In 60 seconds
Nestled along the deep, sheltered waters of Steingrímsfjörður in the eastern Westfjords, Hólmavík is the gateway to the wild and remote Strandir coast. Famed for its Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft, prolific whale-watching in the fjord, driftwood-strewn beaches, and remote coastal hot springs like Krossneslaug situated at the edge of the Arctic Ocean.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You are looking for luxury resort amenities or paved four-lane highways; Strandir is remote and rustic.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Hólmavík & Strandir fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Internationally renowned museum exploring 17th-century Icelandic witch trials, occult grimoires and folk magic
Examine authentic carved rune staves and the famous macabre necropants (Nábrók) folklore exhibit.
World-class whale watching from Hólmavík harbour with frequent encounters with humpback whales in calm waters
Board a traditional passenger boat to watch acrobatic humpback whales feed in the fjord.
Iconic outdoor geothermal swimming pool perched on black pebble beaches right at the edge of the churning Arctic Ocean
Swim in 38°C hot spring water while watching waves crash against driftwood rocks.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
No booking, no ceremony, reliably good.
Atmospheric cafe-restaurant inside the Witchcraft Museum serving hearty traditional fish soups and lamb dishes
Taste homemade creamy seafood soup with rye bread and sweet berry pies.
Cozy coastal restaurant in Drangsnes serving fresh local cod, haddock and arctic char
Enjoy freshly caught fish while looking out across the sea.
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Evocative dining room in a former factory dormitory serving rustic three-course home-cooked dinners
Dine on fresh fjord trout and blueberry pies at the end of the world.
Friendly village cafe in Hólmavík serving fresh espresso, homemade cinnamon rolls and light lunches
Meet local fishermen and travelers over hot coffee.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Three geothermal hot tubs situated directly on the rocky coastal road in the fishing village of Drangsnes
Soak in free public geothermal tubs with views across to Grimsey island.
Traditional turf-and-stone croft in Bjarnarfjörður showing how 17th-century peasant magicians actually lived
Crawl through low timber doorways into turf rooms filled with dried herbs and animal bones.
Ghostly 1930s industrial herring factory in a desolate fjord, now a monumental art exhibition hall and historic hotel
Tour colossal rusty concrete oil tanks and vintage machinery in an eerie fjord setting.
After dark
Intimate bar section of the Sorcery Museum offering Icelandic craft beers and Brennivín aquavit
Sip a cold Einstök ale surrounded by ancient runic staves.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Quaint historic waterfront lined with colorful wooden houses, fish docks and museum buildings
Walk along the pier watching fishing boats return with the day's catch.
Tiny fishing community twenty minutes north known for its roadside hot tubs and puffin island trips
Stroll along the rocky shore watching eider ducks and seals.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Comfortable accommodations located right in town near the harbor and museum
Convenient base for whale watching tours and exploring Strandir.
Historic rustic hotel in Djúpavík or coastal guesthouses in Norðurfjörður
Unforgettable wilderness escape surrounded by waterfalls and mountains.
Practical
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Strandir becomes the focal point of the Icelandic witch trials; twenty-one people are burned at the stake for sorcery.
The immense herring factory at Djúpavík opens, briefly creating a booming industrial hub before the herring collapse.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Puffin sanctuary island accessible by a 10-minute boat trip from Drangsnes
Walk among thousands of nesting puffins with sweeping views of the eastern Westfjords.
Ancient coastal parish at the end of Route 643 where 17th-century witch burnings took place
Explore dramatic coastal hiking trails where immense Siberian driftwood logs wash ashore.
