Should you’re on the lookout for a novel spot to go to in Iceland with unbelievable landscapes and an fascinating historical past that hasn’t been to performed to demise by each different vacationer, enable me to introduce you to Heimaey Island, one of many Westman Islands.
The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) are an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast, comprising 15 small islands shaped by underwater volcanic eruptions. The biggest and solely inhabited island within the chain is Heimaey, which has a inhabitants of about 4300 folks.
And you’ll simply go to Heimaey Island as a part of a tour of Iceland’s South Coast, or as a slight detour from a Ring Highway street journey.
Westman Islands vs. Heimaey Island
“Vestmannaeyjar,” or the “Westman Islands” check with the entire archipelago of volcanic islands positioned off the south shore of Iceland. Heimaey Island is the most important of the Westman Islands, and is the one island that’s inhabited – and can also be the principle island that vacationers can go to. (The city on the island can also be simply often called Heimaey.)
So, when somebody says “I’ll the Westman Islands,” they in all probability imply that they will Heimaey. It’s normal for guests to Iceland to check with Heimaey as “the Westman Islands.”
get to the Westman Islands
When you technically can fly to Vestmannaeyjar (there are every day flights from Reykjavik on Eagle Air), the preferred method to get there may be by ferry. The ferry Herjólfur sails from the city of Landeyjahöfn on the south coast of Iceland (roughly 1 hour from the city of Vik), taking about 40 minutes to cross over to Heimaey.
The ferry is massive (it is a mixed automotive and passenger ferry that may maintain 65-70 automobiles and as much as 540 passengers), and comes full with a number of lounge areas and a small cafe onboard.
The ferry sails at the least 7 occasions per day between Landeyjahöfn and Heimaey throughout good climate. (Observe that in tough winter climate, the ferry generally sails from Þorlákshöfn as a substitute.)
Yow will discover extra data on ferry costs and the crusing schedule right here. (And sure, I positively suggest reserving ferry tickets prematurely for those who plan to take a automotive with you!)
When to go to the Westman Islands
You’ll be able to go to the Westman Islands year-round for the reason that ferry runs year-round, however summer season is excessive season right here. Not solely is the climate probably the most favorable throughout the summer season months, however Might-August can also be when hundreds of puffins nest on Heimaey. Actually, extra puffins nest on this one island than in some other a part of Iceland.
So if you wish to see puffins, get pleasure from lengthy days, and have the perfect likelihood of excellent climate, you will need to go to the Westman Islands in the summertime.
Issues to do within the Westman Islands (on Heimaey Island)
When you get to Heimaey, listed below are the highest issues I personally suppose are price doing there:
1. Go to the Eldheimar museum
Heimaey Island has really been inhabited for a very long time, however the defining second that modified the course of its historical past perpetually occurred within the early morning hours of January 23, 1973, when a previously-unknown volcano dubbed Eldfell (“Hill of Hearth”) erupted violently.
Via a stroke of eerie luck, a storm the day before today had saved all of the native fishing boats in Heimaey’s harbor, and all the island’s 5300 inhabitants have been capable of be safely evacuated from the island. Not one life was misplaced throughout the eruption.
The Eldheimar Museum chronicles the story and aftermath of the Eldfell eruption, with the museum being constructed round a number of houses that have been buried in ash and different volcanic particles.
To completely perceive Heimaey and its folks, it’s essential to go to this museum and perceive the lasting impact this occasion had on the Westman Islands.
2. Hike a volcano
Talking of Eldfell, you possibly can hike to the highest of the volcano’s crater to see the way it (fairly actually) modified the panorama of Heimaey. The hike to the highest is a 3.2-mile loop path that has some good elevation acquire to it.
(Should you’d favor a shorter volcano hike, it is also potential to hike to the close by Helgafell volcano crater, which is only a 1-mile loop path.)
3. Search for puffins
Like I discussed above, tons of puffins nest on Heimaey every summer season. There is a bulbous little bit of land referred to as Stórhöfði on the southern finish of Heimaey Island the place nearly all of the puffins nest on the cliffs. There are some strolling trails up right here, in addition to just a few marked “Puffin Lookout” areas.
Throughout the summer season months, the puffins are tremendous simple to identify right here – simply be quiet and preserve your distance from their burrows.
June, July, and early August are the perfect months to search for puffins.
4. Go on a RIB boat safari
RIB stands for “Inflexible Inflatable Boat,” and a RIB safari within the Westman Islands is unquestionably one of many high issues to do! An organization referred to as RIBsafari provides these excursions (together with extra conventional boat excursions), taking visitors throughout Heimaey and among the smaller surrounding islands.
The RIB boats go quick, and also you’re inspired to face up (whereas holding on) and dance to blaring music as you journey between factors of curiosity. At every cease, a information will inform you about issues like wildlife, historical past, and anything it’s possible you’ll be interested in.
You will sail out and in of sea caves, and in addition see some well-known rock formations like Elephant Rock on a tour like this.
My good friend and I did the 1-hour RIB Safari on a fantastic sunny August day, and instantly regretted not doing the longer 2-hour tour. It actually was that a lot enjoyable!
5. Play a spherical of golf
I am not a golfer myself, however if you’re you may need to hire some golf equipment and deal with the links-style course at Golfklúbbur Vestmannaeyja. This golf course on the sting of the ocean has arguably among the greatest views on Heimaey; you possibly can see Elephant Rock and nesting puffins as you play!
6. See the black church
Close to the harbor the place the RIB excursions depart from, you will discover a curious picket church: an all black stave church.
Stave church buildings are often present in Norway, and the Stafkirkjan on Heimaey was certainly a present from Norway. The church was gifted to Vestmannaeyjar by Norway within the 12 months 2000 to commemorate the 1000-year anniversary of Iceland’s conversion to Christianity.
The church is positioned in an space often called Skansinn or “The Fort,” which dates again to the 1500s. Right here you possibly can see the place the lava circulation from the 1973 Eldfell eruption was stopped actually in its tracks by a joint effort of US Military and NATO forces who force-cooled the lava utilizing sea water. They saved the Heimaey harbor (and subsequently the entire island’s livelihood) by doing this – although simply barely!
7. Calm down on the swimming pool
Each city in Iceland has a public swimming pool, and Heimaey is not any exception! Whereas there are not any scorching springs or thermal swimming pools to get pleasure from on the island, you possibly can go to the city swimming pool (search for indicators for the “Sundhöll Vestmanneyja”) as a customer.
This pool complicated has a big indoor pool, together with heated out of doors swimming pools, three scorching tubs, and a few epic water slides. The entry payment is round $5 USD per individual. (Simply observe that, as at any public bathtub or pool in Iceland, you will have to bathe absolutely bare earlier than coming into the pool space!)
8. Have drinks and dinner on the town
Should you’re staying in a single day on Heimaey, then you possibly can get pleasure from a meal on the town (seafood is unsurprisingly wonderful right here). Slippurinn is among the top-rated eating places, and we additionally cherished the cocktails and meals at Gott. There’s even a brewery on the island referred to as The Brothers Brewery.
How a lot time do you want within the Westman Islands?
You’ll be able to technically match all of the actions talked about above right into a day journey to the Westman Islands. However, if you wish to absolutely soak every part in and never fear about speeding to make a return ferry, then I like to recommend staying in a single day on Heimaey.
The place to remain on the Westman Islands
Nearly all of lodging choices on Heimaey embody guesthouses and hostels. However just a few choices which might be extremely beneficial embody:
I personally stayed in just a little glamping cabin, which was tremendous cute!
Do I would like a automotive on the Westman Islands?
Many individuals will inform you that you do not NEED a automotive to go to the Westman Islands (and positively the ferry ticket is cheaper for those who’re not bringing a automobile!). However I really disagree. I might suggest that you just do carry a automotive with you to Heimaey for those who’ve already rented one in Iceland.
When you can simply stroll from the ferry dock into city, the island is not *that* small. For instance, for those who wished to stroll to the puffin cliffs on the south finish of the island, it will take you nearly 1.5 hours, with components of it being uphill.
I used to be very comfortable that we determined to being a automotive with us to the Westman Islands, because it made getting round fast and simple. And we had no points discovering parking wherever, regardless of visiting throughout excessive season.
READ NEXT: An Epic 10-Day Iceland Ring Highway Journey Itinerary
Who’s able to plan a visit to the Westman Islands?
