Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → West Iceland → Stykkishólmur

Location: Snæfellsnes Peninsula, West Iceland

Time Required: 1 – 3 hours

Red Tape/Notes: None.

What’s Nearby?: Kirkjufell, Hellnar, Búðir, Landbrotalaug, Lóndrangar

Stykkishólmur has been a major fishing and trading post since the first trading post was established there in 1550, and the town continues to thrive, with a favorable natural harbor location and a relatively pleasant climate due to the ocean currents (although summers never really get terribly warm, its winters are warmer than those experienced by places like Chicago and Denver). Tourism is also a significant industry for the town, being the largest urban center on the peninsula, and it also offers a ferry to the Westfjords and provides access to Flatey. The combination of long-term success in these industries means the town is extremely picturesque and well worth a stop to appreciate the idyllic quality of its setting and buildings – and also perhaps to have a nice lunch and pick up some supplies. Oh yeah, and some scenes from Walter Mitty were filmed here…the most memorable being the scene where Walter runs out of the bar and jumps into the helicopter (supposedly in Greenland).

Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → West Iceland → Stykkishólmur