Stykkishólmur Travel Guide

Stykkisholmur is a town of about 1,100 people on the northern shore of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It is a center of service and commerce in the area and the ferry Baldur sails from here to Brjanslaekur in the Westfjords.

Visit this town on a self-drive tour in Iceland.

History of Stykkisholmur

Stykkisholmur has long attracted settlers due to its natural harbor and its access to the fertile fishing grounds of Breiðafjordur.

Because of its early settlement, it features in the Sagas (if not by name), notably Laxdæla Saga, one of the great early works of Icelandic literature. It is one of the earliest European stories with a passionate and powerful female lead Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir, who struggles against a destiny to lose four husbands while trying to keep her children close and safe.

According to the tale, she eventually became the country’s first nun, and, when she died, was buried at Helgafell, a small mountain near Stykkisholmur.

The first proper development for the town, however, came in 1550, with the creation of a trading post. Trading posts were uncommon in Iceland at the time due to the dangers and distances involved with traveling across the Atlantic, but Stykkisholmur’s natural harbor made it possible.

The settlement grew further with the beginning of the Danish Trade Monopoly over Iceland, starting in 1602 and not ending until near the end of the 18th Century. Though the policies of this monopoly disenfranchised and impoverished many Icelanders, it did help the development of towns along the peninsula, such as Stykkisholmur.

In spite of the animosity felt by Icelanders towards the Danish under their colonial rule (a wound that has all but healed in every arena apart from perhaps sports), Stykkisholmur has always boasted good ties with their former rulers.

Every year since 1994, on the third weekend of August, Stykkisholmur holds a ‘Danish Day’, which celebrates the historic and continued relations between the town and country. It is also the sister town of Kolding in Denmark.

Culture at Stykkisholmur

Photo by Stephen Kraakmo

Stykkisholmur is a cultural hub, particularly considering its size. There is a museum called the Norwegian House, which is the oldest two-story building in Iceland, from 1828, and reveals what life was like for wealthy Icelanders of the day. There is also a Volcano Museum and the country’s oldest weather station, dating back to 1845.

Scenes to represent Greenland in the film ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ were shot in Stykkisholmur. In the novel Red Storm Rising, the town was the landing point of American troops liberating Iceland from the clutches of the Soviets.

Top things to do in Stykkisholmur

Photo from 2.5 Hour Baldur Ferry from Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the Westfjords via Flatey Island

Even though Stykkisholmur is small, you can still enjoy the town by doing the following activities:

1. Take a boat tour of the Breiðafjörður Bay: This scenic bay is home to over 3,000 small islands, and taking a boat tour is a great way to see them up close. The tours depart from Stykkishólmur harbor and are available year-round.

2. Walk around town: Stykkishólmur is a charming town with colorful houses and a picturesque harbor. Take a leisurely walk around town to soak up the atmosphere and take some photos.

3. Visit the Library of Water: This unique art installation is located on a hill overlooking the town. It consists of a series of glass columns filled with water collected from glaciers around Iceland.

4. Explore the Snæfellsnes National Park: This park covers a large area of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and is home to some of Iceland's most spectacular natural scenery. Some of the highlights include the Snæfellsjökull glacier, Kirkjufell mountain, and the Djúpalónssandur black sand beach.

5. Visit the Norwegian House: This museum is housed in a historic wooden building that was once the home of a Norwegian merchant. It showcases the history of Stykkishólmur and the surrounding area.

6. Go hiking or birdwatching: There are several hiking trails in and around Stykkishólmur, ranging from easy strolls to more challenging hikes. The area is also home to a wide variety of bird species, making it a great spot for birdwatching.

7. Relax in a hot spring: There are several hot springs in the area, including the Landbrotalaug hot spring. This small pool is located in a beautiful rural setting and is a great place to relax and soak in the warm water.

Surroundings of Stykkisholmur

Stykkisholmur is on the northern side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula and thus close to many incredible natural sites. The two most significant are Mount Kirkjufell and Snaefellsjokull National Park.

Kirkjufell is often nicknamed Iceland’s most photographed mountain; it rises from the edge of the ocean like a pyramid and can be admired from many angles. Particularly pleasant is viewing it from beside the waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss, which trickles nearby.

Snæfellsjökull is one of Iceland’s three National Parks, named after its crowning glacier and volcano. This magnificent, twin-peaked feature has been featured in novels such as Jules Verne’s ‘A Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, and Halldor Laxness’ ‘Under the Glacier.’

It is also steeped in folklore and mystery, said to home the spirit of the peninsula’s guardian spirit and a center of strange energies. This was so much the case that thousands of people, including new crews from the United States, showed up one evening that some theorists predicted an alien craft landing on it.

On the southern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula are many more attractions, such as the Londrangar basalt cliffs, Ytri Tunga seal-watching beach, and the Raudfeldsgja gorge.