Hafnarfjörður is a lovely town in the vicinity ofIceland's capital city, Reykjavík, where I live. It is sometimes called the Town in the Lava, as it is built on a lava field.
When you walk through this town you will see big lava rocks in some of the backyards.
Hafnarfjörðurhas also been called the Town of the Elves,as it is a well-known fact thatthe Icelandic elves (hidden people)live in lava rocks.But in this travel-blog, I am calling it the Viking town :)
Top photo:Fjörukráin at the Viking village in Hafnarfjörður
Hotel Viking at the Viking village
I have written severaltravel-blogs aboutthe elvesin Iceland, as you, who read my travel-blog, might be familiar with.But I also love writing about the Vikings - and the landmark of Hafnarfjörður town is the Viking Village!
I take all of myforeign guests todinner at Fjörukráin in the Viking Village in Hafnarfjörður, and I nevermiss the annual Viking Festival.
Reenactment of a Viking battle at the Viking Festival
I have written another travel-blog aboutthis very popular festival, which is now held at Víðistaðatún park in the vicinity;The Annual Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður Town in Iceland,
The only thingleft was to stay at thehotel in the Viking Village - Hotel Viking, and I got achance to do so recently.I haveoften been askedabout this hoteland wanted to stay hereone day.
So I was very excited when I finally got the chancetostay at this hotel. And I was not disappointed.
Our room at Hotel Viking
We stayed ina hugeen-suite room with an extra-largebed and beautifully rustic, Viking-style furniture. And a flat-screen TV, which we didn't turn on at all though.
Everything was up to par, the bed was so comfy and the duvet and linen were soft and luxurious.
Our room at Hotel Viking
I went to explore the whole hotel as I was so excited to be there. We noticed that each floor had a special theme.
The first floor has a Viking-style theme, the second floorhas Faroese and Greenlandicnames and we were on the third floor, where there were house numbers on the rooms.
The furniture in the lounge is Viking style, made out of wood, and very stylish.
Having a drink in the lounge of the Hotel Viking
There are 42 rooms at the hotel, all of them en-suite. The latest addition to the Viking Village is 14 Viking cottages opposite the hotel, en-suite and equipped with a TV.
I have just seen them from the outside though.
There are now (2024) plans for expanding the Viking hotel, and the new addition will have around 60 rooms.
The beautiful view from our room
The view from our room was amazing. We got a corner room with a view to the west and north. The view from the west window was of the sea, which is just opposite the streetfrom the hotel, and the Hafnarfjörður harbour.
And, the view from the north was of the city centre and of the Fjörukráin restaurant, which is in the shape of a Stave church. Ever so beautiful, don't you agree?
There is an outside hot pool with a roof in the backyard of Hotel Viking.I had seen photos of it in our newspaper and so wanted to try it out, as I am a sucker for hot pools.
Soaking in the hot pool at Hotel Viking
When we visited the hot pool it started raining cats and dogs, so we had to find a place to put our clothes so they wouldn't get soaking wet.
But the pouring rain only added to the romance, when it fell on the roof above the pool. The geothermal water was hot and lovely.
It was bright during our visit, but it must also be lovely sitting in the pool with candles in the darkness, but thepool is open until 8 pm.
The outside area at Hotel Viking
There are hooks for the clothes, but better to put them in a plastic bag so they don't get wet if it starts raining. We didn't bring a plastic bag and put them on the window sill of the room next to the pool.
There are bathrobes for hire at the hotel.We didn't rent a bathrobeand walked from the 3rd floor fully dressed and took our clothes off by the pool, having our swimsuits underneath our clothes.
We had washed in the bathroom in our roombefore entering the pool, as is customary here in Iceland. But as we got out we had to dry off in the rain, wrap ourselves in our towels and walk shyly to the 3rd floor again ;) So do rent or bring a bathrobe.
When you dine at Fjörukráin it is obligatory to take a photo in the stone chair :)
There is also a sauna in the backyard whichhas to be bookedan hour before use so it can be heated up.The rock in the backyard is decorated with small figures, dwarfs etc and a prominent statue of fertility gods.
A terrace on the second floor has tables and chairs and here one can sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean, which is right across the street from the hotel.
And there is a lovely goldfish pond in front of the hotel.
Fjörukráin Viking restaurant
Fjörukráin Viking restaurant
After a refreshing bath in the hot pool, we had dinner at Fjörukráin Viking restaurant. Fjörukráinis located in the second oldest buildingin Hafnarfjörður town, built in 1841.
This restaurant is amazing, you feel like you have entered another world, the world of the Vikings!
There are several dining rooms here on two floors, all of them very ornate. I love dining here and Itakeall myforeign guests to this Viking restaurant. Once I hosteda meeting with70 foreign friendsat the restaurant :)
It is a unique experiencedining in the Viking Village. The staff is dressed in Viking clothes and the environment is beautifully decorated Viking Style! Sometimes there are even singing Vikings.
My husband's food at Fjörukráin
The restaurant is open daily from 6 pm - 10 pm.
There are several Icelandic specialities on their menu, f.ex. lamb shanks,sheep heads, minke whale, the traditional Icelandic meat soup, dried haddock, many types of fish,the traditional skyr and many other desserts.
I have noticed that lamb shanks are very popular and every time we go there somebody from the group orders lamb shanks.
Fjörukráin Viking restaurant at the Viking Village
But you don'thave to eat the specialities as you can get pizza, hamburgers and a vegetarian dish here as well.
When you visit this restaurant, which is shaped like a Norwegian Stave church, take a look upstairs, where there are several dining areas.
Therestaurant is so beautifully decorated and there aremany interesting things to look at.
My husband with foreign guests having a look at the Viking stuff upstairs at Fjörukráin
On one wall there are myriads of stuffed birds and on one wall you will see a fertility god - you can see another fertility god in the same shape in the backyard of Hotel Viking.
See also my travel-blog:A lovely Christmas Buffet at Fjörukráin Viking Restaurant in Iceland
The restaurant at Hotel Viking and the Cave
Hotel Viking restaurant at the Viking Village
A Vikingrestaurant at Hotel Viking serves breakfast from 7:30 - 10:00 am. I only had coffee, but my husband had a full breakfast, which he said was very good.
I usually take photos of the food, but I thought the environment wasso interesting, that I was just walking around the restaurant taking photos with the coffee mug in one hand and the camera in the other hand :)
On display and for sale by the reception and in the restaurant is Viking artwork and jewellery from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Viking drinking horns
There are some treasures to be found here;Viking drinking horns, Viking jewellery, knives and such, which make for good souvenirs from Iceland.
The surroundings at this restaurantare Viking style and here one can find the Cave bar, where kidnappings of groups takeplace.
You can see my photos from inside the Cave, where one can find a stuffed polar bear (I think it has been removed now), and all kinds of animals, including carved dragons, a statue of a seeress and all kinds of beautiful artwork.
Hotel Viking restaurant at the Viking Village
I have heard of these kidnappings, but have never witnessed them, would love to see such a performance one day.
You can book a Viking kidnapping for a group and the guests will be kidnapped from their buses.
They will then be brought to the Cave and get some mead, which was the traditional Viking drink. What then happens I don't know...
At the Viking Village
If you are interested in Vikings or just want to stay in a lovely, fun hotel, then this is the hotel to choose -I had so much fun staying there.
The Viking Village is located at Strandgata 5 in Hafnarfjörður, by the main street and cannot be missed.
Just be on the lookout for a big Stave church and statues of Vikings and the Norse Gods :)
Hlið in Álftanes - the Fisherman's Village
Jóhannes also offers lodging at the Fisherman's Village, where I will be staying soon. It is a beautiful location with 25 rooms and a dining hall.
If you are interested in the Vikings thenI have written another travel-blog aboutViking Ruins and Burial Mounds I have visited on my Travels in Iceland- which is a list of all the archaeological sites and burial mounds, which I have visited in Iceland.
I would book this same room again, it has got a beautiful view :)
To reach the Viking village you can rent a car in Keflavík and visit it on your way from the international airport.
Dinner at the Viking Village is includedin the wonderful guided tour.I have joined this tour and written a travel-blog about it:The Vikings and the Sagas – a fun and educational tour of South Iceland.
Further reading in Icelandic: Morgunstund með Fjörugoðanum.
Have a lovely time at the Viking Village :)
