Reykhólar: Boats, birdlife and local history

Maritime traditions, local history and a diverse coastal landscape meet in Reykhólar. The Báta- og hlunnindasýningin is dedicated to eider ducks and old, clinker-built boats in the Breiðafjörður style. In this construction method, the planks overlap—offering a vivid introduction to the boats on display here.

Boats and the use of coastal resources

The Boat and Gift-of-Nature Museum also tells how residents traditionally made use of Breiðafjörður’s rich natural resources. The practices presented include egg collecting, bird hunting, gathering eiderdown, using seaweed and seal hunting for subsistence. These topics illustrate different aspects of a way of life closely connected to the coast’s resources.

The ground floor of the Báta- og hlunnindasýningin also houses the machine collection of Þórhallur Matthíasson from Litlabær in Skötufjörður. The Boat and Gift-of-Nature Museum workshop displays wooden boats with Nordic designs and craft features adapted to seafaring in the region. Anyone interested in boatbuilding can explore both the traditional boats and the craftsmanship behind them.

Boat trips to the islands of Breiðafjörður are available from Reykhólar. If you are planning such a trip, check the dates and departure options in advance.

Jón Thoroddsen and the history of the village

A monument commemorates the poet Jón Thoroddsen, who was born in Reykhólar in 1818. It stands on the old village and settlement hill on the slope between Reykhólakirkja and the Barmahlíð nursing home. Its location connects the memory of the poet with a specific place in the settlement.

Reykhólakirkja also preserves historical artefacts: the church contains the tombstone of sheriff Magnús Arason (1599–1655) and an altarpiece by Lövener dating from 1834. At his mother’s request, Jón Thoroddsen bought the painting in Denmark for the church. In different ways, the village’s history and the church’s furnishings thus lead back to Jón Thoroddsen.

Coastal landscape and birdwatching

The shallow coastal waters, tidal flats, wetlands, marshes and cliffs around Reykhólar provide habitats for a diverse birdlife. Reykhólar is considered a starting point for birdwatching. The landscape and the exhibition about eider ducks offer two different points of connection for anyone interested in birds: habitats outdoors and, in the village, the cultural relationship with them.

There are numerous scenic walking trails in the surrounding area. Hellishólar in Reykhólar also has a Roundscope and disc golf course. The swimming pool is called Grettislaug and is named after Grettir the Strong. The seaweed baths in Reykhólar draw on centuries-old local traditions in which seaweed, coastal resources and geothermal water were used for relaxation and foot baths. As it is not certain whether visitors can access them, check in advance if you are planning a visit.

Plan your visit and choose what interests you

The Boat and Gift-of-Nature Museum’s seasonal schedule provides for daily opening from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 1 to August 30; in winter, visits are by appointment. Check the opening hours before your trip. The museum shop offers local products, baked goods, coffee, tea, books and souvenirs; the selection may change. The Reykhólar District Information Office is in the same building as the boat and natural resources exhibition and Bátakaffi.

When choosing a holiday apartment, your travel interests can help guide you: local history and exhibitions, birdwatching and nearby walking trails, or activities such as swimming, golf and boat trips. If people in your travel group have different interests, you can give each topic a different priority and include them in separate ideas for your days.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Keflavik, Prestbakki, Patreksfjördur, Hnífsdalur, Tálknafjörður, Ísafjörður, Árnes, Hagi

Return to the main travel overview: Westfjords.