If you are on the lookout for a novel spot to go to in Iceland with unbelievable landscapes and an attention-grabbing historical past that hasn’t been to achieved to loss of life by each different vacationer, permit 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 largest and solely inhabited island within the chain is Heimaey, which has a inhabitants of about 4300 individuals.
And you possibly can simply go to Heimaey Island as a part of a tour of Iceland’s South Coast, or as a slight detour from a Ring Road street journey.
Westman Islands vs. Heimaey Island
“Vestmannaeyjar,” or the “Westman Islands” seek advice from the entire archipelago of volcanic islands positioned off the south shore of Iceland. Heimaey Island is the biggest of the Westman Islands, and is the one island that’s inhabited – and can also be the primary island that vacationers can go to. (The city on the island can also be simply often called Heimaey.)
So, when somebody says “I’m going to the Westman Islands,” they in all probability imply that they will Heimaey. It’s frequent for guests to Iceland to seek advice from Heimaey as “the Westman Islands.”
How to get to the Westman Islands
While you technically can fly to Vestmannaeyjar (there are every day flights from Reykjavik on Eagle Air), the preferred approach to get there’s 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 very least 7 occasions per day between Landeyjahöfn and Heimaey throughout good climate. (Note that in tough winter climate, the ferry generally sails from Þorlákshöfn as a substitute.)
You can discover extra data on ferry costs and the crusing schedule right here. (And sure, I undoubtedly advocate reserving ferry tickets upfront in case you plan to take a automotive with you!)
When to go to the Westman Islands
You can go to the Westman Islands year-round because the ferry runs year-round, however summer time is excessive season right here. Not solely is the climate essentially the most favorable throughout the summer time months, however May-August can also be when 1000’s of puffins nest on Heimaey. In reality, extra puffins nest on this one island than in every other a part of Iceland.
So if you wish to see puffins, take pleasure in lengthy days, and have one of the best likelihood of fine climate, you may wish to go to the Westman Islands in the summertime.
Things to do within the Westman Islands (on Heimaey Island)
Once you get to Heimaey, listed below are the highest issues I personally assume are value doing there:
1. Visit 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 ceaselessly occurred within the early morning hours of January 23, 1973, when a previously-unknown volcano dubbed Eldfell (“Hill of Fire”) erupted violently.
Through a stroke of eerie luck, a storm yesterday had stored all of the native fishing boats in Heimaey’s harbor, and all the island’s 5300 inhabitants had 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 properties that had been buried in ash and different volcanic particles.
To absolutely perceive Heimaey and its individuals, you could go to this museum and perceive the lasting impact this occasion had on the Westman Islands.
2. Hike a volcano
Speaking 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.
(If 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. Look for puffins
Like I discussed above, tons of puffins nest on Heimaey every summer time. There’s a bulbous little bit of land known as Stórhöfði on the southern finish of Heimaey Island the place the vast majority 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.
During the summer time months, the puffins are tremendous straightforward to identify right here – simply be quiet and hold your distance from their burrows.
June, July, and early August are one of the best months to search for puffins.
4. Go on a RIB boat safari
RIB stands for “Rigid Inflatable Boat,” and a RIB safari within the Westman Islands is unquestionably one of many high issues to do! An organization known as RIBsafari gives 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 let you know about issues like wildlife, historical past, and anything you might be interested in.
You’ll 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 pal and I did the 1-hour RIB Safari on a wonderful 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’m not a golfer myself, however if you’re you may wish 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
Near the harbor the place the RIB excursions depart from, you may discover a curious wood church: an all black stave church.
Stave church buildings are normally present in Norway, and the Stafkirkjan on Heimaey was certainly a present from Norway. The church was gifted to Vestmannaeyjar by Norway within the yr 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. 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 Army 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. Relax on the swimming pool
Every city in Iceland has a public swimming pool, and Heimaey isn’t any exception! While there are not any sizzling springs or thermal swimming pools to take pleasure in 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 sizzling tubs, and a few epic water slides. The entry charge is round $5 USD per particular person. (Just observe that, as at any public tub or pool in Iceland, you may must bathe absolutely bare earlier than getting into the pool space!)
8. Have drinks and dinner on the town
If you are staying in a single day on Heimaey, then you possibly can take pleasure in a meal on the town (seafood is unsurprisingly glorious 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 known as The Brothers Brewery.
How a lot time do you want within the Westman Islands?
You can technically match all of the actions talked about above right into a day journey to the Westman Islands. But, 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.
Where to remain on the Westman Islands
The majority of lodging choices on Heimaey embody guesthouses and hostels. But just a few choices which are extremely beneficial embody:
I personally stayed in somewhat glamping cabin, which was tremendous cute!
Do I want a automotive on the Westman Islands?
Many individuals will let you know that you do not NEED a automotive to go to the Westman Islands (and positively the ferry ticket is cheaper in case you’re not bringing a automobile!). But I really disagree. I’d advocate that you simply do carry a automotive with you to Heimaey in case you’ve already rented one in Iceland.
While you possibly can simply stroll from the ferry dock into city, the island is not *that* small. For instance, in case you needed 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.
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Who’s able to plan a visit to the Westman Islands?