Hrísey: Island of Peace in the Heart of Eyjafjörður

May 2025

Photo credit: Visit North

In the calm waters of Eyjafjörður, just a short ferry ride from the northern coast of Iceland lies Hrísey — a quiet, car-free island known for its unhurried pace and gentle charm. While bigger destinations might boast more dramatic landscapes, Hrísey offers something different and rarer: stillness, simplicity, and a deep connection to land and sea.

This is not a place you rush through. It's a place you settle into — slowly, like a boat pulling into the harbor.

A Living Island

With just over 100 people, Hrísey is small — but it's no museum piece. It's a living community with homes, gardens, and a long-standing fishing tradition that continues to shape daily life. There's a school, a small shop, and even a seafood processing plant that still hums with quiet purpose.

Locals are friendly, and if you initiate a conversation, don't be surprised if you're offered a cup of coffee and a story or two about the island's past. People here know the tides, the birds, and each other — and they welcome visitors who take the time to notice those things, too.

Walking the Island

The best way to experience Hrísey is on foot. The island stretches just about 7 km from end to end, and walking trails wind through windswept fields, small hills, and along cliffs that drop to the fjord below. No cars, no crowds — just the sound of your steps, the wind in the grass, and seabirds overhead.

Birdwatching is a highlight here. Hrísey is a protected bird sanctuary, home to dozens of species, including arctic terns, ptarmigan, and eider ducks. The absence of predators has made it a haven, especially in summer when nesting season brings life and color to every corner of the island.

There are plenty of scenic hiking routes on the island and on clear days, you can see all the way to Akureyri to the south and Dalvík to the north, with snow-dusted peaks lining the horizon.

Photo credit: Visit North

Photo credit: Visit North

History and Heritage

Hrísey's roots stretch deep into Icelandic history. It was once a trading post, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it thrived as a herring station. The House of Shark Jörundur, a small but lovingly curated museum, tells the story of life on the island — of fishing boats, storms, and the endurance of people who have made a home here for generations.

Old photographs, weathered nets, and family heirlooms fill the rooms, and while the exhibits are modest, the connection they foster is real. You get the sense that Hrísey's history isn't frozen in time — it's passed along, person to person.

Getting There

Hrísey is reached via a 15-minute ferry ride from the village of Árskógssandur, about a 30-minute drive from Akureyri. The ferry runs regularly, and the crossing is part of the experience — a gentle glide across one of Iceland's most beautiful fjords.

Once you're there, everything slows down. And that's the point.

Why It Matters

At Key to Iceland, we celebrate places that ask you to be present. Hrísey isn't dramatic, and it doesn't try to be. It offers something softer: a connection to the land, the sea, and the rhythm of life when it's lived without hurry.

It's the kind of place where you remember what quiet feels like — and why it matters.