Hella – River, Caves and Water Experiences

The Ytri-Rangá River flows past Hella and shapes the character of the town. There is also a swimming pool with several pools, an archaeological walking tour through the village and the nearby Caves of Hella. These offer different ideas for your stay: a day by the water, a walk along the river or a cultural insight. When choosing a holiday apartment in Hella, you can consider which of these sides of the town interests you most.

Along the Ytri-Rangá to the waterfall

A hiking trail leads from Hella along the Ytri-Rangá River to Ægissíðufoss. The waterfall lies a few kilometres downstream from Hella; the trail is often used by locals and visitors. This lets you experience the river not only as part of the townscape, but also include it in a hike in the surrounding area. Plan the route as an outing if you enjoy walking; no specific walking time is given.

Ægissíðufoss is also a well-known fishing spot on the river and has a fish ladder. These different features make the place notable for a range of interests: you can view the waterfall as the destination of the hiking trail or be interested in its significance as a fishing spot. The river that flows past Hella and the waterfall a few kilometres downstream are distinct aspects of the landscape.

Archaeology in the village and in the caves

Twelve man-made caves have been discovered on the land of Ægissíða near Hella. Features of the Caves of Hella include old crosses, carvings on the walls and seats carved out of the rock. Guided tours of the caves are offered just outside Hella. If you are interested in traces of human craftsmanship, this offers a different way to explore the area than the riverside trail: the focus is on the caves and their visible details.

Another way to explore the town’s history is an archaeology app with a self-guided walking tour through Hella. The tour takes about an hour and a half. The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. This lets you choose between exploring the village independently and taking a guided tour of the caves. The two options differ both in location and in the form of the visit.

Pools, slides and other water features

Hella Swimming Pool has a 25 × 11 metre main pool suitable for competitions. There are five other pools as well: a massage pool, two hot tubs and two shallow wading pools. Three water slides round out the facilities—two large and one small. There is also a steam room and a solarium area. The different pools and extras offer various ways to spend time in the water; when planning your stay in Hella, you can consider the swimming pool as a focus in its own right, alongside a riverside hike and a cave visit.

Town festival and horseback riding

Töðugjöld is Hella’s annual festival and takes place on the second weekend after the August holiday. If you would like to plan your stay around the town festival, this relative date is a helpful guide. Hella Horses offers an activity option for a specific age group: the company can arrange special horseback rides for children under six. Alongside the archaeological walking tour and water activities, a festival and a special riding experience are therefore different ideas for your trip.

More places to discover: Vestmannaeyjabær, Ólafsvellir, Grimsnes, Keldur, Ásólfsskáli, Flúdir, Hruni, Sólheimar.

For the broader travel overview: Sudurland.