• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • MENORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • English
    • Dutch
    • Italian
    • Danish
    • Portuguese (Portugal)
    • Swedish

Trollaskagi peninsula (Iceland) – map + tips + photos

Last updated on November 1, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission (more)

Discover a hidden gem in North Iceland: the Trollaskagi Peninsula is a lot less visited and yet offers breathtaking landscapes!
It will blow you away the whole drive. 
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to the Troll Peninsula with map, tips and photos.

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching

Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure

My favorite places to stay:

  • Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
  • Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
  • Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal
Travel Guide Iceland : Plan your visit to the Trollaskagi peninsula
Content
Why visit the Troll Peninsula in Iceland?
Map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula in Iceland
PLANNING TIPS – Trollaskagi Peninsula Iceland
Road 76 Iceland – East Coast – Dalvik & Olafsfjordur
Inland of Tröllaskagi – road 82 unpaved
Road 76 paved – West Coast & Hosfos

Why visit the Troll Peninsula in Iceland?

In Northern Iceland, Tröllaskagi is a peninsula North West of Akureyri whose name means “peninsula of the troll”.
It is a very mountainous place with deep valleys carved by the glaciers. Its tallest peak is Kerling which reaches 1538 meters. 

Trollaskagi Peninsula Iceland
Trollaskagi Peninsula Iceland

Trollaskagi has some spectacular sceneries at every turn and you see very few tourists compared to other regions of Iceland. They have carved tunnels which now drive a little bit more traffic to those fjords, however it is still low.

Personally I opted for taking the inland gravel road 82 so I have not seen the Northern fjords. The road was not too challenging in September and I was completely alone except for the few farms. I have not crossed any car. And I was really lucky with the weather with great visibility. What a day!

Photo Trollaskagi Peninsula Iceland 2

I think it is worth the detour from a more traditional Iceland itinerary.

More pictures of all the incredible landscapes after the planning tips.

Map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula in Iceland

Here is a map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula to help you get oriented:

Map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula, Iceland
Map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula, Iceland
Need to rent a car in Iceland?

My tips:

  • Compare prices on my favorite platform:  Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
  • Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
  • Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind! 
  • Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

See available cars

PLANNING TIPS – Trollaskagi Peninsula Iceland

Getting to Trollaskagi peninsula

  • In the region of Northern Iceland (see my guide)
  • The Trollaskagi peninsula is the land North-West of Akureyri. 
  • From the capital of the North drive on Road 82.
  • From Varmahlid, take road 76 to the North.
  • Easy to add to your Iceland itinerary if you have time

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 trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
Small Mainland Portugal Algarve ebook cover
  • 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
  • 100+ pre-selected locations
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
  • Tips to make the most of your time
  • 130+ original photos to help you choose
Discover it!

Visiting Tips

  • It took me 3 hours through the central road with only very short stops – it is shorter if you keep on paved road around the peninsula (less than 200 km)
  • Out of the summer months, there are not many shops open in the towns. I had only one option to eat when I stopped at Hofsos
  • The Múlagöng tunnel on road 82 is one way. There are regular places to stop for other cars to go. This is a little bit scary. Note that if you are driving South in it you have right of way.
  • If you take the coastal road, the second tunnel between Siglufjordur and Olafsfjordur is more modern so less scary.

Where to stay on the Trollaskagi peninsula

This area is a great place to spend the night away from the busy tourist areas.
The main town is Dalvik on the East Coast of the peninsula but you can find a few accommodations all around along the coast such as:

  • The fascinating Siglunes Guesthouse in the North in a small fishing village – Check out photos and availability
  • The Hofdi cottages with amazing views all around! – Check out photos and availability
  • OR check all accommodations in the region
  • And find more tips in my article about Where to stay in Iceland

Road 76 Iceland – East Coast – Dalvik & Olafsfjordur

Driving on Road 82

The West coast drive starts from Akureyri,  brilliantly with some patches of snow on top of the mountains. It was like watching a painting imagined by an artist, but it was real.

Dalvik

The first main town on the East coast of the Trollaskagi peninsula is Dalvik. It is a fishing port.
The town has colorful building, and it is also a departure point for whale watching activities.
And not far from Dalvik, in the village of Arskogssandur, you can find the famous attraction of The Beer Spa, where you can lie in a bathtub filled with beer, water, hops and yeast for 25 minutes.

Near Dalvik with Hrisey island
Near Dalvik with Hrisey island

Drive

Past Dalvik, the road continues along the coast with stunning views.
You will find a small viewpoint with a beautiful sculpture.

Trollaskagi peninsula East Coast Photo 5

And then you enter the Mulalong tunnel that leads to Olafsfjordur. It is only one way with passing places cross path with other cars.
Luckily it is not too long.

Olafsfjordur

At the town of Olafsfjordur, the small fjord is narrow and majestic.
This is where you can decide if you take the coastal road with tunnels or the inland gravel road.

Olafsfjordur
Olafsfjordur

View towards the fjord entrance:

Olafsfjordur 2
I don’t drink coffee

But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…

Claire, I pay you a coffee!

Inland of Tröllaskagi – road 82 unpaved

I decided to go for the gravel road inland (road 82) rather than the Northern fjords.
I am so glad I did. The road was not too difficult and the landscapes where incredible. Plus, as I wrote above, I was alone on the road. 

Trollaskagi peninsula Road 82 Photo 1
Trollaskagi peninsula Road 82 Photo 2
Trollaskagi peninsula Road 82 Photo 3

My favorite spot on the peninsula

And about midway, I have found my favorite spot on the whole drive through the peninsula.
It is next to a farm and I just loved the shapes and colors. It was mesmerizing. It made it on my list of the best off the beaten path locations in Iceland as well as the 10 best landscapes.

Trollaskagi peninsula Road 82 Photo 5
Trollaskagi peninsula Road 82 Photo 6

Plan your trip to Iceland this Summer:

  • 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

Road 76 paved – West Coast & Hosfos

On the West coast, it feels even wilder. There is only one small town: Hosfos.
The landscapes keep being magnificent, like everywhere in Iceland…

Trollaskagi peninsula West Coast Photo 1
Trollaskagi peninsula West Coast Photo 1
Trollaskagi peninsula West Coast Photo 3

Hosfos

On the way you can stop at the town of Hofsos.
It is a tiny town with a harbour.
It is famous for its swimming pool right by the sea.

hosfos Iceland

Want to see other highlights in North Iceland? 

  • The large volcanic crater of Hverfjall on which you can climb – read article
  • The crazy lava formations of Dimmuborgir – read article
  • The fascinating pseudo-craters of Skutustadir – read article
  • The orange geothermal area of Hverir Namafjall – read article
  • The lava pillars of Hofdi – read article
  • And, a bit further away, the Waterfalls of Godafoss, Aldeyjarfoss and Dettifoss
  • Or read my complete article about North Iceland

Planning a trip to Iceland? 

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
Small Mainland Portugal Algarve ebook cover
  • 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
  • 100+ pre-selected locations
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
  • Tips to make the most of your time
  • 130+ original photos to help you choose
Discover it!

And keep track of your own trip!

Iceland road trip Journal

Want to see more of Iceland’s beauty?

PREVIOUS LOCATION: 

DRIVING WEST OF AKUREYRI

NEXT LOCATION: 

GODAFOSS

Tourism Iceland Travel Guide

Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!

Footer

  • English
  • Nederlands
  • Italiano
  • Dansk
  • Português
  • Svenska

Par Claire Robinson
Region Lovers SARL
76600 Le Havre
FRANCE
VAT FR21845103191

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr
LoireLovers.fr
CorsicaLovers.fr
Provencelovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2025 ZigZag On Earth · Log in

If you continue browsing this site you agree with the use of cookies in this website.OkRead more