Hvolsvöllur town in the South Region

Hvolsvöllur town

The town of Hvolsvöllur has a bit of a unique history compared to all other towns and villages in Iceland. It is an inland village and the only town in the country that neither stands by sea nor a river. The town also traces its origin almost entirely to agriculture, while most towns and villages originate as trading posts or as a place for fishing by the shore. Although its first buildings were built around a trading post and commercial activities for a local Coop society, it was also related to agriculture. Hvolsvöllur is also one of the most recent towns in Iceland, mostly built in the fifties to the nineties. So it is a very recent settlement.

Hvolsvöllur is in the South Region on the map of Iceland

In the center of the Saga Njala and Eyjafjallajökull neighbor

Single family houses are common in Hvolsvöllur town

Located on the Ring Road, approximately 100 kilometers from the capital, it is one of the first town's visitors stop when traveling eastwards from Reykjavík. Nearby is the location of Iceland's most celebrated Sagas, Njála. There are also some interesting tourist attractions and places of interest nearby, such as the waterfall Seljalandsfoss, the glacier/volcano Eyjafjallajokull and the Highland oasis Þórsmörk.

A town of agriculture and meat processing

The church in Hvolsvöllur town

Contrary to most towns and villages in Iceland, the livelihood of the residents of Hvolsvöllur depends on agriculture and service related to agriculture and farming. Not on fishing and fish processing which is not surprising since the town is located in the middle of the largest agricultural area in Iceland. In recent years the tourist industry is growing, and the number of businesses related to tourism in increasing. It is also the home of Iceland’s largest and best-known meat processing company SS is located in Hvolsvöllur, which gives the town's economy a strong and stable foundation.

A good place to have your home

The swimming pool in Hvolsvöllur town

Today Hvolsvölllur is part of the municipal Rangárþing eystra. The municipality offers excellent service to its residents and has always been a good place to live. The town has a good preschool, an excellent primary school, and a secondary school established in 1943. The town has recently built a sports center, a swimming pool, and a community center.

If you're planning to tour Iceland in a rental car, make sure to read this article about the type of car that would be best for your trip.