Sauðárkrókur

North Iceland

Sitting on the southwestern shore of Skagafjörður Fjord, Sauðárkrókur is the largest town in Northwest Iceland and the main service hub for one of the country's most important horse-breeding regions. The surrounding Skagafjörður valley has been famous for Icelandic horses for centuries, and several nearby farms offer riding tours. The town has a swimming pool, restaurants, accommodation, and a secondary school serving the wider northwest — it functions as a genuine regional center. Nearby Glaumbær preserves one of Iceland's best examples of traditional turf farmhouses and is worth a short detour. Boat tours to Drangey, the dramatic rock island associated with outlaw Grettir's saga, leave from the local marina. Borgarsandur, a black sand beach stretching nearly four kilometres east, is a quieter coastal walk. From Akureyri, Sauðárkrókur is reached by turning onto Route 75 through the valley — a scenic drive in its own right. It makes a practical overnight base for exploring Skagafjörður and the Troll Peninsula.

Book & Explore

The links below are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps keep this guide free. See our about page for how we keep recommendations independent.