Our Fjords
At the top of the Troll Peninsula lays Fjallabyggð which is shaped by mountains and sea, with three beautiful fjords at its heart: Ólafsfjörður, Héðinsfjörður, and Siglufjörður. Each has its own story, character and landscapes to discover.
Siglufjörður
Héðinsfjörður
Ólafsfjörður
Ólafsfjörður
Ólafsfjörður
A fjord shaped by the sea
Surrounded by steap mountains, Ólafsfjörður is a small costal town at the head of its namesake fjord. The sea has played an important role here for centuries, with fishing helping sustain the community from the earliest days of settlement.
One of the most distinctive features of the area is Ólafsfjarðarvatn, a lake at the inner end of the fjord. Seawater enters the lake with the tides, creating an unusual environment where both saltwater and freshwater fish can be found. The landscape here is a striking meeting of mountains, lake, and sea.
Today, Ólafsfjörður offers a glimpse into life in a mountain community where the connection between people, nature, and the sea remains strong. It is also a gateway to exploring the surrounding mountains and the wider Troll Peninsula.
Siglufjörður
Where history meets the sea
At the end of a narrow fjord surrounded by towering mountains lies Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town and one of the country’s most historic fishing communities.
Siglufjörður became famous during Iceland’s great herring era in the early 20th century. Fishing and herring processing transformed the small community into a booming town and, at its peak, more than 10,000 people were living and working in the area.
The herring era is gone, but its story is still woven into the community and culture of Siglufjördur. The harbour, historic buildings, and the award-winning Herring Era Museum helps bring this chapter of Icelandic history to life.
Today, the town also has a strong cultural life, with museums, galleries, music and local events alongside opportunities to explore the surrounding mountains and fjord.
Héðinsfjörður
A quiet fjord between two communities
Between Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður lies Héðinsfjörður, a 5-6 kilometre-long fjord enclosed by steep mountains. The landscape feels more remote here, with the narrow coastline opening into a green valley beneath the surrounding peaks.
Héðinsfjörður was once home to a few farms, some of which remained occupied until the middle of the 20th century. For generations, hiking routs through the surrounding mountains connected the valley with both Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður, making the fjord part of the story of how communities screeds the peninsula were connected.
Today, Héðinsfjörður is also connected through tunnels to both neighbouring fjords. It offers a a quieter side of the Troll Peninsula — a place to experience the scale of the mountains, the open landscape and the sense of history within the valley.