Selfoss: plan a town stop around food, culture and the river

Choose the kind of stop

Selfoss offers a practical change of pace between landscape visits in South Iceland. Visit South Iceland lists cafés, restaurants and shops in the heart of town, with Hellisskógur woodland to the north. This guide is about the town beside the Ölfusá river. [1]

For a short pause, choose the centre and a meal. If food history interests you, investigate an exhibition before adding it. If your priority is fresh air, plan Hellisskógur separately. These are different uses of your time, not a checklist to complete before driving on.

Understand the new old centre

The centre opened in 2021 and uses reconstructed historic buildings. Its traditional appearance does not mean every building has stood here for generations. Look at it as a contemporary town development drawing on older architecture, rather than an untouched historic quarter. [2]

The Old Dairy illustrates that distinction. Its operator says the original dairy was built in 1929, demolished in 1954 and reconstructed in 2021 for a new cultural and culinary role. Our river photograph is from 2018, so it deliberately does not illustrate the finished development. [3]

Plan food and indoor visits

Checked on 6 November 2026, the Old Dairy website lists food hall opening every day from 11:30 to 21:00 at Eyravegur 1. Recheck before relying on an early or late meal. The bars have separate schedules, and the food hall hours do not establish exhibition opening. [3]

The centre’s directory lists Skyrland, an exhibition about skyr, as well as the food hall. We could read that directory but could not retrieve Skyrland’s own website during this check. Exhibition hours, admission and current access are therefore not confirmed here. Confirm them directly before making the exhibition the reason for your stop. [4]

Our suggestion is to choose your meal first and treat additional browsing as optional. If anyone needs step free access, a particular toilet facility or dietary accommodation, ask the actual venue. A general description of the centre does not establish those details for every business.

Keep the woodland separate

Hellisskógur is a recreation forest outside town with walking paths and benches. The regional tourism board provides a separate destination page and a link to a forest map. Use that information to plan an outdoor visit rather than assuming a town centre stroll automatically includes the woodland. [5]

This article does not verify a walking route between the centre and forest, a parking location or an accessible path. The map marks the town area only. Follow local signs and barriers, keep away from the river edge and turn back if the surface or conditions do not suit your group.

Leave room for the journey

Going east? Plan Urriðafoss as a deliberate river stop rather than an extra task.

Continuing to Heimaey? Check the return port before deciding where to leave your car.

A town stop is most useful when it gives the day breathing space. If you still have a long drive, keep the meal and drop the extra outing. Check official road and weather information before departure and again if plans change. Safetravel warns that Icelandic conditions can change quickly. [6]

Compare Hveragerði if geothermal history is your main interest.

Choose Eyrarbakki for a separate coastal village and museum plan.

Use Travel conditions for dated snapshots and official road and weather links.

Common questions