Stykkishólmur: Cultural History and Island Nature

Stykkishólmur combines a distinctive townscape with museums, island nature and opportunities for excursions. When choosing what to focus on, it helps to distinguish between these highlights: the town center is known for its old houses and cultural history, while Súgandisey offers birdlife and views. The town’s installations and museums, as well as activities on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, round out the picture. If you are looking for a hotel in Stykkishólmur, you can first consider which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay most.

Local History and Museums

The old houses in the town center are a distinctive feature of Stykkishólmur. You can explore them on foot and learn about their history along the way. A walking tour therefore draws attention not only to individual buildings, but also to the houses as part of the townscape.

Norska húsið is Iceland’s first two-story residential building and was built in 1832 from cut timber from Norway. The house has a permanent exhibition that recreates the home of Árni Ó. Thorlacius (1802–1891) and Anna Magdalena Steenback (1807–1894) as it probably looked in the second half of the 19th century. The house’s construction date and the later reconstruction, which is presented as probable, therefore belong to different periods.

Vatnasafn, also known as the Library of Water, is a long-term installation by Roni Horn in a former library in Stykkishólmur. It comprises 24 glass columns filled with water from the ice of several major Icelandic glaciers. Visitors can also view a selection of Roni Horn’s books created in Iceland from the “To Place” series and listen to selected stories about the weather told by local people. The columns, books and recorded stories offer different ways to engage with water, art and weather.

The Icelandic Eider Center focuses on something different: this modern museum and knowledge center provides information about eider ducks and historical and current methods of harvesting eiderdown. So, along with architectural and art history, birds and the harvesting of their down are among the topics you can explore in Stykkishólmur.

Súgandisey: Path, Birdlife and Lighthouse

Súgandisey is rich in birdlife and offers unique views over Breiðafjörður and Stykkishólmur. A path leads to the island from the harbor area, and walking up is popular. The path, birdlife and views each give a visit a different focus: the route to the island, its wildlife and the view over the surrounding area.

There is also a lighthouse on Súgandisey, with a history that began elsewhere. It was built in 1897 on Grótta at Seltjarnarnes and moved to Súgandisey in 1942. The two dates distinguish its construction from its later relocation; the lighthouse’s history thus adds a specific historical connection to the island’s natural setting.

Kayak Tours from Stykkishólmur

Kontiki offers short kayak tours from Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. If you are planning a kayak tour, check the provider’s current information in advance.

Guided Excursions

On guided excursions with Kontiki, participants look for puffins, seals and shipwrecks. They also learn about the history and geology of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Wildlife watching and learning about history and geology are therefore the excursions’ shared themes.

Discover more destinations: Búdardalur, Hjarðarholt, Hvanneyri, Budhir, Arnarstapi, Snóksdalur, Reynivellir, Hvammur

View the broader travel overview: Vesturland.