In Bakkagerði, a range of discoveries sit side by side: a preserved shoreline house dating from around 1900, a church with an altarpiece by Jóhannes S. Kjarval, and various hiking options. Outside the village are the birdwatching sites at Hafnarhólmi; a cycling route to Húsavík also starts in Bakkagerði. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth considering both the cultural details and the different activity and seasonal periods.

Cultural history in Bakkagerði

Of the similar shoreline houses dating from around 1900, Lindarbakki is the only surviving building in Bakkagerði. It is considered a valuable testament to earlier times and ways of life. The house offers a different perspective on the village’s history from Bakkagerðiskirkja: here, a surviving building is the focus, while there, it is a structure with a particularly remarkable work of art.

Bakkagerðiskirkja stands on the edge of the village and was consecrated in 1901. Jóhannes S. Kjarval painted its altarpiece in 1914. It depicts Christ delivering the Sermon on the Mount at Álfaborg, with the Dyrfjöll mountains in the background. The consecration year and the painting’s date provide two distinct points in time to bear in mind when visiting. Those interested in art and local history will find not only the church building here, but also an image that connects Álfaborg and Dyrfjöll.

Hiking and cycling

For a hike to Álfaborg, the easy ascent starts near the campsite in Bakkagerði. Conditions may vary by season. Víknaslóðir, also known as the Trails of the Inlets, offers a different scale: this extensive network of well-marked, varied hiking trails runs from the village of Bakkagerði to Loðmundarfjörður. This means that a single ascent to a named destination and a larger trail network are available as distinct hiking options. Conditions may vary on individual Víknaslóðir trails.

There is also a specific route for cyclists: the 19-kilometre route from Borgarfjörður to Húsavík starts in Bakkagerði and crosses the Húsavíkurheiði pass. Most of it follows a good 4×4 track. The seasonal window for this ride is July to October. The distance, the pass, and the surface give the route a different character from the hiking trails, so it should be planned as a separate activity.

Seasonal wildlife viewing and local offerings

Hafnarhólmi is about 7 kilometres outside Bakkagerði. It has two viewing platforms and a birdwatching house. Puffins stay there from around mid-April to early August. If you would like to watch these birds, you can take the approximate period into account when choosing your travel dates. The season partly overlaps with the cycling route’s seasonal window: the birdwatching period lasts until around early August, while the cycling route is listed as seasonal from July to October.

At the tasting room of KHB Brewery & Distillery, guests can sample a range of beers, locally distilled gin, and Icelandic Landi. As products and tasting arrangements may change, check in advance whether visits are available on your travel dates.

Álfacafé serves waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries. It also displays objects made from local rocks and other pieces representing local culture and art. Café hours may vary by season, and the items on display may change. If you plan to visit the café, check in advance whether it will be open.

The Bræðslan music festival has been held for many years in an old fish factory in Bakkagerði. The dates of individual editions may change. If you would like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the dates for your travel year.

Discover more destinations: Egilsstadhir, Bjarnanes, Hoffell, þÓrshöfn, Kleppur, Breiðdalsvík, Brekka, Laugarfell

For the broader travel overview: Austurland.