Blönduós: River Landscapes and Textile History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Blönduós, its distinct natural and cultural features can help you decide where to go. The Blanda River and the protected island of Hrútey are a major focus; the Textile Museum, Icelandic Textile Center, and Old Town offer different points of interest. The differences are not just in the themes, but also in their form: river scenery and an island sit alongside exhibitions, creative programs, and older buildings. Consider whether you’d like your stay to focus more on nature, textiles, or historic architecture.

River Landscapes and Hrútey

The glacial river Blanda flows through Blönduós. Hrútey, a protected island and one of the area’s natural attractions, lies in the Blanda at Blönduós. This gives you two specific connections with nature: the river running through the town and an island with its own protected status. The time of year is an important factor if you plan to visit Hrútey. The island is closed in spring during the bird-breeding season; outside this closure period, visitors can cross via a pedestrian bridge and explore the walking trails there. If Hrútey is part of your plans, take the spring closure into account when choosing your travel dates.

Textile Museum and Creative Work

The Textile Museum in Blönduós is Iceland’s only museum dedicated specifically to textiles. Several unique, independent exhibitions explore embroidery, Icelandic national costumes, and wool. These topics offer different perspectives on textiles: embroidery as a technique, national costumes as clothing, and wool as a material. A dedicated Halldóra room focuses on the life and work of Halldóra Bjarnadóttir (1873–1981). The museum also holds an annual special exhibition featuring Icelandic textile artists and designers. The exhibitions on materials and textile forms of expression are thus joined by a biographical exhibition space and a recurring annual event.

The Icelandic Textile Center is a private, nonprofit makerspace and creative center in Blönduós, in northwest Iceland. It supports workshops at its TextileLab and a textile residency program. While the museum presents textiles through exhibitions, the Center connects the subject with creative work, workshops, and a residency program. You can distinguish between the two based on your interests: exhibitions at the museum, workshops and a residency at the Textile Center.

Old Town and Architectural History

Blönduós Old Town lies by the open sea and retains many of the original houses built during the neighborhood’s earlier heyday. Hillebrandshús is one of Iceland’s oldest wooden houses. It was built in Blönduós in 1877 and had previously stood in Skagaströnd for 130 years. The Old Town presents a streetscape of houses from the neighborhood’s earlier heyday; Hillebrandshús adds the backstory of a single building at another location. This places a historic neighborhood and the story of an individual house side by side at different scales.

Location and Choosing a Destination

Blönduós is on Route 1. If you’re choosing a place to stay based on your route, you can take this location into account alongside the natural and cultural attractions.

Discover more destinations: Hofsós, Svínavatn, Hvammstangi, Vidhidalstunga, Undirfell, Laugarbakki, Skagaströnd, Húnavatn

Return to the regional travel overview: Norðurland Vestra.