Stykkishólmur is the main town on the northern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, a harbour of about 1,200 people on Breiðafjörður bay, roughly 175 kilometres from Reykjavík. It is known for its natural harbour, a cluster of colourful old timber houses, and the Baldur car ferry that crosses Breiðafjörður to Flatey island and on to the Westfjords. This guide covers the drive, the harbour and Súgandisey, the old town, the ferry, and using the town as a base for the peninsula.
Stykkishólmur at a glance
The essentials before you plan a stay.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Snæfellsnes peninsula, on Breiðafjörður, West Iceland |
| Population | About 1,200 |
| From Reykjavík | About 175 km, roughly two and a half hours |
| Known for | Natural harbour, colourful old houses, the Baldur ferry |
| Landmarks | Norska húsið (1832), Súgandisey, Stykkishólmskirkja (1990) |
| Ferry | Baldur across Breiðafjörður to Flatey and Brjánslækur |
Getting to Stykkishólmur
Stykkishólmur sits about 175 kilometres northwest of Reykjavík, roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive. The route runs north out of the city and then along the north side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, with the last stretch turning off toward the coast at the town. The roads are paved, though winter weather can slow the drive, so it is worth checking conditions before setting off. The town is compact, and once there you can reach the harbour, the old houses, and Súgandisey on foot.
The harbour and Súgandisey
Stykkishólmur grew around a natural harbour that has made it a fishing and trading centre for a long time, and the first trading post here was founded in 1550. Sheltering the harbour is Súgandisey, a small basalt island reached on foot by a stone causeway from the quay. A short climb leads to the top, where a lighthouse stands and the view opens over the town, the harbour, and the islands of Breiðafjörður. It is the easiest high viewpoint in town and a common spot to watch the light over the bay.
The old town and the Norwegian House
The streets above the harbour hold a cluster of restored timber houses painted in strong colours, which give the old part of Stykkishólmur its character. The best known is Norska húsið, the Norwegian House, built in 1832 by the merchant Árni Thorlacius from timber shipped in from Norway. It was the first house in Iceland with two full storeys of timber, and today it holds the regional museum for the Snæfellsnes area. On a rise above the town stands Stykkishólmskirkja, a modernist church of white curves and arches consecrated in 1990, with an altarpiece painted by Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir.
The Baldur ferry to Flatey and the Westfjords
Stykkishólmur is the southern end of the car ferry Baldur, which crosses Breiðafjörður to Brjánslækur in the Westfjords and calls at Flatey island on the way. Breiðafjörður is a broad bay and nature reserve between Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords, about 125 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide at its widest, scattered with countless islands and skerries. The full crossing takes about two and a half hours, and in summer you can break the trip at Flatey, the only island in the bay still lived on year-round, with its old restored houses. It is worth booking ahead if you are taking a vehicle across.
Using Stykkishólmur as a base
Stykkishólmur, sometimes called the capital of Snæfellsnes, works well as a base for the northern side of the peninsula, with its harbour, places to stay, and services within reach of the coast, the mountains, and the ferry. A car lets you fold the town into a wider loop of Snæfellsnes, while guided day trips from Reykjavík reach it too if you would rather not drive the highway stretch. Operators set their own prices and popular trips fill up in summer, so it is worth comparing current Snæfellsnes tours before you book.
Estimate the road time
Use the Driving Distance Calculator to work out how much driving time to allow around Stykkishólmur: harbour town and ferry base on Snæfellsnes.
