Eldfell
A young volcanic cone about 200 meters high that formed in an eruption in 1973. From the summit, you can overlook half the town and the harbor, both buried by lava.
Eldfell is a volcano that suddenly erupted on the east side of Heimaey on January 23, 1973. The eruption lasted five months, and lava buried about 400 houses. More than 5,000 islanders evacuated overnight by fishing boats. Today the cone is about 200 meters high. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from town to the foot of the mountain, and 30 to 45 minutes to climb the reddish-brown volcanic scoria trail to the top, where the ground still retains geothermal warmth. From the summit, you can see Herjólfsdalur, the harbor, and the glaciers on the mainland. The scoria is loose, so stick to marked routes and wear non-slip shoes. Keep warm when it is windy.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Eldheimar Volcano Museum
- Helgafell
- Skansinn & Stave Church
- Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary
- Sagnheimar Folk Museum
- Heimaklettur
- Vestmannaeyjar Boat Tour
- Landakirkja