Vestmannaeyjar is an archipelago of about 15 islands off Iceland's south coast. Heimaey is the largest island and the only inhabited one, and the Herjolfur ferry from Landeyjahofn takes about 35 minutes. The islands are volcanic in origin and lie a short distance offshore from the mainland.
Vestmannaeyjar: an archipelago off the south coast
Vestmannaeyjar sits off the south coast of Iceland as a group of about 15 islands. The archipelago is volcanic in origin. Heimaey is the largest island in the group, and it is the only inhabited one.
The 1973 Eldfell eruption that reshaped Heimaey
The Eldfell eruption on Heimaey began on 23 January 1973 without significant warning. A long fissure opened on the eastern side of the island and forced an overnight evacuation of the population. Residents were evacuated by the fishing fleet that was in harbour at the time.
Lava and ash buried or destroyed hundreds of homes and part of the town. Seawater was pumped onto the advancing lava to slow it and help protect the harbour. The eruption created the new cone named Eldfell.
Eldheimar: the museum built around a buried house
Eldheimar tells the story of the 1973 eruption and its aftermath. The museum is built around a house that was excavated from beneath the ash years after the eruption.
One of the world's largest puffin colonies
Heimaey hosts one of the world's largest Atlantic puffin colonies. Puffins nest in the islands over the summer, roughly May to August. Storhofdi, at the island's southern tip, is a well-known puffin viewing point.
Surtsey: the protected UNESCO island born from the sea
Surtsey is the newest island, formed by an eruption from 1963 to 1967. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008. Surtsey is a protected nature reserve closed to the public, with access only for approved scientific research.
Visiting Vestmannaeyjar and seeing it on a South Coast tour
Heimaey is reached by the Herjolfur ferry from Landeyjahofn, with a crossing of about 35 minutes. A short domestic flight also connects the islands to the mainland. Once there, a Vestmannaeyjar coastal boat tour offers a view back toward the island's cliffs. To compare options, see South Coast tours.
Check the timing
The Driving Distance Calculator helps turn a visit to Vestmannaeyjar off Iceland's south coast into a realistic self-drive day.
