The Melar farms sit in Trékyllisvík in Árneshreppur, on the remote Strandir coast of Icelandic Westfjords. This is not a place to squeeze between major attractions. The final approach follows Road 643, a narrow and slow coastal road that becomes gravel farther north.

For Lykkers, the practical choice is to visit during the summer road season, sleep locally, and give the northern Strandir coast at least two days rather than attempting a rushed return from Reykjavík.

Make It a Two-Day Drive

Distance gives a misleading picture here. The farther north you travel, the more road condition rather than kilometres determines your schedule.

Fill Up in Hólmavík

Reykjavík to Hólmavík is roughly 230 km and takes around 3 hours in straightforward conditions. From Hólmavík, Road 643 continues north toward Djúpavík, Gjögur, Trékyllisvík, and Norðurfjörður.

Road 643 is about 93 km long. Its northern sections are narrow gravel with tight bends, steep sections, passing places, and single-lane bridges. Treat Hólmavík to northern Árneshreppur as a half-day journey once stops are included.

Fill the fuel tank in Hólmavík. A small fuel facility may be available farther north, but a remote journey should not depend on it.

A normal car may manage the route during good summer conditions, but higher ground clearance makes the rougher sections more comfortable. This is not an F-road, so a 4WD is not automatically required.

Do not plan the journey around your normal highway speed. Slow down before blind corners and be ready to stop at narrow bridges.

Visit in the Road Season

The northern road is not a reliable year-round tourist route. Winter snow can isolate Árneshreppur for extended periods, and parts of Road 643 are not routinely kept open through the deepest winter period.

For an ordinary self-drive holiday, roughly June through early September is the sensible planning window. Even then, check road and weather conditions on the morning you travel.

A useful itinerary is Reykjavík to Hólmavík on day one, then Hólmavík to Trékyllisvík and Norðurfjörður on day two. If you already sleep in Hólmavík, allow most of the following day for the northern coast.

Avoid planning a fixed flight or long transfer immediately after leaving Árneshreppur. One difficult weather day can turn an efficient schedule into a stressful one.

Treat Melar as Farmland

The attraction is the relationship between farms, open land, mountains, and Trékyllisvík. That also means normal visitor behaviour matters more here than at a formal viewpoint.

Photograph From Public Access

Melar is connected to Road 643 by very short local access roads, but the farms themselves are not public sightseeing facilities.

If you want photographs like the classic Trékyllisvík view, remain on public roads or clearly permitted areas. Do not drive into farmyards, cross fences, block gates, or walk across fields simply because there is no admission booth.

Allow 30 to 60 minutes around the bay rather than searching for one exact camera position. The landscape changes noticeably with cloud, light, and the angle of the coast.

There is no meaningful attraction fee to budget for at Melar. Your real expenses are transport, accommodation, food, and optional stops elsewhere along Strandir.

That makes the area suitable for travelers who prefer quiet landscapes over paid attractions, but poor for anyone expecting visitor infrastructure at every stop.

Sleep Near Norðurfjörður

Continuing to Norðurfjörður is more practical than immediately turning south. The village area has limited seasonal accommodation, camping, food services, and access to Krossneslaug.

Norðurfjörður sits only a few kilometres from Krossneslaug, so the pool makes a logical final stop after exploring Trékyllisvík. Keep some flexibility because opening periods and local services in this sparsely populated region can be seasonal.

Accommodation supply is small. Reserve ahead rather than arriving and expecting several alternatives. For budgeting, allow roughly ISK 1500 to 3000 per person for basic camping and considerably more for a private room or cabin. Accommodation prices vary enough that confirming your dates before driving north is more useful than relying on one fixed nightly figure.

Bring enough food for the day from Hólmavík. Norðurfjörður has limited services, but this is not the place to assume that every meal, grocery item, or vehicle need will be available whenever you arrive.

A strong route is therefore simple: fuel and buy supplies in Hólmavík, drive Road 643 north slowly, stop at Djúpavík, continue through the coastal valleys to Trékyllisvík and Melar, then finish around Norðurfjörður. Sleep locally and drive south the following day.

That schedule turns a difficult same-day journey into a manageable remote-coast experience.

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 3 hours (roughly 230 km) on paved roads. From Hólmavík, Road 643 continues north for about 93 km on gravel and narrow coastal roads, taking at least half a day with stops. 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, Melar and Trékyllisvík are worth visiting as part of a two-day northern Strandir journey rather than as an isolated photo stop. Fill up in Hólmavík, allow at least half a day for Road 643, travel during the practical summer road season, and reserve accommodation before heading north. A normal car can handle the route in suitable conditions, although higher clearance improves comfort. Photograph the farms from public access, continue to Norðurfjörður rather than immediately backtracking, and keep enough schedule flexibility for weather and slow gravel-road travel.