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. Here is my guide to help you plan your visit. The Troll Peninsula is really worth the detour!
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About the Troll Peninsula 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. People say it is similar to the West Fjords.
Trollaskagi Peninsula Iceland
The 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!
Below are my pictures of all the incredible landscapes I admired. There were little patches of snow but nothing much. If you want to see it covered in snow, Iceland in 91 days has some great pictures of Trollaskagi in Winter.
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
- The best stops on the peninsula are included in my travel guide that facilitates planning:
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Visiting the Trollaskagi peninsula
- 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 (and there is a Beer spa not far in the village of Arskogssandur!) 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
Map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula in Iceland
Here is a map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula to help you locate all the elements I am writing about.
Map of the Trollaskagi Peninsula, Iceland
Need to rent a car for your road trip in Iceland?
- You can choose from some great local companies - Iceland has a lot of specificities and their offerings are adapted - you can compare cars and prices of quality local brands on this expert Icelandic website
- Otherwise you can compare offers from international companies on RentalCars.com
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Road 76 Iceland - West Coast of Trollaskagi - Pictures
The West coast drive starting 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.
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.
My favorite spot on the peninsula
This is 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.
Road 82 paved - East Coast of the peninsula of the Troll
After the scary tunnel I reached the East coast and continued to be blown away by the scenery. There was not one moment that was boring on that drive. See below the last pictures of my Icelandic trip.
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Don't you think it deserves to be on the top of places to see in Iceland?