According to many photographers, Stokksnes is the BEST photo location in Iceland. See what has earned it that reputation.
Stokksnes – a beautiful, underrated place
Stokksnes is a cape and a beautiful viewpoint on a peninsula about 10 km (6 mi) east of Hofn. It’s already in East Iceland, quite far (about 70 km / 45 mi) past the last attraction that short tours from Reykjavik sometimes reach – Jokulsarlon. That’s probably why it gets fewer visitors, even though in the right light the views here will simply blow you away.
The source of these stunning views and the highlight of the area is Vestrahorn, one of the most breathtaking mountains in the country. It doesn’t stand on Stokksnes itself but on the main part of the peninsula. Still, it’s from this tiny cape jutting out into the sea that you get the most magnificent view of it.
The headland is privately owned. That’s probably the only reason you can drive onto it quite comfortably. Unfortunately, it also means you have to pay for entry and parking.
At the first parking lot, at the foot of Vestruhorn, there’s also a small Viking Cafe serving coffee and snacks. Iceland was, of course, settled by Vikings, but there’s another reason for the name: a Viking village nearby.
Vestrahorn – the pearl of Stokksnes
Vestrahorn (also known as Vestruhorn) is the massif towering over Stokksnes. Its individual peaks are Leitishamar (650 m / 2,130 ft above sea level), Teitsbrekkutindur (674 m / 2,210 ft) and Klifatindur (847 m / 2,780 ft). Although Klifatindur is clearly the highest, historically the name Vestruhorn referred to the peak closest to the ocean, Leitishamar, and the Kastarfjall ridge that runs from it to the northeast along the shore. The heights may not look impressive on paper, but this massif “takes off” straight from the ocean and rises in very steep slopes. In person, it’s truly magnificent.
Vestrahorn owes this unusual (for Iceland) look, reminiscent of the Alps, to the way it formed. Unlike most mountains in Iceland, it’s made of gabbro, a rock rich in iron and magnesium. Gabbro erodes differently, which gives Vestrahorn its distinctive dark color and steep, somewhat “jagged” appearance.
The huge, clearly defined Vestrahorn massif rises straight from the ocean and catches the setting sun beautifully. With peaks reaching nearly 850 m (2,800 ft) and steep slopes rising from a stunning lagoon amid black beaches, it’s the perfect subject – or backdrop – for photos. Thanks to its distinctive shape and magnificent light reflections, the mountain is a photographer’s paradise and a frequent destination for photo tours. It’s this massif that people photograph from the famous Stokksnes. Many photos labeled “Stokksnes” online actually show Vestrahorn. Stokksnes is simply the place with the best view of Vestrahorn…
Höfn – the local lobster capital
The name Höfn means “harbor.” No surprise there – the town lies in one of the few natural harbors on Iceland’s south coast. To this day, it’s above all a fishing town, although fishing has obviously changed quite a bit since the days of the first settlers.
Höfn is really small (population about 2,200), but after driving along the desolate south coast or through the sparsely populated East Fjords, arriving here feels like entering a metropolis. As the crow flies, Hofn lies only about 11 km (7 mi) west of Stokksnes, but because the road has to go around Skardsfjordur Bay, the driving distance between the town and the famous headland grows to about 17 km (11 mi).
As a local “metropolis,” Hofn has plenty to offer besides views of Vestruhorn. There are two hotels, guesthouses, a hostel and a well-equipped campsite, as well as a number of restaurants, pharmacies and, of course, a hot pool.
You can get here not only by car but also by bus and, if you insist, by plane: the town has one of Iceland’s regional airports, Hornafjörður (or Höfn í Hornafirði). Eagle Air flies here five times a week. A flight from Reykjavik (from the RKV city airport!) takes 1 hour, and tickets start at €197 (about $235) (Eagle Air prices, September 2026).
If you have some time to kill – say, while waiting for that dream sunset at Stokksnes – here’s what you can do in Hofn, among other things:
- swim in the hot pool (it even has a waterslide!);
- stop by Gamlabúð, a Vatnajokull National Park visitor center that focuses mainly on bird migration – Hornafjörður Bay, west of town, is one of the main stopovers for migratory birds in Iceland; Gamlabud also has a small tourist shop;
- try lobster – several restaurants in town serve this local delicacy.
Tips and practical information
- If you want to take unique photos, stay overnight in Hofn and visit Stokksnes shortly before sunset.
- Besides several hotels and guesthouses, Hofn also has a Hostelling International (HI) hostel (open year-round) and a campsite (which also offers cabins year-round).
- The beach at Stokksnes is private, and there’s a small fee to use it: 1,100 ISK (about $9) per person, free for children under 16 (Viking Cafe prices, September 2026).
- There is also a fee for driving the road and parking near Vestrahorn.
- Next to the parking lot is the Viking Cafe, where you pay for the road and entry to Stokksnes beach (when the cafe is closed, use the self-service kiosk outside). Nearby, there’s also a Viking village built as a film set.
- The last stretch of the road is gravel but flat as a table. In winter, it should be (easily) passable in any 4×4, although fresh snow can make it impassable.
- Vestrahorn is about a six-hour drive from Reykjavík, so a day trip there isn’t a good idea – unless you fly with Eagle Air.
How to get to Hofn, Vestrahorn and Stokksnes
Hofn lies on Road 1, about 120 km (75 mi) south of Egilsstadir, the capital of East Iceland. However, the road winding between the glacier and the fjords is as long as 250 km (155 mi). In the other direction, Hofn is about 270 km (170 mi) northeast of Vik and 450 km (280 mi) east of Reykjavik.
Map: driving route from Hofn to Stokksnes and Vestrahorn — click to open the interactive map
Stokksnes is worth seeing on a trip around the whole island. The best light, the beautiful “golden hour,” comes close to sunset (which in summer is around midnight!), so if you want a chance at truly stunning photos, plan to spend the night right in Hofn.
Hofn lies on a spit of land between two bays: Hornafjörður to the west and Skarðsfjörður to the east. To get to Stokksnes, you have to drive around to the other side of the latter.
