Hafnarfjörður almost became the capital of Iceland, after all, one of the country’s finest natural harbors lies in the fjord. From the 15th century onward, Hafnarfjörður became Iceland’s largest trading port, and fishing has been intensively pursued there since the Settlement Age. Ásbjörn Özurarson—nephew of Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland’s first permanent settler, who made his home in Reykjavík—claimed the land at Hafnarfjörður. The town was granted municipal status (kaupstaðaréttindi) in 1908, when its population stood at 1,500. Today, Hafnarfjörður is the third-largest town in Iceland, with around 33,000 inhabitants.Icelandic Times paid a visit to this beautiful town—not to its downtown area, but to its outskirts, where exceptionally lovely outdoor recreational areas lie close by, both within and around the town.
Photos & text : Páll Stefánsson
Hafnarfjörður : 12/01/2026 – GFX 100 II – GF 4.0/23mm
