Hvolsvöllur – Rangárþing eystra with a population of about 1800, is a vast district in central South Iceland and ranges from the highlands to the sea. It boasts a great number of geological wonders, a fact which led the area to be a part of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark along with two other districts to the east; Mýrdalshreppur and Skaftárhreppur. Rangárþing eystra is known for its many beautiful nature scenes like the waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, Þórsmörk which is a paradise for hikers and the famous volcano Eyjafjallajökull.
The district’s most densely populated area is the town Hvolsvöllur with about 900 inhabitants. Hvolsvöllur’s primary businesses are services for the agriculture, their surrounding areas and the tourism industry. Hvolsvöllur is in fact the only town in Iceland which has not been established by the sea or a river, but entirely as a center of service for the area. Only about 100 km from Reykjavík, Hvolsvöllur is an excellent location from which to base for exploration of South Iceland. Its central location makes it ideal for day trips in the region and then back for a good night’s sleep in one of the area’s many types of accommodation. You can find a lovely green area in the center of town where you can stretch your legs, let your kids play and enjoy a picnic and each summer you find there an outdoor exhibition by local area photographers. Only 30 minutes from Hvolsvöllur you can find Landeyjahöfn from where you take the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar.
At Hvolsvöllur you can find the Njál’s Saga Center which is fitting since all around town is the scene of action for one of the most famous Icelandic Saga, The story of burnt Njal. Also you can visit The LAVA centre, opened in 2017, which is an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland.
At Hvolsvöllur there is a bank, a post office, a tourist information center, a hotel, guesthouses, camping sites, restaurants, shops, a pharmacy, a healthcare center, a fully equipped sports center, a swimming pool, car services, a rescue team, gas stations and other businesses and public services.