Region
Northeast Iceland
35 km from Akureyri
Grenivik and Laufas
A quiet fishing village on Eyjafjörður's eastern shore, with the Laufas turf house museum nearby.
Population
~280
Northeast Iceland • Fishing village
Quick Answer
Grenivik, population about 280, sits on the east shore of Eyjafjörður, 35 km from Akureyri. The Laufas turf-house museum is the main sight nearby.
Grenivik is a small fishing community on the eastern shore of Eyjafjörður, largely untouched by mass tourism. It is best known for the nearby Laufas turf house, one of Iceland's best-preserved examples of traditional rural architecture.
Sources and page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
Akureyri Museum publishes Laufas visitor hours and the shared museum ticket; check the dated schedule before visiting.
For sourcing standards and how to report an error, see the editorial policy.
Official sources to check
Population
~280
Traditional fishing village
Known for
Laufas Turf House
Historic 19th century farmstead
Top Attractions near Grenivik
Laufas Turf House
Historic farmstead museum with preserved turf buildings
Laufas Church
19th century church at the turf house site
Grenivik Harbor
Small working fishing harbor
Grenivik Swimming Pool
Geothermal pool with fjord and mountain views
Eyjafjörður Views
Views across a long North Iceland fjord
Coastal Walks
Quiet shoreline walks along the fjord
How to Get to Grenivik
From Akureyri: 35-40 minutes via the eastern shore road of Eyjafjörður. A scenic drive with fjord views.
From Reykjavik: About 5 hours via Route 1 (Ring Road) through Akureyri.
Note: No public transport runs to Grenivik; a rental car is essential.
Best Time to Visit Grenivik
Summer (June-August): The best time to visit, when the Laufas turf house museum is open and the days are long.
Year-round: The village maintains its peaceful atmosphere throughout the year, though some attractions have limited winter hours.
Laufas closes earlier in fall than the Akureyri museums
For 2026, Akureyri Museum’s schedule lists the old farmhouse and visitor center at Laufas open daily 11:00–17:00 from May 25 through September 13. Groups can arrange visits during the rest of the year. A general “summer opening” label is not enough for a mid-September trip.
The 2026 museum ticket costs 2,800 ISK for adults, 2,200 ISK for visitors aged 67 and over, and is free for under-18s. It includes seven museums in the group for the calendar year, including Laufas, Nonni’s House and Akureyri Museum. Keep the ticket if continuing into Akureyri, but check each site’s season: shared admission does not mean shared opening hours.
Planning help
Grenivik FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
What is the population of Grenivik?
Grenivik has approximately 280 residents. It is a small fishing village on the eastern shore of Eyjafjörður.
What is the Laufas turf house?
Laufas is a 19th-century turf farmstead, now a museum of traditional Icelandic rural life with preserved turf buildings and a small church.
How far is Grenivik from Akureyri?
Grenivik is about 35 km from Akureyri, approximately 35-40 minutes by car via the eastern shore road of Eyjafjörður.
How far is Grenivik from Reykjavik?
Grenivik is about 420 km from Reykjavik, approximately 5 hours by car via Route 1 through Akureyri.
What is the fishing heritage of Grenivik?
Grenivik has been a fishing village for centuries, and the small harbor is still active.
What fjord is Grenivik located on?
Grenivik sits on the eastern shore of Eyjafjörður, a long North Iceland fjord, with views across to the Tröllaskagi peninsula.
What activities are available in Grenivik?
Visitors can see the Laufas turf house, walk the coast, and use Grenivik as a quiet base for the Eyjafjörður region.
What services does Grenivik have?
Grenivik has a small shop, guesthouse accommodation, a swimming pool, and the Laufas museum. For more services, Akureyri is 35 km away.
For national population totals and trends to put local figures in context, see our Iceland statistics.