Eyrarbakki: Historic Houses and Coastal Paths

Eyrarbakki brings together preserved homes from Iceland’s recent history, museums and paths leading out into nature. The historic settlement and architectural conservation area includes one of Iceland’s most complete and coherent surviving settlements of workers’ houses from around and after 1900. Many preserved houses in Eyrarbakki date from 1890 to 1920. Seeing them gives the impression of travelling back about a hundred years—a special start to a stay for anyone interested in history and everyday life.

Houses and Church Art

Húsið is a historic merchant’s house in Eyrarbakki, built in 1765. It is one of the three protected buildings in the historic architectural conservation area. The house features an exhibition or reconstruction of the domestic life of a merchant family in the 19th century. Here, you can encounter both the history of the building and a portrayal of family life at the time. Eyrarbakkakirkja is also one of the three protected buildings. A remarkable feature of its furnishings is the altarpiece painted by Queen Louise of Denmark. Those interested in historic houses and church art will find different aspects of local history here.

Insights into Life on Iceland’s South Coast

The Eyrarbakki Maritime Museum is devoted to the history of the seafarers on Iceland’s South Coast, who went out to sea every day in rowing boats. Its largest exhibit is the twelve-oared rowing boat Farsæll, built in 1915. Alongside this large object, an old seaman’s chest offers a direct encounter with individual items: visitors are allowed to handle various objects from it. This opportunity to touch things yourself makes the museum visit different from an exhibition that can only be viewed. The exhibition at Kirkjubær offers another historical perspective. It shows everyday life and social innovations in the region from 1920 to 1940.

Coastal Paths and Nature

For outdoor activities, Fjörustígurinn offers a clearly defined route: it is four kilometres long and runs between Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki. The route offers recreation in nature and views of the coast, and can be used for walking or cycling. In the wider region, the South Coast Lighthouse Trail passes through Eyrarbakki, among other places. The trail is just under 50 kilometres long and runs from Selvogsviti Lighthouse to Knarrarósviti Lighthouse. Travellers can drive along the trail, hike along the coast, run or cycle. The two distances represent different scales: four kilometres for Fjörustígurinn and just under 50 kilometres for the regional lighthouse trail.

Northwest of Eyrarbakki, a path leads through the Hallskot recreation forest into the Flói Bird Protection Area. It is an important breeding ground, particularly for wetland birds, and BirdLife International classifies it as an Important Bird Area. So, alongside architectural and everyday history, nature and birdlife offer their own attractions. When choosing a holiday destination with a vacation rental, you can consider whether historic houses and exhibitions or paths and landscapes should play a greater part in your stay. Eyrarbakki offers ways to enjoy both.

Discover More Places

More destinations: Sólheimar, Kálfafell, Vestmannaeyjabær, Grafarkirkja, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Hella, Keldur, Skálholt.

Back to the main travel overview: Sudurland.