Vestmannaeyjabær

Province ·🇮🇸 Iceland

Population 4,284

Area 16 km²

Time zone Atlantic/Reykjavik

Official website www.vestmannaeyjar.is

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Explore Vestmannaeyjabær

Vestmannaeyjabær Essentials

Vestmannaeyjabær showcases Iceland's dramatic volcanic history on the island of Heimaey. The Eldheimar museum preserves homes buried during the 1973 Eldfell eruption, while the Eldfell and Helgafell cones offer hiking trails over recent lava fields. Stórhöfði serves as a major puffin nesting site and one of Europe’s windiest locations. The archipelago also includes the UNESCO-listed Surtsey, formed in 1963, and a stave church gifted by Norway. Visitors can climb Heimaklettur for harbor views or explore the Sæheimar Aquarium’s local marine life and rescued puffins.

9 places

Volcanic Landscapes of Heimaey

The Westman Islands offer a concentrated look at Iceland’s volcanic activity and coastal erosion. This selection features Eldfell, the cone formed during the 1973 eruption that nearly destroyed Heimaey's harbor, and the older, dormant Helgafell. The list also includes Surtsey, a UNESCO World Heritage site created by undersea eruptions in the 1960s, and Heimaklettur, the archipelago's highest peak composed of palagonite tuff. These sites illustrate the geological transition from ancient sea cliffs to newly formed lava fields and sea caves.

5 places