One-day itinerary – Vestmannaeyjar

Trip to Heimaey Island – puffins, lava museum and volcanoes

Difficulty: moderate | By car: 200 km | On foot: 5–15 km | Elevation gain: 300 m | Time: 12–15 hours | Season: year-round

Main attractions

Heimaey · Eldheimar · Stórhöfði · Halldórsskora

Other attractions

Stafkirkjan · Easter Cave · Blátindur · Heimaklettur · Cave of a Hundred Men

The island Heimaey is the sunniest place in Iceland and, despite having a lot to offer, it is not a very common tourist destination. During the summer season, a ferry runs from Landeyjahöfn several times a day, allowing you to spend a good amount of time on the island. You can also take your car on the ferry, which is especially useful if you want to visit the southernmost point of the island, Stórhöfði, home to the largest puffin colony in Europe, numbering up to one million breeding pairs of these colorful birds. From the harbor, it is about 6 kilometers to the puffin colony, so it is also possible to walk there.

A major attraction of the island, even for those who are not usually museum lovers, is the Eldheimar Museum, which is dedicated to the eruption that occurred here in 1973. Thanks to great effort and a bit of luck, the harbor—vital for the island—was saved. The museum includes houses that were buried by lava, so you are literally in the epicenter of the event.

For beautiful views, you can hike up Heimaklettur, or visit the craters Eldfell or Helgafell. A popular spot is also the base of the mountain Blátindur, where a keen eye can spot a naturally carved elephant head known as Halldórsskora. Another interesting sight is the local black church Stafkirkjan, a replica of the Norwegian Haltdalen church.

Not far from the turnoff to the harbor on the main road, you will of course also find the waterfall Seljalandsfoss. For such a small island off the main tourist routes, there is actually an overwhelming amount to see.