Welcome to Djúpivogur – where life goes slowly
The magical little village that reindeer walk around in the wintertime and fills up with birdlife in the summer.
Djúpivogur is a town of around 500 inhabitants and is the only Cittaslow village in Iceland. That means that emphasis is put on local production, easy and calm lifestyle, and living in the now!
Come enjoy our little village, its remarkable nature, plenty of culture and good food.
History
The Book of Settlements reports Celts on Papey island before the first Norwegians arrived, when Ingólfur Arnarson and his blood brother Hjörleifur overwintered in Álfta örður.
Later, the Icelandic sagas speak of ships coming to the north shore of Beru örður at Gautavík, one of Iceland’s oldest trading points. Two other figures in historical accounts were the settler Þjóðreki and the Christian missionary Þangbrandur. Roman coins which were found by Bragðavellir farm and which date back to about AD 300 indicate that Roman ships came north to Iceland.
More recent sources mention the Djúpivogur trading licences granted to merchants from Hamburg in 1589, the terror caused by North African slave traders in 1627, prosperous shark boats and cod-fishing ships, and developments in the farming communities.
Nature
The landscape and fauna of the Djúpivogur area are extremely varied and o er a multitude of options for outdoor recreation. The fauna includes seals resting on coastal rocks, colourful bird life in wetlands with easy access and facilities, and reindeer which during most of the year are often seen in backyards and front porch of the locals. You can experience many types of islets and coastline, including black, red or light-coloured beaches suitable for families; beautiful waterfalls; trails past imposing mountains and through vegetated valleys; and even some glaciers.
Cittaslow
Our community belongs to the international Cittaslow movement and therefore emphasises its values, such as local characteristics and culture, a humane, wholesome society, and an unspoiled, safe environment.
The main idea behind Cittaslow is to take your time to enjoy life – speed does not need to be a lifestyle. When travelling (slowly and pleasantly!) through our community, look for the Cittaslow logo: an orange snail carrying a village on its shell. It appears as a sign of quality in the stores, shops and restaurants in Djúpivogur, promising that what they sell – whether food, handicrafts or other goods – is sourced within the community.