Stokksnes

Stokksnes – The jewel of Southeast Iceland

Stokksnes is truly one of Iceland’s most iconic spots, offering an extraordinary blend of natural beauty. Here, you’ll be welcomed by the powerful sight of Vestrahorn, often called “Batman Mountain,” with its jagged, imposing ridges dominating the horizon. Below the mountain, a sweeping black sand beach unfolds, adorned with delicate dunes. Adding even more charm, these dunes are topped with tufts of yellow and green grass, creating a striking contrast that elevates the allure of this magical place.

Viking Café

Your journey to Stokksnes starts at the Viking Café, where you have to pay an entrance fee. I finally indulged in my morning cappuccino, as you don’t come across many places in Iceland that have a espresso coffee machine. Here they had it, and even plant milks.

After a great start, we paid 2000 ISK for the car (we were 4 people) and got a card with a code that opened the barrier. Our adventure could begin.

Sand dunes

Head first by car to the end of the road where you can park. Watch out for strong winds – they are quite common here.

You can stroll through the sand dunes at your own pace; normally, it’s just a short distance that should take about a minute. But we found ourselves fooling around, laughing, and playing, which stretched it into a delightful 20-minute adventure. The dunes offer plenty of space for playful moments and peaceful reflection—you can lie down in the soft black sand, chase the wind, or simply soak in the stunning views.

After climbing the highest dunes, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire beach, the Vestrahorn and the Atlantic Ocean.

If you have strong wind, the way up the dune is slightly challenging. However, the views that open up are amazing.

We didn’t know whether we wanted to admire the dunes or hit the beach. Meanwhile, the typical Icelandic wind and rain added to our experience, and we were like little children.

Vestrahorn and beach

The first steps on the beach captivated us even more. The mountains were mirrored on the sand, and meanwhile, the ocean created tiny bubbles along the shore. Additionally, you never knew when or how far a wave would come.

The beach was completely black and the mountains were shining in all colours. From yellow to red, purple to green, they beckoned us to come even closer. We walked along the beach for at least an hour and didn’t want to leave at all. But we knew that Stokksnes still had a lot to show us.

Viking Village in Stokksnes

Another place that is part of Stokksnes is the Viking Village. Although it didn’t originate from the Vikings, it was only built in 2009 as a backdrop for a film called Viking, which was supposed to tell the story of Viking history. However, the project was eventually canceled and so no filming took place here. Nevertheless, the village has remained and has become a unique attraction.

Village lies directly below the Vestrahorn, which will attract your attention all the time. That is, until you see the Viking ship. Guys turned into boys and it was about 30 minutes before we got them off the boat.

As you walk through the village, you will discover simple wooden buildings that mimic the traditional Viking style. Thanks to their location against the backdrop of Vestrahorn and unspoilt nature, you feel as if you have stepped back a thousand years.
Although the settlement is small, the atmosphere it exudes is authentic. You can even walk into one of the houses.

How much time will you spend here?

Our original plan was to spend about an hour at the site. Eventually we were here for two hours and we would have been here longer if it wasn’t for the heavy rain that caught us unprepared twice. You can see where our heads were flying. As long as you don’t rush, you can spend 3-4 hours in Stokksnes.

How to get to Stokksnes?

Stokksnes is just a 20-minute drive from Höfn. Follow the main road No. 1 (Ring Road) and after about 6 kilometres turn onto a gravel side road towards the Viking Café. This road is well signposted and leads you directly to the entry point.