Langanes: Where the Road Runs Out and the Sky Begins

A Land of Edges and Endings

The name Langanes literally means "long peninsula" — and that's exactly what it is: a narrow, tapering finger of land stretching into the North Atlantic. It feels like you're driving toward the end of the world. In some ways, you are.

The further you go, the more the landscape opens. Hills turn to heaths. Sheep outnumber cars. Cell service drops, but your sense of space sharpens. And eventually, the road becomes a track, and the track becomes a memory.

At the very tip of Langanes is Fontur, marked by a white lighthouse standing guard above the sea. There's no fanfare here — just the wind, the waves, and the sky stretching in every direction.

Bird Cliffs and Arctic Silence

Langanes is a haven for seabirds, especially in the summer months. The dramatic cliffs at Skoruvíkurbjarg and Stórikarl are home to one of Iceland's largest colonies of northern gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes, and — if you're lucky — the occasional puffin.

The cliffs drop steeply into the sea, and the sound of wings, surf, and wind fills the air. There are no fences, boardwalks, and often no one else—just you and the wild.

This is also one of the best places in Iceland for those seeking true stillness, especially outside high summer. The peninsula empties of visitors in late August or early September and becomes deeply quiet. You may drive for an hour without seeing another soul. And at night — if the skies are clear — you're perfectly positioned for northern lights undisturbed by any artificial glow.

Skálar

At the eastern edge of the Langanes lies Skálar, a now-abandoned fishing outpost where nature has quietly reclaimed the ruins. Once home to a small but resilient community, Skálar was gradually deserted in the early 20th century as isolation and harsh conditions took their toll. Today, visitors who make the journey are rewarded with a hauntingly beautiful landscape — crumbling foundations, rusted relics, and sweeping ocean views that whisper of a vanished way of life. Getting here requires effort, but the solitude and atmosphere of Skálar offer a rare kind of stillness that lingers long after you leave.

Getting There (And Knowing When to Stop)

To reach Langanes, you'll likely base yourself in Þórshöfn, a small fishing village with a warm local spirit, a gas station, and many good stories. Another option would be staying at a family-run guesthouse further into the peninsula, Ytra Lón retreat and farm. This charming guesthouse will allow you to connect with the locals and experience the true Icelandic farm life - literally at the world's edge.

When heading out into the peninsula, it will stretch out — with gravel roads leading north and east. A 4x4 is recommended, especially if you're going all the way to Fontur.

Conditions can change quickly here — wind, fog, and isolation are part of the landscape. But if you're prepared and take your time, the reward is one of the most untouched places you'll ever experience.

Sauðanes

At the base of the windswept peninsula stands Sauðanes, a historic farmstead and church site that once served as a vital hub for the surrounding region. With its restored parsonage-turned-museum, Sauðanes offers a quiet yet powerful connection to Iceland’s coastal heritage. The nearby stone church, dating from 1889, is one of the oldest in the northeast and remains a striking presence against the vast sky and sea.

Visiting Sauðanes is like stepping back in time—where silence speaks, the ocean hums, and the soul settles. It’s the perfect prelude to the rugged, remote beauty of the Langanes peninsula that stretches beyond.

Why It Matters

At Key to Iceland, we believe in quiet places—the ones you earn and remember not because you took a perfect photo but because you felt something shift in the stillness.

Langanes isn't just a remote corner of Iceland. It's a reminder that the best places are often found when the road runs out.

Let Langanes remind you what wild really means.