Hella Travel Guide: Caves of Hella, Farm Stays, Meat Soup Festival and Weather

Hella is a town in South Iceland, on Route 1, the Ring Road. It suits travelers who want a base for the Caves of Hella, twelve man-made caves found at Ægissíða, four of them open to the public.

The caves are visited on guided tours, and the town’s festivals sit in specific weeks: the Multicultural Festival in May and the meat soup festival in nearby Hvolsvöllur at the end of August.

At a glance

• Region: South Iceland, on Route 1 (the Ring Road)
• Main sight: the Caves of Hella, four of twelve caves open to the public
• Getting around: Strætó buses run service to the South of Iceland
• Warmest month with data: June, high 59°F (15°C)
• Festival nearby: Kjötsúpuhátíðin (meat soup festival) in Hvolsvöllur, last week of August

Where is Hella and what is it like?

Hella is in South Iceland. The Caves of Hella stand next to Route 1, the Ring Road, at Ægissíða 4, 851 Hella. That makes the town easy to reach by road.

Landhotel sits on road 26 in Hella, and Hestheimar is on an Icelandic horse farm 8 miles (13 km) from the town center.

The history is the draw. The caves are Iceland’s oldest still standing archaeological remains. Visitors find ancient crosses, wall carvings and carved seats inside.

What is there to do in Hella?

The Caves of Hella

Twelve man-made caves have been discovered at Ægissíða by Hella, and four are open to the public. They lie right next to the Ring Road, so a stop fits easily into a drive through South Iceland.

Inside, you see ancient crosses, wall carvings and carved seats.

This is the stop for anyone who likes history and short visits. Travelers who only want landscapes will find it less of a draw.

Kjötsúpuhátíðin, the meat soup festival in Hvolsvöllur

It lasts five days, Wednesday to Sunday, in the last week of August. It is held all over town, with its center at miðbæjartún, and it fills Hvolsvöllur with meat soup, live music and community joy.

The program had set times. Soup was offered at Stóru-Mörk on Wednesday, August 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. The soup walk followed that evening from 7 to 11 p.m., when residents and companies offered various types of soup and some opened their homes to serve homemade meat soup.

Families flock to miðbæjartún, so this suits travelers with children and anyone who likes food and company. It suits less those who want a quiet week.

Multicultural Festival in Hella

It is a one-day event, so it works as an extra on a May visit and not as the reason for a trip.

If you want a day with local life in Hella itself, this is the one to look for.

If you prefer history, go for the caves. If you want food and a crowd, pick the August festival. For a short community event in town, look to May.

Where to stay in Hella

Hella has lodging for several kinds of trips. Stracta Hotel, at Rangárflatir 4, has 166 rooms in total. Landhotel, on road 26, has 69 rooms across three categories. Both suit travelers who want a regular hotel.

Smaller places fit groups and families. Álfasteinn Guesthouse, at Þjóðólfshagi 25, offers accommodation for up to 16 people. Farmer´s Guest House, at Meiri-Tunga 1, is a two-story farmhouse with 4 bedrooms on the second floor.

Landmannahellir offers sleeping bag accommodation in 9 cottages for 100 guests. Landhotel notes that spring and autumn bring fewer crowds.

When should you go to Hella?

June is the mildest month in the available weather data, with highs of 59°F (15°C) and lows of 43°F (6°C). June has 11 rainy days, the fewest of the months listed. It is the easiest time for walking between stops.

January and February are the coldest, with highs of 36°F (2°C) and lows of 25°F (-4°C). Each has 15 rainy days. Pack for cold and wet if you go in those months.

Spring and autumn bring fewer crowds at Landhotel. The meat soup festival falls in the last week of August, and the Multicultural Festival in May.

What to know before visiting Hella

According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov), no visa is needed for up to 90 days for tourism or business.

• Passports must have 3 months’ validity beyond your date of departure from the Iceland/Schengen Area, and 6 months is recommended.
• Iceland does not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free entry unless it has 3 months beyond your planned date of departure.
• No vaccinations are required.
• Strætó runs city buses in Reykjavik and service to the South, West and North of Iceland. A transfer ticket is valid for 75 minutes after issue.
• Bus drivers do not exchange money, so buy tickets ahead. They are sold at Hlemmur, Lækjartorg, Mjódd and other points, and Klapp is the account-based ticketing system.

Booking Hella for November: what to know

Dinner reservations at Landhotel can be made by emailing [email protected].