Stykkishólmur: Houses, Water and Island Views

Stykkishólmur invites you to discover Icelandic residential and art history, as well as the birdlife and views on Súgandisey. There are also activities focused on water and nature, so a trip here can have many different focal points. Families will find a variety of topics to explore together – from a historic home to glacial water, eider ducks and puffins.

House History and Art in Town

Norska húsið is Iceland’s first two-storey residential house. It was built in 1832 from cut timber brought from Norway. A permanent exhibition recreates the home of Árni Ó. Thorlacius (1802–1891) and Anna Magdalena Steenback (1807–1894), as it is thought to have looked in the second half of the 19th century. This makes the house a tangible glimpse into a historic domestic setting: the focus is not only on the building itself, but also on what a home of the time might have been like.

The old houses in the town centre also shape Stykkishólmur. You can explore them on foot and learn about their history along the way. Vatnasafn / Library of Water, a long-term installation by Roni Horn in a former library, offers a different way to engage with art and nature. It comprises 24 glass columns filled with water from the ice of several of Iceland’s major glaciers. Visitors to the Library of Water can also view a selection of Roni Horn’s books in the “To Place” series, created in Iceland, and listen to selected stories people have shared about the weather. For families who enjoy exploring questions together, the topics range from domestic culture to ice, water and weather.

The Icelandic Eider Center is a modern museum and knowledge centre. Visitors can learn about eider ducks and historic and current methods of harvesting eiderdown. Those interested in the relationship between nature and human use will find a distinct topic here alongside the town’s architectural and art history.

Súgandisey: Birdlife, Views and a Lighthouse

Súgandisey offers views over Breiðafjörður and Stykkishólmur and is rich in birdlife. A path leads from the harbour area to the island, and walking up is popular. This is a different way to experience the town from visiting a museum: the focus here is on the island, birdlife and views across the water. The lighthouse on Súgandisey also has its own history. It was built in 1897 on Grótta near Seltjarnarnes and moved to Súgandisey in 1942.

Kontiki offers short kayak tours from Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. On excursions accompanied by Kontiki, participants look for puffins, seals and shipwrecks while learning about the history and geology of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You can choose between kayaking and excursions focused on nature and history; the experiences described cater to different interests.

Choose Accommodation Based on the Experience You Want

If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Stykkishólmur, let the focus of your trip guide your choice of location: are you mainly interested in house history, art and insights into eiderdown harvesting, or would you also like to explore the island and activities on the water?

For your wider search, you can also explore Brimilsvellir, Borgarnes, Snóksdalur, Grundarfjördur, Miklholt, Budhir, Hellnar and Akrar.

For the regional travel overview: Vesturland.