Viðeyjarstofa
18th-century house.
TommyBee — CC0 · Lee Vilenski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · P. León — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lee Vilenski — CC BY-SA 4.0
Viðey is the largest island in Kollafjörður Bay, just outside the capital Reykjavík, about 5 km in a straight line north-east of the city centre. It covers 1.7 square kilometres, its highest point is 32 m above sea level, and a narrow isthmus divides it into a West Island, an East Island and the larger Home Island. The island has archaeological remains from the early 10th century, and an Augustinian monastery stood here from 1225 to 1539. It has Viðeyjarstofa, a house built by the Danish government between 1753 and 1755 and one of the oldest stone buildings in Iceland, as well as a small church. The island is green with grass and bog, grey basalt lines its western and eastern shores, and about 30 bird species breed here, including puffins, fulmars and guillemots. Walking paths follow the coast between small ponds, and from its edges there are views over Reykjavík and Mount Esja. It is reached by ferry, which in summer runs daily from Skarfabakki and Harpa, and in winter from Skarfabakki at weekends only. The wind is cold even in summer, so bring a jacket.
18th-century house.
Among ponds.
Across the bay.
Kollafjörður Bay, Reykjavík, Iceland
By ferry from Skarfabakki or Harpa.
Daily in summer, weekends in winter.