Hofsós: History, Coast and Hotels

Hofsós combines historic architecture with emigration history and a distinctive coastal landscape. If you are looking for a hotel in Hofsós, these different aspects of the town can help guide your trip planning: an old warehouse, exhibitions on the history of Icelandic emigrants, genealogical research and an outdoor swimming pool overlooking Drangey and Skagafjörður. This can help you decide whether you would prefer to connect your stay with culture, family history or a swimming experience.

Historic Architecture in Hofsós

Pakkhúsið is a wooden warehouse with a tall, black-tarred roof. Built in 1777, it is one of the oldest warehouses of its kind in Iceland. It is also a prominent landmark in Hofsós. Important for your visit: visitors cannot enter the building. Its construction, striking roof and great age nevertheless make it a distinctive part of the town’s history.

Another historical connection is the restoration of the old town center. It began in 1990, when Valgeir Thorvaldsson began preserving the treasures of traditional architecture and developing Hofsós as a cultural attraction. The two dates represent different chapters: Pakkhúsið points to the building history of the 18th century, while the start of the restoration describes the later development of the town center. This gives you an idea of how both individual historic buildings and the preservation of traditional architecture are part of Hofsós’s history.

Exhibitions on Icelandic Emigration

The Icelandic Emigration Center focuses on the history of Icelandic emigrants. The permanent exhibition “New Land, New Life” is housed in Gamla Kaupfélagið, the Old Cooperative Building. Another exhibition, “Silent Flashes,” explores the photography of Icelandic emigrants and can be found in the Center’s Frændgarður. “Prairies Wide and Free” tells the story of Icelandic emigrant settlements in North Dakota; this exhibition is housed in Konungsverslunarhúsið.

The Center also presents an exhibition about the few Icelanders who settled in Brazil. The topics offer different ways to explore the history of emigration: photographs, the history of settlements in North America, and the experiences of a small group in Brazil. In Frændgarður, the library and genealogical center help visitors find information about Icelandic family history. Those interested in ancestry and family history can therefore explore research resources as well as the exhibitions. The different topics make Hofsós’s cultural focus more tangible than a single historical narrative would.

Coastal Landscape, Folklore and Swimming Pool

Staðarbjargavík consists of basalt formations on the coast below the Hofsós swimming pool. The site is also associated with local lore: according to the story, Staðarbjargavík was the capital of the elf population of Skagafjörður. Landscape and folklore come together here in the same place—a geological description alongside a story from local tradition.

The Hofsós swimming pool is outdoors and measures 25 × 10.5 meters. Its depth ranges from 0.8 to 1.8 meters. The water in the pool is about 30 to 31 °C; there is also a hot tub with a temperature of about 38 to 39 °C. These approximate temperature ranges clearly distinguish the pool from the warmer hot tub. The pool sits on a slope descending toward the sea and offers views of Drangey and Skagafjörður. The site thus combines specific details about the pool and water temperature with a coastal setting.

If you first decide which of these topics interests you most, you can tailor your search for a hotel in Hofsós to what you find particularly appealing about the destination.

Discover more destinations: Hvammstangi, Vidhidalstunga, Miklibær, Undirfell, Laugarbakki, Blönduós, Hólar, Varmahlíð.

For the regional travel overview: Northwest Iceland.