Porlackshöfn, Iceland
No town nearby. No stay checked for this site yet: Reykjavik, 41 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: RKV (RKV), 42 km.
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About Porlackshöfn
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (162°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (342°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea is about 6°C in January, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 12°C in July, its warmest (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7; in May, June and July, about 0. From the weather of past years. No town nearby. No stay checked for this site yet: Reykjavik, 41 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: RKV (RKV), 42 km.
Water about 9°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 11 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to KEF, direct. About 8 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → KEF · Skyscanner from about £315 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 25 from the airport to Porlackshöfn.
Accommodation.
No town nearby
No stay checked for this site yet: Reykjavik, 41 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: RKV (RKV), 42 km.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Porlackshöfn · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Porlackshöfn · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Porlackshöfn on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Porlackshöfn does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 13 ft12 s | 4,000kJ | wind from the south-west, 26 knots | 8°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 12 ft9 s | 2,152kJ | wind from the south, 10 knots | 7°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft9 s | 741kJ | wind from the north-east, 9 knots | 3°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 10, poor | 5 ft9 s | 390kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 10 knots | 3°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 11, poor | 5 ft7 s | 247kJ | wind from the north-east, 6 knots | 2°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 31, poor | 4 ft8 s | 138kJ | wind from the north-east, 12 knots | 5°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 52, good | 3 ft8 s | 125kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 9 knots, offshore | 2°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 67, good | 4 ft9 s | 249kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 8 knots, offshore | 3°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 60, good | 4 ft9 s | 184kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 2 knots, offshore | 5°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Tue 20 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Tue 20 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to KEF, then 1h 25 by road. About 11h 40 door to door
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Porlackshöfn
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 5 ft at 9 s, wind 10 kn (19 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Porlackshöfn
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 5 ft at 7 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Porlackshöfn
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 4 ft at 8 s, wind 12 kn (22 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctSurf Porlackshöfn
Best 14:00 to 17:00 local time: 3 ft at 8 s, offshore wind.
- Mon 26 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to KEF, then 1h 25 by road. About 11h 40 door to door
Rough cost
About £640–£1,225 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book. No town nearby, so no stay is in it.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to KEF, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £315–£650 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£115 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £640–£1,225 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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