Flatey Island
Flatey
A small island in Breiðafjörður bay, home to colourful century-old wooden houses and seabirds. A ferry from Stykkishólmur reaches it in about 1.5 hours.
Flatey is an island about 2 km long that was once a medieval monastery and a centre of learning. The Flatey Book, one of Iceland's most important manuscripts, takes its name from it. The island keeps its 19th-century colourful wooden houses, a small church and Iceland's smallest library. In summer, large numbers of Arctic terns, puffins and other seabirds nest here. The terns dive-bomb intruders, so a hat is recommended. The Baldur ferry leaves Stykkishólmur and takes about 1.5 hours. You can spend a few hours on the island and return on the afternoon boat as a day trip. The island has only one hotel, and private cars are not permitted on the island.
Opening hours
Ferry schedules per Sæferðir's official website
Nearby sights
- Súgandisey Lighthouse
- Stykkishólmur
- Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum
- Helgafell
- Berserkjahraun Lava Field
- Kirkjufell, Snæfellsnes
- Ytri Tunga Seal Beach
- Búðakirkja (Black Church of Búðir)