Skógar village

Basic Information

Skógar is a southern Icelandic village with a small population of around 25 inhabitants and its name translates to ‘forest’. It is surrounded by lush green pastures with Skógafoss waterfall marking the landmark of the village.  Skógar is located at the south of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier and falls between Vík village and the town of Hvolsvöllur. It is said that the village was settled by a Viking named Þrasi Þórólfsson who hid some treasure behind the Skógafoss waterfall. The rainbow emerging from the underneath is believed to be the reflection of the gold which is hidden under the water. The folklore further states that two young boys discovered a treasure chest coming out of the water and when they tried to pull it outside, the chest submerged into the water, leaving the ring in their hand which is now at the display in the local museum of the Skógar.

Skógar - South Iceland - Skógafoss

Museum of Transportation & Folk Museum of Skógar

Preserving the heritage of southern Iceland, the Skógar folk museum holds a collection of handicrafts, boats and maritime gear, equipment, agriculture, and fishery tools, rare books, musical instruments, natural history, documents, manuscripts and reconstituted farmhouses that reflected the lifestyle of Icelanders in the past. The transportation museum documents technologies that transformed the rural southern farmsteads into a vast network of modern communities. It commemorates the history of communication, technology, postal services, electrification, and transportation around the 19th and 20th centuries with an exemplary collection of highway machinery, automobiles, radio, trucks, telecommunications and even the rescue team equipment. Along with this, there is a museum shop which is worth exploring if you are an avid collector, you can find a large selection of books as well as the Icelandic memorabilia.

Tours that will take you to Skógar & Skógafoss waterfall

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Skógar museum in south Iceland

The Captivating Skógafoss Waterfall

One of the biggest and most magnificent waterfalls in Iceland, Skógafoss is located on the Skógá River. The cliff of the cascading waters descends from a former coastline that had receded seaward. The former cliffs now run parallel along the coastline for about hundreds of kilometers, drawing a border between highlands and the coastal lowlands of Iceland. The picturesque waterfall produces a bountiful amount of spray which often leads to emerging of rainbows, clearly visible on a bright sunny day. If you are lucky enough you might be rewarded with two rainbows. The eastern side of the waterfall opens up to a popular trekking and hiking route leading to the pass Fimmvörðuháls which will treat you with heavy veils of water and when you walk close enough you will be enveloped in a soothing sound of cascading waters, refracted light and a cloud of mist, so don’t forget to wear waterproof gear and shoes. The hiking route further unfolds the jaw-dropping landscapes of the majestic Eyjafjallajökull glaciers and Mýrdalsjökull. If you want to enjoy the Skógafoss falls in a little solitude or to ditch the heavy crowds you might want to consider going there the first thing in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is about to set. Visiting Skógafoss late in the evening has its perks, if you are really lucky you might witness the heavenly Northern Lights dancing over the skies and the cascading waters reflecting their charm. 

Hotel Skógar - South Iceland

Best Time to Visit

Although Skógar is an all-year-round travel destination with oceanic and tundra climate. The best time to pay a visit to the Skógar depends upon what you are looking for as the weather of the area somewhat varies. Months from November to April witness cold weather that could involve heavy rainfalls, fog, stronger winds, and even snowfall. The pleasant temperatures usually start from May and can last up to October. The summers here are short for around 3 months. However, the weather in southern Iceland can quickly change anytime, thus to be on a prudent side you must always pack some rain gear and extra sweaters.

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Map of Skógar

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