Stykkishólmur is a town of about 1,100 people located on the northern shore of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Surrounded by wild Icelandic nature, it can be a base for visiting such natural wonders as Kirkjufell and Snæfellsjökull National Park.
However, the most important thing from a tourist’s perspective is that it is from here that ferries depart to Flatey Island and on to Brjanslaekur on the peninsula of Vestfirðir (Westfjords). The ferry ride takes about 3 hours, and there is a restaurant on board, a children’s corner available and, of course, free WiFi.
Ferry tickets can be purchased online at https://www.seatours.is/ This should be done as early as possible, as the ferry has limited capacity and tickets (especially car tickets) sell out quickly.
The price per adult (21 years and older) in the summer season is 5760 ISK, or about 180 PLN. For a car (up to 5 meters in length) you will pay the same amount. Children under 15 years of age sail for free, and young people aged 16-20 have a 50% discount. Disabled people and those over 67 receive a 20% discount.
Stykkisholmur – tips and practical information
- The city has a wide range of accommodation facilities with suggestions for every budget: hotels, youth hostels, guesthouses, camping.
- Despite its small size, Stykkisholmur is a well-known cultural center. The town has a museum called the Norwegian House – it is the oldest (dating from 1828) two-story building in Iceland.
- There is also a golf course, the Volcano Museum and the oldest weather station in the country, dating back to 1845.
- Stykkishólmur boasts a magnificent swimming pool, which includes an indoor and outdoor pool, a large water slide and a Jacuzzi with water with medicinal properties.
- Like other points on the map of Iceland, Stykkisholmur also delighted filmmakers and writers, The town was used for scenes depicting Greenland in the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In the novel Red Storm Rising, the town was the landing point for American troops freeing Iceland from the clutches of the Soviets.
- The town is also the gateway to explore the countless islands of Breidafjordur Bay, which is famous for its natural beauty and extraordinary wildlife and abundance of fish. Wanting to admire the beauty of the area, tourists can use kayaks or tour boats.
- Stykkisholmur supports ecology and cares about the environment. Along with four other municipalities on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, it is the first community in Europe to be EarthCheck environmentally certified. It is also the first municipality in Iceland to begin sorting waste and the first city on the island to receive the prestigious Blue Flag environmental seal.
How to get to Stykkisholmur
You can reach Stykkisholmur by road 58, departing north from road 56 on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, about 30 km west of the village of Grundarfjordur.
You can also get here from Reykjavik by bus from the state-owned Straeto company (line 57 and change in Borgarnes to line 58). Such a trip is about 3 hours in total. During the summer season, direct buses are run.
