Stykkishólmur Travel Guide: Súgandisey Lighthouse, Helgafell, Danish Days and Weather

Stykkishólmur sits on Breiðafjörður Bay, on the north side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in Iceland’s Western Region. It suits travelers who want a harbor town with a lighthouse hill, a mountain view and a lava field close by.

Getting around without a car takes some planning.

At a glance

• Location: north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, on Breiðafjörður Bay
• Region: Western Region, postal codes 340 and 345
• Bus: route 82, weekdays and Sundays, no service on Saturdays
• Lighthouse walk: Súgandisey, with views over Stykkishólmur and Breiðafjörður
• Mountain view: Helgafell, about 240 feet (73 meters) high

Where is Stykkishólmur and what is it like?

Stykkishólmur is in the Western Region, by Breiðafjörður Bay on the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Its postal codes are 340 and 345.

The town is built around its harbor and an old town. Akkeri guesthouse stands in the heart of the old town, and Fransiskus Hótel is next to the harbor.

The landscape around the town is volcanic. Berserkjahraun, a lava field on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, is 4,000 years old.

What is there to do in Stykkishólmur?

Súgandisey and its lighthouse

Súgandisey is a basalt island with a scenic lighthouse and grand views across Breiðafjörður.

You can walk up to the lighthouse for a panoramic view of Stykkishólmur and the bay.

The walk suits anyone who wants to see the town and the water in one look. Go on a clear day, since the view is the point.

Helgafell, Berserkjahraun and Drápuhlíðarfjall

Helgafell is a mountain about 240 feet (73 meters) high with a panoramic view across Breiðafjörður Bay.

Berserkjahraun is a 4,000-year-old lava field on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Drápuhlíðarfjall, at 527 (the unit isn’t given), is a colorful mountain containing basalt and lipite.

Kerlingarskarð is a pass with a troll turned to stone on top. Berserkir & Valkyrjur offer horse riding, biking tours and walking tours for those who want a guide.

Library of Water, Norwegian House and Eider Center

The Library of Water is housed in a former library on a promontory overlooking the ocean and the town. The Norwegian House is at Hafnargata 5.

The Icelandic Eider Center is at Frúarstígur 6.

These stops suit travelers who like small museums and a view over the water.

Eating out and the geothermal pool

Hafnarvagninn, a food truck at the harbor, serves fish and chips. Sjávarpakkhúsið is a seafood restaurant with a view over the harbor and a focus on local ingredients.

Sjávarborg is the place for coffee and homemade cakes. Nesbrauð bakes sourdough and other breads and serves a soup of the day. Bjarnarhöfn Bistro, at the shark museum, serves shark-auge soup as its most distinctive dish.

The town’s geothermal pool has hot tubs, a water slide and a wading pool, so it works for families.

Where to stay in Stykkishólmur

Fosshotel Stykkishólmur, at Borgarbraut 8, has 76 rooms. Fransiskus Hótel, next to the harbor, has 21 rooms. Akkeri is a 6-room guesthouse in the old town, and Hostel Sjónarhóll is a family-run hostel that has been running for almost 30 years.

Stykkishólmur Camping is on the right as you drive into town and has two outdoor showers with hot water. The campsite has 14 water toilets at 2 locations. Camping is the cheapest way to stay, and most campsites are open from May into September.

When should you go to Stykkishólmur?

June is the mildest month of the months covered here: afternoons reach 54°F (12°C), and the month has 7 rainy days. May is close behind at 48°F (9°C). Camping season also starts in May, so both months work for anyone sleeping outdoors.

Winter is colder and damper. January afternoons reach 37°F (3°C), with 14 rainy days. Travelers who dislike gray, wet weather will do better later in spring.

What to know before visiting Stykkishólmur

U.S. citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in Iceland for tourism or business, according to travel.state.gov.

• Passports must have 3 months’ validity beyond the date of departure from the Iceland/Schengen Area, and 6 months is recommended.
• Iceland does not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free entry unless it has 3 months beyond the planned date of departure.
• No vaccinations are required. The travel advisory is Level 1, Exercise normal precautions, and Iceland is generally a safe destination for travelers.
• Bus route 82 links Stykkishólmur with Grundarfjörður, Ólafsvík, Rif and Hellissandur. It runs on weekdays and Sundays, with no service on Saturdays.
• Buses leave Stykkishólmur Sundlaug at 10:06 a.m. and 5:56 p.m. on weekdays, and at 12:31 p.m. and 5:56 p.m. on Sundays.

Booking Stykkishólmur for November: what to know

The town’s winter page invites visitors to book accommodation in Stykkishólmur.