How far is Hafnarfjörður from Reykjavík?

About 15 km south — roughly 15 minutes by car or 45 minutes by bus.

Is there really an elf map?

Yes — the Hafnarfjörður tourist office distributes a serious map showing the reputed locations of elf settlements in the Hellisgerði lava field.

Iceland/Things to Do/Hafnarborg — Arts Centre of Hafnarfjörður

Hafnarborg — Arts Centre of Hafnarfjörður

Free contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events at Hafnarborg, Strandgata 34 in Hafnarfjörður.

At a Glance

Visit time

45–90 minutes for a gallery visit.

Best Season

Wednesday–Monday 12:00–17:00 during exhibitions.

Getting There

Strandgata 34, Hafnarfjörður. Free art-museum entry; ask ahead for guided group visits.

GPS

64.0678, -21.9554

Plan Trip Navigate

About

About Hafnarborg — Arts Centre of Hafnarfjörður

Free contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events at Hafnarborg, Strandgata 34 in Hafnarfjörður.

Explore Icelandic contemporary art and cultural events in Hafnarfjörður without a museum admission fee.

Tours Near Hafnarborg — Arts Centre of Hafnarfjörður

Private Walking tour Reykjavik - CityWalk

CityWalk Reykjavik · 2 hours 30 minutes

From 48,000 ISK

Check availability

Private Reykjavík Sightseeing Tour 4hrs

Your Transfer ehf · 4 hours

From 75,650 ISK

Check availability

Private Reykjavík Sightseeing Tour 6hrs

Your Transfer ehf · 6 hours

From 113,544 ISK

Check availability

Private Reykjavik Driving Tour

BT Travel · 2 hours

From 94,900 ISK

Check availability

Car rental

Visit Hafnarborg — Arts Centre of Hafnarfjörður by car

Driving here? Compare suitable vehicle types for the region, then check rental offers for your dates.

Open full search

Search real availability here

Vehicle types are suggestions, not live prices or availability. GoIceTravel may earn a commission at no extra cost.

Photos

Gallery

Background

History & Background

Founded in June 1983, Hafnarborg developed into Hafnarfjörður’s municipal centre for exhibitions, visual arts and music.

**Hafnarborg**, Hafnarfjörður Centre of Culture and Fine Art, is at **Strandgata 34, 220 Hafnarfjörður**. Founded in **1983**, it hosts changing visual-art exhibitions, concerts, guided visits and educational activities. **Museum admission is free.** Current official hours: **12:00–17:00 Wednesday–Monday, closed Tuesdays**. Special events, private functions and holidays can affect opening. Concerts may have separate ticketing arrangements. The gallery is accessible from Hafnarfjörður’s town centre; check current exhibitions and events before travelling.

Folklore

Story & Folklore

Hafnarborg is Hafnarfjörður’s art and culture centre, established in 1983 and hosting exhibitions, music and education programmes. It offers work by Icelandic and international artists and activities that vary throughout the year. The museum is not a continuously open outdoor monument and should not be mixed with unrelated local elf folklore. Its Strandgata 34 location is walkable from the town centre.

Did You Know?

The municipality of Hafnarfjörður publishes an official 'elf map' showing the locations of known elf settlements in the lava field — it is available at the tourist office and is entirely serious.

Culture

Stories & Legends

Icelandic sagas and folklore from this area

haunted places

Bessastaðir Presidential Estate

One of Iceland's oldest building complexes, continuously occupied since the Viking Age. Seven centuries of history have left their mark — staff describe persistent unexplained activity in the older wings.

Explore

Hidden Gems Nearby

Hellisgerði Elf Park

The lava field park Hellisgerði in the centre of town is where most of the elf activity is supposedly concentrated — walk through the twisted lava with the map and it becomes surprisingly easy to see why people believe this.

The Harbour Front Sculpture Walk

Hafnarborg manages an outdoor sculpture programme along the harbour front — there are over a dozen significant works along the short harbour walk, almost all of them unknown to tourists.

Help