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Hofdi Park (Iceland, Myvatn) – visit tips + photos

Last updated on March 14, 2023 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

At Lake Myvatn, the park of Hofdi, Iceland, is quite unique: the little peninsula has a mini-forest, giving you a nice break from the bare surrounding landscapes. 
And you still get to see a great volcanic feature: the lava pillars of Kálfastrandavogar.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to Hofdi Myvatn with map, tips and photos.

Before all my photos + tips, here are my favorites to plan your Summer Iceland trip:

car rental

My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: Discovercars

hotel

My favorite places to stay around Iceland:

  • Reykjavik, the capital, of course:  Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel 
  • Vik to explore the South Coast: Hotel Vik i Myrdal
  • Lake Myvatn, in the north: Hotel Laxa
  • Borgarnes, between Snaefellsnes and Silver Circle: Hotel Hamar
bus

My favorite bus tour from Reykjavik (Summer): Amazing Snaefellsnes Peninsula

boat

My favorite activity around Iceland (Summer): Whale watching from Husavik (best) or Reykjavik or Akureyri

tips key

My favorite platform to book travel-packages in Iceland: guidetoiceland

Travel Guide Iceland : Plan your visit to Hofdi

Table Of Contents
Why visit the Hofdi Park in Myvatn, Iceland?
Planning Tips and Map - Park Hofdi Iceland
Walking loop at Hofdi, Myvatn
The Hofdi Lava Pillars - Kálfastrandavogar
Views of Lake Myvatn from the promontory

// In this article, no ads, no sponsored posts. Just some affiliate links.
If you purchase through them, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (Disclosure).


Why visit the Hofdi Park in Myvatn, Iceland?

Hofdi  is a peninsula in Lake Mývatn:

  •  It is so rare in Iceland to see trees that I had to introduce the Hofdi park to you. Apparently, it is the result of a couple spending their summer vacations at Hofdi for decades planting trees and plants. When the husband died, the wife donated the place.
  • Plus, in one of the coves, you discover strange lava pillars standing in the water, a quite unique feature known as the lava pillars of Kálfastrandavogar.
  • And it offers great views of Lake Myvatn!
visit Hofdi Iceland

Lava pillars at Hofdi

It is not as famous as the lava formations of Dimmuborgir or the pseudocraters, but it is worth a visit.
And Hofdi has been selected by the local tourism office as a ‘Must do’ by the Myvatn Lake.

Hofdi House - not the same

Note that the name Hofdi is also used about a house with historical significance in Iceland. It is located in Reykjavik, built in 1909. It is the famous place where the 1986 summit of presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbatsjov took place, marking the end of the Cold War

(Icelandic spelling: Höfði)

More photos after the planning tips.


Planning Tips and Map - Park Hofdi Iceland

Where is the park of Hofdi in Iceland? Location and map

  • In the North of Iceland
  • On the East shore of Lake Myvatn
  • Akureyri to Hofdi = 1h10 drive
  • Reykjahlid to Hofdi = 10min drive
  • Below is a map to help you get oriented:
Map Hofdi Myvatn Iceland

Map - Hofdi Myvatn in Iceland

All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map of region and planning tips) in my travel guide eBook to help you easily plan your Iceland road trip (for 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days...)

Plan your dream road trip around Iceland!

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How to get to Hofdi

  • Easy to access by car
  • Along the main road around Lake Myvatn
  • Between the Pseudocraters of Skútustadagígar and Dimmuborgir (but closer to Dimmuborgir)
  • Carpark on the Lake side of the road
  • Organized tours normally don't stop here

Need to rent a car in Iceland?

directly see the best deals on my favorite platform

How to rent a car in Iceland 2

or see my 36 practical tips to choose the best car to rent for the roads in Iceland (Summer or Winter) and find the best deals

+ read tips
See available cars + Deals

Visit tips

  • There is a small parking near the entrance. It might look closed but the gate can actually be opened. I was there at 8am.
  • Once inside there are paths in every direction with signs indicating the exit everywhere; it is quite strange. It is an easy walk and the area is not big. There is only a small part of the path that goes up with a few steps with nice views of the surroundings.
  • The pillars are at the end of the peninsula; It took me 15min to find the viewpoint for them, but I am not able to tell you which paths I took. Just try them all!
  • There is an area in the middle that would be nice for kids to play.
  • You walk near the water, so the flies are very much present especially in summer.
  • Free entrance - normally
  • Great option on windy days
  • You can plan less than 1 hour unless you want to enjoy the change in scenery and stay among trees.
  • This is also a great place to just sit and enjoy some birdwatching.

Accommodations around Myvatn

I think Lake Myvatn is a fantastic area to stay for a few days.
The town of Reykjahlid would be a great option to visit the area. Choose one of the lake Myvatn accommodations

The Dimmuborgir Guesthouse is one of my favorite places to stay in Iceland (I booked myself and paid entirely for my stay).
Right next to the lake and with the Hverfjall crater in the background... perfect! See more photos and check availability

Myvatn Accommodation - Dimmuborgir Guesthouse

Dimmuborgir Guesthouse

Otherwise:

  • you can stay at Egilsstadir before or after your visit to Myvatn (connection with East Fjords) - see best rated accommodations
  • or you can stay at Akureyri, the capital of the North to explore the region - see best rated accommodations

Find more tips in my article about Where to stay in North Iceland


Walking loop at Hofdi, Myvatn

What I like about the Myvatn area is the post-apocalyptic look of the landscape. So Hofdi was not high on my list of places to visit.
The trees with the autumn colors were nice but I was not in Iceland for such a scenery. Some people do really enjoy it as it provides a break from the lava and bare landscapes.

Plus, on a windy day, it is one of the rare areas around Myvatn where you can find a little bit of protection.

Park Hofdi Iceland
Park Hofdi Iceland

The Hofdi Lava Pillars - Kálfastrandavogar

I knew there was a path that would get me very close to the lava pillars. And crazy rock formations are what I am looking for.

IN my opinion, the most fascinating part of the visit were the lava pillars in the water.
Like in Dimmuborgir, the lava has created fascinating shapes and then been eroded.

Hofdi Myvatn Lava pillar 1
Hofdi Myvatn Lava pillar 2

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Views of Lake Myvatn from the promontory

After a few steps (be careful with rain it can be slippery), I was rewarded with some nice views of Lake Myvatn and the pseudo-craters. This promontory is close to the gate. I should have drawn a map while I was there, I am sorry.
You can see the numerous trees in the Hofdi park compared to the bare volcanic landscapes around.

Lake Myvatn Hofdi park Iceland 1
Lake Myvatn Hofdi park Iceland 2

And you can see some of the pseudocraters that formed on the lake:

Lake Myvatn Hofdi park Iceland 3

Plan your trip to Iceland in Summer:

tips key
  • My itineraries : 5 days, 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks
  • Where to stay in Iceland
  • Where to stay in Reykjavik: best hotels
  • 36 tips to rent a car in Iceland
  • Guide to driving in Iceland
  • How to plan a road trip in Iceland

Want to see more of the best Iceland has to offer?

  • The best locations off the beaten path around Iceland - read article
  • 21 Most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland - read article
  • 5 best Lava Fields in Iceland - read article
  • The 10 best lava caves in Iceland - read article
  • The 5 most beautiful black sand beaches in Iceland - read article
  • The Golden Circle - read article
  • The Snaefellsnes peninsula - read article

Planning a trip to Iceland?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

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