Away from the beaten track of the ring road, Kópasker is the gateway to the remote northeast wilds where nature is abundant and the arctic circle is within breathing distance. The small but friendly town overlooks the Icelandic ocean and is located on the Melrakkaslétta peninsula, one of Iceland’s most undiscovered bird-watching hotspots. Kópasker HI Hostel offers accommodation in two buildings with shared bathrooms and a kitchen and has a cozy common room with thousands of classical music CDs- the perfect soundtrack for looking out to the sea. The host is very knowledgeable with information about the area and laundry is available at no extra charge subject to availability.
In the area:
- One hour’s drive from the Arctic Henge, located in the northernmost settlement of mainland Iceland.
- A short drive away is the valley of Ásbyrgi, a horse-shoe-shaped canyon with many hiking routes. A two-day hike connects this to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
- Kópasker is the perfect base for many attractions in the area such as Húsavík and Lake Myvatn.
- Þingeyjarsýsla Folk Museum presents a unique collection of local objects from the 19th and 20th centuries.
