Iceland Cruise Guide. Enjoy your Cruise to Iceland!

Icelanders have always known that their country is beautiful, special and unique, and this fact is becoming more and more known throughout the world. The number of visitors to Iceland is steadily increasing. In 2012, 246 cruise ships docked in Iceland, which has thirteen harbours to accommodate these all around the country, each of which have very interesting cities and areas to explore.; small review.

The Westman Islands are an archipelago of about 15 islands and islets, situated in the south of Iceland. The largest island is Heimaey which is 13.4 km2 and is also the only inhabited one, with more than 4,000 inhabitants. There are a few museums you can visit , such as the popular Sagnheimar Culture Museum or the Natural History Museum. You can also climb up the volcano Eldfell, where you can still feel the heat from the eruption in 1973. Join a bus tour of the island or stay in the main town and enjoy the cafes, restaurants, shops or many art galleries the island has to offer.

Hafnarfjordur, a suburb of Reykjavik, is a small town that was built on the lava field that has elapsed from Mount Burfell, more than 7,000 years ago. The center has a small lake and picturesque views.

Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is a charming town that has all the qualities of a capital without the crowds and noise that come with it. There are many shops, cafés, restaurants and museums located in the city center, and we also recommend you to visit one of the swimming pools, for a real Icelandic experience!

North of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Grundarfjörður is perfectly located for visiting the region. This small fishing village is known as the home of the mountain Kirkjufell. A trip around the peninsula is probably the best option,if you have a few hours; you can admire waterfalls glaciers, volcanoes, beaches and possibly even puffins and seals.

Isafjörður is the capital of the westfjords, and has nearly 2600 inhabitants. It is a charming town, with shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels. The old town is made up of many wooden houses dating from the nineteenth century and it is lovely to walk down the main street. If you like history or fishing, the Maritime Museum is an interesting visit; also opt for the old hospital that was turned into a cultural center and offers various exhibitions during the year. The area also has many opportunities for walking and hiking.

The charming village of Siglufjörður in Tröllaskagi Peninsula, is a popular destination in summer. The population of 1200 inhabitants, living mainly from fishing and the growing tourism industry. The museum of traditional Icelandic music and the herring Museum are not to be missed!

Grimsey is a small Icelandic island of about 5 km2 which is situated 41 kilometers north of Iceland. The island is a popular tourist destination, with many travellers coming here solely because it is situated on the Arctic Circle. On the island there is a grocery store, a campsite and a few guesthouses, cafés, galleries and, of course, a swimming pool!

In Akureyri, the second largest city of Iceland, visit the small town center, Listagilið, the arts district of Akureyri, Akureyri Church, and then try the botanical garden, listagarðurinn, where you can admire hundreds of plants and flowers. A dip in the delightful swimming pool is required.

Húsavík is a small town of 2500 inhabitants located in the north of Iceland, best known as the European capital of whale watching. It is possible to see these huge mammals from May to October, approximately. Around Húsavík, there are many amazing places to visit: Myvatn Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss to name a few.

Founded by Norwegian fishermen, the small town of Seyðisfjörður now has 700 inhabitants and lives mainly from fishing and tourism. It is also known for its charming wooden houses, Seyðisfjörður is especially popular for its artistic activity. The visual arts center, Skaftfell, offers year-round exhibitions, discussions and performances, and many events are held here in the summer.

Eskifjörður is a small town of 1100 inhabitants in East Iceland, which gets its name from a fjord surrounded by the mountains Eskja and Hólmatindur. The village is known to house a rare collection of pebbles and larger rocks of Iceland. You can also visit Randulfssjóhús to learn more about fishing, the old mine Helgustaðanáma or inquire at the tourist office to hike in the area.

Djúpivogur is a small village in eastern Iceland, which has 250 inhabitants. It is a good base for exploring the fjords of the east. We advise you to go by boat to the island of Papey, where you will see hundreds of puffins and seals.

Hofn is a small town of 1600 inhabitants located in the south of Iceland, near the famous glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón and Vatnajökull National Park where many hiking opportunities await you.

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Vestmannæyar: The Westman Islands

Vestmannæyar is an archipelago of about 15 islands, located in the south of Iceland (that take 30 minutes to get to by boat from Landeyjahöfn). These islands were formed by submarine volcanic eruptions and most recently, in 1963 the island Surtseyemerged during an eruption. Heimæy (the largest Island of 13.4 km2) is the only Vestmanæyar Island inhibited with a population of more than 4,000 people.

Heimæy island lives mainly from fishing and hunting and is especially well-known for bird hunting (including puffin hunting). With the growing tourism in Iceland, the Westman Islands have become a popular destination in the summertime. On the first weekend in August, when Iceland celebrates the shopkeepers holiday (Verslunarmannahelgi), the Westman Islands host the festival Þjóðhátið í Eyjumthat welcomes between 11,000 and 13,000 people (most of the crowd are Icelanders from the mainland). 

The festival was first celebrated in 1874 while the rest of the Icelandic nation celebrated the millennium of the settlement of Iceland; the bad weather did not allow residents of the Westman Islands to join the party on the mainland of Iceland, so they decided to organise their own festival. Ironically, Þjóðhátið í Eyjum is now one of the largest Icelandic festivals!

The Eldheimar Volcano Museum traces the history of the Eldfell volcano on Heimæy Island, including the most recent eruption on January 23rd, 1973, when a lot of damage was done to the Island and over 360 houses were buried in lava and ash. Archaeologists have been uncovering what remained of the buildings, and the Eldheimar Volcano Museum is built around the remains of one of the homes. 

You’ll be dumbfounded to see that the objects and souvenirs in the ruined houses seem to be intact despite the ash and dust. The entire population was evacuated during the eruption in 1973, that lasted six months, and a majority of people have returned to the island. Today, you can climb up the volcano Eldfell and still feel the heat from the eruption more than forty years later.

The Heimaey island also has the Sagnheimar Folk Museum, and the Natural History Museum and Aquarium. You can get around most of Heimaey on foot, or you can rent a bike. There are also organised bus tours that go around the island and boat tours also. 

The island is very lively, especially in the summertime, with plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops to keep you busy and many art galleries too. It is said that the highest point of the Heimey Island is the windiest place in Iceland.

If you've watched the movie Stormy Weather by film director Sólveig Anspach, you´ve already caught a glimpse of Heimaey Island and its beautiful atmosphere. Djúpið, by film director Baltasar Kormákur, is another movie filmed on Heimæy. This movie tells the true story of Guðlaugur Friðþórsson, a fisherman from the Westman Islands, whose fishing boat capsized, causing him to swim for six hours in cold 5 ° C water, and he miraculously survived. A truly fascinating story!

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