Fjörukráin is the name of a Viking restaurant in Hafnarfjörður, located by the coastline and harbour. The Viking Village consists of a hotel and a restaurant, decorated with a mediaeval theme. This traditional Icelandic restaurant is on three floors with several different halls and seatings.
Taking a bus from downtown Reykjavík to Hafnarfjörður takes around 20 minutes. The Flybus also stops in front of the Viking Village, being its first stop on the way from Reykjavík, around a 30 minute drive from the airport.
The house of Fjaran restaurant (called Valhalla) was built in 1841 and is the second oldest one in Hafnarfjörður. Between Valhalla and Fjörugarðurinn (the viking restaurant), there is an open doorway so that guests can easily experience the atmosphere of both. The décor in Valhalla is made from a century old wine barrels and more. Guests can see paintings painted directly on the walls downstairs, one of the town of Hafnarfjörður by Lukas Gucio Gordon, and another one of Æsir’s feast by Elísa Ósk Viðarsdóttir.
Fjörugarðurinn, the Viking restaurant, has space for 350 guests, and emphasis on the Viking Era. As you enter, you step into the world of a long past time. The whole décor is viking style and the menu offers a viking feast with traditional meals served in old-fashioned viking style trays and beer served in mead mugs. In addition, guests can expect different treats and surprises from the singing Valkyries and Vikings. The menu can be adapted upon request but the Viking Village recommendation is the three course viking dinner including a selection of appetizers, mountain lamb and skyr with fruit. This is served with Brennivín (aka. Black Death), in traditional lamb horns. Guests can also try mead, the real viking drink.
Hotel Viking
Hotel Viking is located right next to the restaurant and includes 42 well furnished rooms with shower, WC and TV. The décor here is also viking style and the second floor has a West Nordic theme. The art in the lobby is from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. In the geothermal hot tub, guests can freshen up and unwind after a long day.
The Viking Village is the only viking themed hotel and restaurant in Iceland.
Viking Festival Hafnarfjörður
In addition to the Viking Village, Hafnarfjörður hosts an annual Viking Festival, with an open market, viking battles, games, music, handicraft and a viking school for children. It is a family event that always spans 5 to 6 days, taking place at the picturesque Víðistaðatún Park in the heart of Hafnarfjörður and in front of the Viking Village.
- Learn more: Hafnarfjörður Viking Festival
The Town of Elves and Vikings
Elves and Vikings live in Hafnarfjörður in perfect harmony, which might not be the first groups that come to mind when you think about friendships. We haven’t seen them strolling around town hand in hand – but who knows what you can see if you look carefully enough?
In the town’s lava field (Hafnarfjarðarhraun), there are many things that are not visible to everyone. Through the years, people have believed that hidden people and dwarfs live in cliffs and hills. They have lived in harmony with humans as documented by numerous folktales. Many people claim to have seen the woman in the white dress with the silver belt, said to live in Hamarinn, the elves’ palace.
A woman who lived close to the elves’ palace had a vivid dream about being invited to enter the palace. A woman in white dress led her around the magnificent dwellings, where she saw a lot of strangely dressed people in colorful clothing. They all made a bow when the fairy queen passed by with her human guest. This dream supports the theory that the elves there are of royal heritage.
Elves have often influenced the construction of new roads in Iceland as roads have been deliberately constructed to bypass the homes of elves and sometimes even redirected midway through the projects, due to “unexplained” accidents like heavy machinery suddenly breaking down. But of course we all know the explanation: elves. Whatever you do, don’t disturb the elves.
Guide Silja Gunnarsdóttir put together a hiking trail through the paths of the hidden people in Hafnarfjörður, which is called Elf Circle and you can see on this map.
Hellisgerði
Hellisgerði is a charming park close to the town centre, where you can visit the “Hidden Folks”. It is tucked away by a quiet street near the heart of town. The elves have made cosy homes in the intriguing lava formations, covered with soft moss. The first trees were planted in the park in 1924 and several unusual tree types have been planted there since then. The garden is named after the small caves seen in the torturous lava in the central part of the garden.
You could try to spot one of the hidden people yourself at Hellisgerði or take a guided Hidden World Walk. The Viking Village is just a walking distance away from Hellisgerði, as well as Víðistaðatún Park, which features a variety of outdoor sculptures by artists from all over the world.
