Iceland's Volcanic Island: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

About this experience

Volcanic forces and a deep connection to the sea have both shaped the small Icelandic archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar. On this self-guided audio tour of Heimaey Island, you'll discover how a dramatic 1973 eruption transformed the landscape. You'll also hear about this resilient community that's thrived on fishing for over a thousand years. The tour starts at the Vestmannaeyjar harbour, where you'll learn about the modern town's beginnings, and the arrival of motorised fishing boats in 1906. You'll walk past historic buildings and monuments, including Skansinn fort, built in the 1500s to protect crown property from English merchants and marauders. You'll explore the town's oldest neighbourhood and visit Landakirkja, the historic church that stood defiantly above volcanic ash. The tour ends at the Sea Life Whale Sanctuary, where you'll learn about conservation efforts for beluga whales and the annual tradition of rescuing puffin chicks.

Itinerary

1. Tour stop

   Begin your tour at the Vestmannaeyjar harbour, where the modern town's story starts with the arrival of motorised fishing boats in 1906. Discover how this small Icelandic archipelago built a thriving fishing community that has endured for over a thousand years.

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2. Tour stop

   Walk past Skansinn fort, built in the 1500s to protect crown property from English merchants and marauders. Learn how this historic stronghold has stood watch over the harbour for centuries, weathering the island's turbulent history.

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3. Tour stop

   Visit Landlyst, Iceland's first maternity hospital, built in 1848 to tackle high infant mortality. Discover how this modest building played an outsized role in improving health outcomes for the island's earliest generations.

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4. Tour stop

   Spot the Blátindur memorial wall, a poignant reminder of homes lost beneath the lava. Reflect on the more than 400 houses buried during the 1973 eruption as you take in this quiet tribute to what the island endured.

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5. Tour stop

   Explore Landakirkja, the historic church that stood defiantly above the volcanic ash during the 1973 eruption. Read the message on its cemetery gate, "I live and thou shalt live," a fitting symbol of the island's resilience.

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6. Tour stop

   Pass the historic lighthouse guiding fishing boats safely into Vestmannaeyjar's harbour. Its light has watched over generations of local fishermen navigating the waters that have sustained this island community for over a thousand years.

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7. Tour stop

   Explore Stafkirkjan, the striking black wooden stave church built as a gift from Norway in 2000. Discover how it marks the 1,000th anniversary of Iceland's conversion to Christianity, replicating Norway's medieval Haltdalen stave church using timber, tar, and iron shipped over from different regions of Norway.

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8. Tour stop

   Step into Sagnheimar, the island's folk museum, where interactive exhibits bring Vestmannaeyjar's history to life. Discover stories of the 1627 Turkish pirate raid, the annual Þjóðhátíð festival, and the island's deep ties to fishing and cliff hunting.

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9. Tour stop

   Stop by The Brothers Brewery, a local craft brewpub known for its handcrafted beers celebrating island life. Try the flagship Eldfell/Volcano Red Ale, named for the very eruption that reshaped this island in 1973.

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Know before you go

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels