Iceland's Volcanic Island: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Iceland Volcanic Island Self Guided Walking Tour 2

Iceland's Volcanic Island: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

By VoiceMap Audio Tours

Features

1h 30m
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation

Overview

Volcanic forces and a deep connection to the sea have both shaped the small Icelandic archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar. On this self-guided audio tour of Heimaey Island, you'll discover how a dramatic 1973 eruption transformed the landscape. You'll also hear about this resilient community that's thrived on fishing for over a thousand years. The tour starts at the Vestmannaeyjar harbour, where you'll learn about the modern town's beginnings, and the arrival of motorised fishing boats in 1906. You'll walk past historic buildings and monuments, including Skansinn fort, built in the 1500s to protect crown property from English merchants and marauders. You'll explore the town's oldest neighbourhood and visit Landakirkja, the historic church that stood defiantly above volcanic ash. The tour ends at the Sea Life Whale Sanctuary, where you'll learn about conservation efforts for beluga whales and the annual tradition of rescuing puffin chicks.

Activity location

Básaskersbryggja
- Básaskersbryggja
- 900, Vestmannaeyjar, Vestmannaeyjabær, Iceland

Meeting/Redemption Point

Básaskersbryggja
- Básaskersbryggja
- 900, Vestmannaeyjar, Vestmannaeyjabær, Iceland

Check availability

Iceland's Volcanic Island: A Self-Guided Walking Tour in English

1h 30m
Opening hours: Sat 0:00-23:59
English

Travellers

Language options: English

Price details

RM 36.78 x 1 AdultRM 36.78

Total

What's included, what's not

Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
App for Android and iOS
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour

Know before you book

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Ægisgata 1 (Pass by)

Begin your tour at the Vestmannaeyjar harbour, where the modern town's story starts with the arrival of motorised fishing boats in 1906. Discover how this small Icelandic archipelago built a thriving fishing community that has endured for over a thousand years.

Skansinn (Pass by)

Walk past Skansinn fort, built in the 1500s to protect crown property from English merchants and marauders. Learn how this historic stronghold has stood watch over the harbour for centuries, weathering the island's turbulent history.

Landlyst Museum (Pass by)

Visit Landlyst, Iceland's first maternity hospital, built in 1848 to tackle high infant mortality. Discover how this modest building played an outsized role in improving health outcomes for the island's earliest generations.

Blátindur (Pass by)

Spot the Blátindur memorial wall, a poignant reminder of homes lost beneath the lava. Reflect on the more than 400 houses buried during the 1973 eruption as you take in this quiet tribute to what the island endured.

Landa Church (Pass by)

Explore Landakirkja, the historic church that stood defiantly above the volcanic ash during the 1973 eruption. Read the message on its cemetery gate, "I live and thou shalt live," a fitting symbol of the island's resilience.

Heimaey Lighthouse (Pass by)

Pass the historic lighthouse guiding fishing boats safely into Vestmannaeyjar's harbour. Its light has watched over generations of local fishermen navigating the waters that have sustained this island community for over a thousand years.

Stafkirkjan (Pass by)

Explore Stafkirkjan, the striking black wooden stave church built as a gift from Norway in 2000. Discover how it marks the 1,000th anniversary of Iceland's conversion to Christianity, replicating Norway's medieval Haltdalen stave church using timber, tar, and iron shipped over from different regions of Norway.

Sagnheimar Folk Museum (Pass by)

Step into Sagnheimar, the island's folk museum, where interactive exhibits bring Vestmannaeyjar's history to life. Discover stories of the 1627 Turkish pirate raid, the annual Þjóðhátíð festival, and the island's deep ties to fishing and cliff hunting.

The Brothers Brewery (Pass by)

Stop by The Brothers Brewery, a local craft brewpub known for its handcrafted beers celebrating island life. Try the flagship Eldfell/Volcano Red Ale, named for the very eruption that reshaped this island in 1973.

Location

Activity location

Básaskersbryggja
- Básaskersbryggja
- 900, Vestmannaeyjar, Vestmannaeyjabær, Iceland

Meeting/Redemption Point

Básaskersbryggja
- Básaskersbryggja
- 900, Vestmannaeyjar, Vestmannaeyjabær, Iceland

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