Discover Vestmannaeyjabær

Nature, culture and seasonal customs give a stay in Vestmannaeyjabær different focuses. When choosing your travel dates, boat tours, hikes or a recurring festival may influence your plans. One travel option is the Herjólfur ferry from Landeyjahöfn to Vestmannaeyjar.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

The departure port of Landeyjahöfn is close to the destination. You can reach it by regular passenger car without four-wheel drive; you can also take a bus there from Mjódd bus terminal in Reykjavík. It is worth checking the ferry schedule when planning your trip.

At the port of Vestmannaeyjar, the visitor center of the Beluga Whale Sanctuary includes the island’s only puffin rescue center, an aquarium with native species and a natural history exhibition. As individual facilities may change over time, check the center’s current information before your visit. In the wider Vestmannaeyjar Islands area, the Sanctuary consists of a natural sea inlet in Klettsvík Bay, as well as a land-based care facility and visitor center. There, guests can visit the two belugas, Little White and Little Grey.

Nature Experiences and Excursions

Boat tours in Vestmannaeyjar offer views of puffins in their natural habitat, other wildlife, nature, rock formations and Elephant Rock. As individual operators and schedules may change, check the latest tour information before making specific plans. For a short stay, the hop-on hop-off bus tour is another option: it visits the island’s main sights and viewpoints and is particularly suitable for short visits.

Hikes vary in difficulty. The trail to Stafsnes runs from Herjólfsdalur via Dalfell and includes a steep descent; the hike is considered challenging. Stóra-Klif can also be a demanding undertaking: the route can be very challenging, so local advice is recommended before setting out. The Heimaey circular trail follows the route of the Puffin Run and passes alongside a puffin colony in places. This challenging route also comes with the recommendation to bring a map.

Further afield on the island, the birdwatching hut at Stórhöfði offers a viewpoint protected from wind and rain near a puffin colony, without disturbing the birds. At Flakkarinn, a viewing platform overlooks birdlife, mountains and boat traffic. Gaujulundur is set on Heimaey’s new lava and features small trees and shrubs. These places showcase different aspects of the landscape: birdwatching, expansive views and vegetation growing on lava.

Festivals, Traditions and History

The timing of your trip can be important for local traditions. At Easter, there is a tradition in Vestmannaeyjar of walking together to Páskahellir. In the cave, you can see rock formed during the 1973 eruption. The 7-tinda-Gangan is held each year in June or July, with a large group of participants. If you plan to visit for either event, check the specific dates before booking.

Every year, during the August weekend of Verslunarmannahelgi, the Þjóðhátíð festival takes place in Vestmannaeyjar. The four-day program includes concerts, a wide range of activities for children and families, a fireworks display, communal singing and other events. In timing and content, this makes the festival visit different from the Easter and early-summer traditions.

History and remembrance are also among the themes of a visit. HerjólfsTown Viking Museum is a turf house built in 2005, designed as a reconstruction of Herjólf’s home. Viking Town offers a vivid insight into the Vikings’ life, work and prosperity in this landscape through a collection of Viking artifacts. Further afield in the Vestmannaeyjar Islands, a large wooden cross in the crater of Eldfell commemorates Jón Trausti Úranusson. The volcano formed during the 1973 Heimaey eruption.

This gives you clear options for planning your trip: a short stay, nature watching, challenging hikes or a visit timed to coincide with a recurring tradition. Match your travel dates to the activities you have planned and, if visiting for a festival, take its dates into account.

Discover more destinations: Hruni, Ólafsvellir, Vík Í Mýrdal, Flúdir, Sólheimar, Grafarkirkja, Skálholt, Skeiðflötur.

For the broader travel overview: Sudurland.