One-day itinerary Akureyri – Grímsey

Trip to Grímsey Island – Arctic Circle, puffins, and marine life

Main attractions

Grímsey · Fotarklappir · Orbis et Globus · Básavík

Other attractions

Mígandi · Merkjaklettur

The island Grímsey is certainly one of the most overlooked places in Iceland. Yes, like most islands it is only accessible by boat, and sailing from the town of Dalvík to Grímsey takes almost exactly three hours (and the same three hours back), but the island more than makes up for it. The ferry leaves in the morning (usually at 9) and returns in the afternoon (the time varies, usually around 4 p.m., sometimes 5 p.m.). And even the journey itself is worth it.

The good news is that you won’t need a car on Grímsey. It is also a regular ferry, so the price is quite reasonable by Icelandic standards. In addition, the ferry ride itself is an experience – shortly after departure, you will have one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls, Mígandi, on your left, and with a bit of luck you may spot whales or dolphins directly from the deck. And as you approach Grímsey, seabirds accompany the ferry.

The main attraction of Grímsey is undoubtedly its seabirds of all kinds. Puffins nest almost all around the island, so whenever you get tired of one spot, you can simply walk a bit further and find another colony nearby.

A geological curiosity is that you can actually cross the Arctic Circle here. But only in the northernmost part of the island, ideally near the cliffs of Fotarklappir. And I recommend you hurry, because due to the precession of Earth’s axis, you will only be able to cross the Arctic Circle here until the year 2047. After that, it won’t be possible for about 20,000 years.

This phenomenon of the shifting Arctic Circle is highlighted by the artwork Orbis et Globus, a moving sphere.

There are two more places you definitely shouldn’t miss on Grímsey. The first is the small bay and beach Merkjaklettur, where you can stand beneath small cliffs and observe birds from very close range below. The second is the nearby bay Básavík, beautiful to look at and full of marine life.

Even though the island is not very large, you will find that time passes very quickly here. One tip: carefully check the weather forecast before your trip – Grímsey is far offshore, and the weather here can differ significantly from the Icelandic mainland.

Have a good trip!