Njardvik: Viking Ship and Cultural History

Njardvik is of interest to travelers who want to combine their stay with cultural history. Víkingaheimar is located in Njarðvík; Stekkjarkot draws attention to former coastal houses on the Reykjanes Peninsula. In Innri-Njarðvík, a museum house and a church, each with their own historical details, take center stage. Visiting conditions also vary; take them into account when planning your trip. This will help you decide whether a Viking ship, historic forms of housing, or architectural and church history are most important to your trip.

Víkingaheimar and the Íslendingur

Víkingaheimar is located in Njarðvík and is built around the Íslendingur, a full-size Viking ship. The ship is an exact replica of the famous Gokstad ship. Its own history includes a voyage across the Atlantic: in 2000, the Íslendingur sailed from Iceland to New York, covering 4,200 nautical miles. The two connections are easy to distinguish: the Gokstad ship is the model for the replica, while the 2000 voyage refers to the Íslendingur’s own journey. If you are interested in maritime history, this gives you two specific perspectives on the central exhibit—the connection to a famous ship and the crossing of the Atlantic. Check the operator’s current visitor information before your visit.

Stekkjarkot: Coastal Living

At Stekkjarkot, the focus is not on a sea voyage but on former coastal living. The house is a classic example of the roughly built turf, stone, and timber houses that were once widespread on the Reykjanes Peninsula and in other coastal areas of Iceland. Following its restoration, Stekkjarkot gives a vivid impression of what houses of this type looked like. Its historical classification as a so-called þurrabúð also helps explain the residents’ living conditions: they were not allowed to keep livestock such as cows or sheep and were therefore entirely dependent on the sea. Stekkjarkot thus connects a specific building style with a clear restriction on daily life at the time. Stekkjarkot can be visited by arrangement; to book, call 865 6160.

Church and Museum House in Innri-Njarðvík

In Innri-Njarðvík, a residential house and a church can be viewed through different historical reference points. The museum house at Njarðvíkurbraut 42 was built in 1906 and is accessible by appointment only. The church in Innri-Njarðvík was consecrated in 1886. It is made of dressed stones brought from the nearby shore and from the heath above the inhabited area. The tower also preserves an older historical record: one of its three clocks dates from 1725. These dates refer to different things—the year the house was built, the consecration of the church, and the age of a tower clock.

Discover more destinations: Hafnir, Grindavík, Kálfatjörn, Gardur, Vogar, Sandgerði, Reykjanesbær

For the overview of the wider region: Suðurnes.