Dalabyggð

Bask in the Scenery in DALABYGGÐ

When you enter Dalabyggð, you find a region of history and pristine nature, an area where you can be still and relax. Here, you can enjoy silence, nature, and culture— and experience Iceland like the locals do all year round.

Winter wonderland

The region is especially lovely during the winter, and Dalir transforms into a winter wonderland at Christmas. There’s an enchanting warm feel to the area, with houses and businesses putting up Christmas lights, creating a soft light amid the snow. And, if you’re lucky, you can catch the Northern Lights dancing and flickering in the dark night sky. Historical attractions

You can visit the sites of Auður djúpúðga (Aud ‘the deep-minded’), famously involved in the Saga of Erik the Red and Laxdæla Saga, and see the landscape that affected this intelligent and widely-travelled woman. Or visit the birthplace of Leif, ‘the lucky’ Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, where you can experience the way of life and conditions that his family lived in at Eiríksstaðir.

Pristine nature

Look around valleys, beaches and waterfalls and the nature reserves of Breiðafjörður. You might find Holtasóley, the national flower of Iceland or Blóðberg, which is excellent for herbal tea. Before the summer ends, go berry picking for bilberries and crowberries in the hills.

Award-winning accommodation

The region is home to two award-winning guesthouses that offer comfortable stays in the countryside. Nýp at Skarðsströnd was transformed by Studio Bua Architects and won the AIA UK 2020 Design Award. Meanwhile, Drangar Country Guesthouse won the Icelandic Design Awards in 2020, honouring the best Icelandic design and architecture annually. You don’t have to go off-road to experience everything Dalabyggð offers, but you might get a better sense of everything with a little walk. This is a place to travel slow, take everything in, enjoy, and just be.