Kirkjubæjarklaustur - universally shortened to “Klaustur” by visitors who have attempted the full name once - is a small village of around 130 residents on the south coast, wedged between the enormous lava field of Eldhraun to the west and the Vatnajökull glacier reaches to the east. It is most immediately known as the base for Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, one of the most dramatic river gorges in Iceland, and as the southern gateway to the Lakagígar volcanic craters.
For Ring Road travellers, Klaustur solves a timing problem. The south coast between Vík and Höfn has relatively few accommodation options relative to the distances involved, and Klaustur sits at almost exactly the halfway point. Staying here means a shorter drive the next day to either Skaftafell/Höfn or back to Vík.
Getting There
Kirkjubæjarklaustur sits on the Ring Road (Route 1), with no airport. The nearest airports are Reykjavík Domestic (330km west, around 3.5 hours) and Egilsstaðir (250km east, around 3 hours). Virtually all visitors drive.
From Reykjavík: 270km, approximately 3 hours on clear roads. The south coast route passes through Hella, Hvolsvöllur, and Vík before reaching Klaustur.
From Vík: 87km east on the Ring Road, around 1 hour. The drive crosses the Mýrdalssandur and Skeiðarársandur outwash plains - flat, windswept, and occasionally dramatic.
From Höfn: 204km west, about 2.5 hours on the Ring Road, passing Skaftafell.
Public bus: Sterna’s Reykjavík-to-Höfn service stops at Klaustur. Check sterna.is for the current schedule; frequency is once daily in summer.
Where to Stay in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
The village is tiny and all accommodation is within a few minutes’ walk or drive of the main facilities (petrol station, small supermarket, swimming pool).
Budget Options (Under ISK 22,000)
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Hostel (operating as part of a larger guesthouse complex) offers dorm beds from approximately ISK 7,000 per person and private rooms from ISK 19,000–22,000. The hostel is popular with Ring Road cyclists and budget travellers on the south coast route. Kitchen access and a laundry are available. Book ahead for July and August - the hostel fills consistently.
Several small guesthouses in the village run private rooms from approximately ISK 18,000–24,000. Standards are typical of rural Iceland: clean, functional, with shared or private bathrooms depending on the room type. A light breakfast is usually available.
Camping: Kirkjubæjarklaustur Campsite is one of the most characterful on the south coast, positioned on a lava field with views towards the mountains. Pitches run approximately ISK 1,800–2,100 per person per night, open late May through September. The facilities include heated bathrooms and a small kitchen shelter. Campervan hook-ups are available.
Mid-Range (ISK 25,000–50,000)
Hótel Klaustur is the main hotel in the village, with standard doubles running approximately ISK 30,000–45,000 in peak summer. The hotel is comfortable and reliable - not flashy, but with en-suite rooms, good beds, and a restaurant that is one of the better options between Vík and Höfn. The lamb soup here has a justified reputation. Service is friendly and the staff are knowledgeable about local conditions and road closures.
Magma Hotel sits slightly outside the village towards Fjaðrárgljúfur, offering a higher level of design and finish than Hotel Klaustur. Rooms run approximately ISK 42,000–68,000 in summer and the location gives a sense of the volcanic landscape that town-centre properties lack. The restaurant focuses on local ingredients. If budget allows, this is the most distinctive accommodation option in the immediate area.
Nearby Accommodation Worth Knowing
Geirland Farm offers farmstay accommodation 5km from the village, with rooms from approximately ISK 22,000–30,000 including breakfast. The farm provides a quieter alternative to the village options and is well-positioned for the morning drive to Fjaðrárgljúfur.
A small hostel 15km east of Klaustur sits close to the Skaftá river crossing and is sometimes used by Lakagígar tour participants. It is basic but positioned well for early starts into the highland interior.
Day Trips from Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon: 6km east on Route 206, then a 2km walk from the car park gives access to the canyon rim with views down into the 100m-deep gorge. The canyon is approximately 2km long, formed by glacial meltwater cutting through basalt and palagonite tuff. Entry is free; the car park charges approximately ISK 700. Allow 1.5–2 hours for a comfortable visit. Note: the canyon was temporarily closed in 2019 after drone footage in a music video caused overcrowding - check Vatnajökull National Park’s website for any current access restrictions.
Lakagígar Craters: The F206 road (4WD required) leads 50km north to the Lakagígar volcanic crater row, site of one of history’s most destructive eruptions in 1783. The craters are surrounded by lava fields covered in vivid moss. Tours from Kirkjubæjarklaustur run approximately ISK 14,000–19,000 per person. The F-road is only open from late June to August. Ice cave tours at Vatnajökull - accessible from this stretch of the south coast - are best booked through GetYourGuide as they sell out weeks ahead in winter season.
Skaftafell (Vatnajökull National Park): 75km east. Guided glacier walks on Svínafellsjökull start from approximately ISK 9,900 per person for 2 hours. The Skaftafell waterfall (Svartifoss) is a free 1.5km walk from the visitor centre.
Núpstaður turf farm: 60km east, just off the Ring Road - a preserved turf farmstead with dramatic mountain cliffs immediately behind. Free to visit and walk around.
Practical Notes
- Klaustur’s N1 petrol station is open until 10pm and has basic groceries - important to know as the next westward petrol stop is Vík (87km) and eastward is Kirkjuból (15km)
- The outdoor swimming pool (Sundlaug Kirkjubæjarklausturs) is small but heated geothermally - entry approximately ISK 900 and a useful post-hiking stop
- Mobile coverage is patchy on the F206 to Fjaðrárgljúfur and poor on the F206 to Lakagígar - download offline maps before leaving the village
- The Kirkjubæjarklaustur church sits on a site of early Christian settlement - the churchyard contains the grave of Gunnar Gunnarsson, the Icelandic-Danish novelist
- See our Kirkjubæjarklaustur guide for the full local area overview