Arctic Henge
About Arctic Henge
The Arctic Henge (Heimskautsgerðið) is a large stone monument on Melrakkaás, the low hill just north of Raufarhöfn in Northeast Iceland. Built from stacked basalt blocks, it works like a giant sundial, with gateways lined up to frame the sun as it moves along the open northern horizon.
Raufarhöfn local Erlingur Thoroddsen came up with the idea, and he developed it with the artist Haukur Halldórsson, drawing on Norse mythology and the Eddic poem Völuspá. Work started in 2004 and the henge is still unfinished, so what you see is a monument in progress. The circle measures about 50 meters across, with main gates around 6 meters high facing the compass points and a central column of roughly 10 meters.
The design is meant to be read with the light. Around the summer solstice the midnight sun sits low in the north and shines straight through the gates, while in the darker months the low winter sun throws long shadows across the circle. Stones around the circle carry the names of dwarfs from Völuspá, so it pays to read a little of the poem before you go.
Getting to the Arctic Henge takes commitment. Raufarhöfn is about two hours and 15 minutes by car from Húsavík and roughly three and a half hours from Akureyri, reached on the coastal roads around the Melrakkaslétta peninsula. Once you are in the village, a short road climbs the hill to the monument, and you can walk among the gates freely.
June and early July are the best time to visit the Arctic Henge, when the nights barely get dark and the sun lines up with the gates. From September to April, clear dark nights bring a chance of northern lights over the stones, but snow, ice and strong wind are common on the exposed hill. Half an hour is enough at the monument itself, so pair it with a swim in the village pool and a night at the campsite below rather than driving straight back.
Good to know
Where is the Arctic Henge in Iceland?
The Arctic Henge stands on a hill just north of Raufarhöfn, a fishing village on the Melrakkaslétta coast of Northeast Iceland. It is a short drive or walk up from the harbor.
What is the Arctic Henge?
It is a large stone monument built to work like a sundial, with gates aligned to frame the sun and the midnight sun on the northern horizon. The design draws on Norse mythology and the Eddic poem Völuspá.
How do you get to the Arctic Henge?
Drive to Raufarhöfn, about two hours and 15 minutes from Húsavík or roughly three and a half hours from Akureyri, then follow the short road up the hill above the village. A car is by far the easiest way to get there, since the village is a long detour from the Ring Road.
Is the Arctic Henge finished?
No. Construction began in 2004 and the monument is still being built, though the main gates and central column already stand and you can visit at any time.
When is the best time to visit the Arctic Henge?
Visit in June or early July, when the midnight sun shines through the gates and the nights stay light. Winter brings a chance of northern lights, but the hilltop is exposed to snow, ice and strong wind.
Is the Arctic Henge on the Arctic Circle?
Not quite. Raufarhöfn sits just south of the Arctic Circle, which crosses the sea a short distance north of the village. From the henge you are looking out toward the line, not standing on it.
Trip planning — free, no commitment
Put Arctic Henge on your route
Tell us your dates, pace and can’t-miss list — a local planner builds the route, stays and tours around it, and stays a text away while you travel.