Discover Bíldudalur on Arnarfjörður

Bíldudalur lies on Arnarfjörður and is part of the municipality of Vesturbyggð. The town brings together several clearly distinct travel interests: a historic smithy, museums focused on music and legends, private boat tours, a recurring festival, and a nine-hole golf course. When looking for a hotel in Bíldudalur, it helps to first decide what brings you on your trip and then weigh the local attractions accordingly.

History on Arnarfjörður

Gamla smiðjan in Bíldudalur was built before 1900 by Pétur J. Thorsteinsson. It is also known as Járnsmiðjan and was the country's first iron and metal workshop at the time; it is associated with an important historical legacy. Its name and former function give the workshop a clear connection to the history of craftsmanship. If historical subjects particularly interest you when you travel, it offers a specific point of interest distinct from the museums' music and legend-related exhibits.

Museums of music and legends

The Melódíur minninganna Music Museum opened on June 17, 2000. Its collection includes numerous items connected with well-known Icelandic musicians, including Haukur Mortens and Ellý. Its focus is therefore on music and personal connections to familiar names in Icelandic music.

The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum (Skrímslasetrið), by contrast, is dedicated to legends and sightings of mythical sea monsters from the Westfjords. Multimedia displays, artifacts and detailed accounts bring these stories to life; texts, images and videos are among the formats on display. At the end of the exhibition is an interactive platform, considered the first of its kind in Iceland. The two museums therefore offer different areas of focus: music history on the one hand and traditions about sea monsters on the other.

Boat tours and planning

Beffa Tours is based in Bíldudalur and offers private, customizable boat tours, including sea angling and nature and fjord trips. Private boat experiences are designed for groups of no more than seven passengers; confirm the capacity when making a specific booking. A sea-angling trip takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the fishing grounds in Arnarfjörður.

From Bíldudalur, it is also possible to go sea angling or take a trip to the sites associated with Gísli Súrsson in Geirþjófsfjörður. If you are planning a boat tour, check the weather, booking conditions and seasonal availability in advance.

Festival and golf

The family festival Bíldudals grænar takes place every two years on the last weekend of June in Bíldudalur. The program includes, among other things, a play, concerts, a magic school, a foam party, monsters, face painting for children, bouncy castles and plenty of music. Individual events may vary from one edition to the next, so if your trip is tied to the festival, check the specific event dates.

Another local activity is the nine-hole Litlueyrarvöllur golf course. The associated golf club was founded in 1992. Check course conditions and access locally before visiting.

Find a hotel in Bíldudalur based on your reason for travel

When planning your stay, keep in mind that different attractions depend on different factors: the festival follows a specific edition, while boat tours depend on the weather and booking conditions. If either of these activities determines your travel dates, confirm the festival dates or tour availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Breiðavík, Árnes, Borðeyri, Suðureyri, Hnífsdalur, Thingeyri, Prestbakki, Saurbær.

For the broader travel overview: Westfjords.