Trékyllisvík sits deep in Árneshreppur on the remote Strandir coast, with the Melar farms spread beneath steep mountains beside the bay. Since the previous guide already covered how to drive Road 643 into the area, this version starts after you arrive.

For Lykkers, the practical question is how much time this quiet landscape deserves. The answer is at least one afternoon and one night. Staying nearby turns Melar into a flexible coastal base and gives you time to work around weather rather than racing south again.

Give the Bay Half a Day

There is no formal attraction circuit at Melar. A useful visit depends on slowing the schedule and knowing where private farmland ends and public access begins.

Allow Three to Four Hours

Set aside roughly 3 to 4 hours for Trékyllisvík and nearby stops. That sounds generous for a small bay, but it prevents the common mistake of spending five minutes taking photographs before immediately returning to the car.

Start with a slow drive through Trékyllisvík. Stop only where there is a safe pull-off or designated place to leave the vehicle. The farms are working properties, so do not enter driveways, fields, or farmyards unless access is clearly permitted.

There is no admission fee for enjoying the landscape. That makes this a useful low-cost afternoon after the fuel expense of reaching northern Strandir.

Walking does not need to become a major hike. A short coastal wander of 30 to 60 minutes is enough for most travelers. Stay on obvious public access, keep away from livestock, close any gate you are permitted to pass through, and never drive across open ground. Off-road driving is prohibited in Iceland.

If visibility becomes poor, do not spend hours waiting beside the road. Move on to the next planned stop and return later if conditions improve.

Use Evening Light Strategically

The mountain walls around Trékyllisvík make changing light one of the main reasons to stay nearby.

Instead of trying to predict one perfect sunset, give yourself a 2-hour evening window. Cloud can cover the mountains quickly, while another opening may appear shortly afterward.

Late spring through summer is the easiest period for this approach because daylight is long. Around June, darkness is barely part of the schedule at this latitude, so you can eat first and return outside later rather than rushing every activity before evening.

Cold wind still matters. Pack a waterproof outer layer, insulation, gloves, and sturdy shoes even if the afternoon begins comfortably.

For photography, do not walk toward the farms just to improve foreground composition. Roadside and coastal perspectives already provide the relationship between the bay, settlement, and mountains that makes Trékyllisvík distinctive.

Turn Around at the Right Point

Once you have reached Melar, the smartest next move is usually farther north rather than immediately repeating Road 643 southbound.

Continue to Norðurfjörður

Norðurfjörður provides a practical endpoint for the day because it has limited accommodation, camping, food services, and other traveler facilities. Public transport is extremely limited in Árneshreppur, so a private vehicle remains the most flexible option.

Reserve accommodation before driving into northern Strandir. With such a small local population, you should not expect the choice or late availability found in larger Icelandic destinations.

A simple camping stay may cost only a few thousand ISK per person, while a private room or cabin will cost considerably more. For two people, a sensible planning allowance for one night plus simple food is roughly ISK 20000 to 40000, although accommodation choice can push the total higher.

Bring groceries and essential supplies north with you. Local services exist, but their scale and operating periods are limited. Treat them as useful additions rather than the foundation of your food plan.

Keep the Next Morning Flexible

Sleeping locally also solves another problem: you do not need to drive Road 643 twice in one tiring day.

After breakfast, check weather and road conditions before choosing your return time. Remote Westfjords roads can take considerably longer than map distance suggests, especially when rain, wind, loose gravel, or poor visibility slows progress.

If conditions are good, use the morning for another short stop around northern Árneshreppur before heading south. If the weather is deteriorating, leave earlier and keep the day simple.

Do not schedule a late arrival in Reykjavík as a hard target. Reykjavík is roughly 233 km from Hólmavík alone, so returning from northern Árneshreppur adds a substantial remote-road section before that journey even begins.

The stronger itinerary is therefore three stages: reach Trékyllisvík in the afternoon, spend 3 to 4 unhurried hours around the bay, sleep in the northern area, then travel south after checking conditions the following morning.

This approach costs one night of accommodation but removes several hours of rushed same-day driving. In this part of Iceland, that trade is usually worthwhile.

Getting There

Most travelers fly into Keflavík International Airport and rent a car for the journey north. A compact rental car for a week starts around ISK 40,000–60,000 in summer, and fuel for the round trip from Reykjavík to Árneshreppur adds roughly ISK 15,000–20,000. The drive from Reykjavík to Hólmavík takes about three hours on paved roads, and from there Route 643 becomes gravel. There is no public bus service to Árneshreppur, so a rental car is the only practical option.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in the northern Strandir area is very limited. In Norðurfjörður, the local guesthouse and campsite offer basic rooms and pitches, with prices starting around ISK 15,000–25,000 per night for a room. For a more comfortable stay, the nearby Hótel Djúpavík (about an hour south) has rooms from roughly ISK 30,000–40,000 per night. Book well in advance during the summer season, as options are scarce.

Where to Eat

Dining options in Árneshreppur are extremely limited. The small shop and café in Norðurfjörður serve basic meals and snacks, with simple dishes around ISK 2,000–3,500. For self-catering, stock up on groceries in Hólmavík before heading north, as local supplies are basic and expensive. Carry food and water for the drive, and do not rely on finding open restaurants along Route 643.

For most Lykkers, Trékyllisvík works better as an overnight slow-travel stop than a roadside viewpoint. Give the Melar area about 3 to 4 hours, keep walks short and respectful of private farmland, and reserve roughly 2 hours of flexibility around evening light rather than chasing one exact moment. Continue toward Norðurfjörður for the night, allow roughly ISK 20000 to 40000 for basic accommodation and food for two, and carry essential supplies with you. The following morning, check conditions before committing to the long drive south.