing local culture and art. The items on display may change. In this way, a café offering shaped by the seasons is paired with insights into local creativity.

Discover more destinations: Höfn Í Hornafirði, Reydarfjördur, Fljótsdalur, Disastaðir, Djúpivogur, Brekka, Hof, Eiðar.

For the regional travel overview: Austurland.