Flatey Island: A Day Trip on the Baldur Ferry from Stykkishólmur

Getting to Flatey

Flatey is a small, largely car-free island in Breiðafjörður, the wide bay between Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords. It’s reached on the Baldur ferry, operated by Seatours, which sails from the harbour in Stykkishólmur. In summer (roughly June 1 to August 31) there are two daily sailings, and the ferry continues on to Brjánslækur in the Westfjords after its Flatey call. If you only want to visit the island itself, you need to book a stop in Flatey specifically — some sailings pass through without stopping, so check the schedule and reserve the Flatey stopover when you book, not just a ticket on the boat.

What’s on the island

Flatey’s old village is a cluster of preserved 19th-century timber houses, brightly painted and still used as summer homes by descendants of the original families. Wandering the settlement takes well under an hour, but it’s worth slowing down here — there are no cars to dodge and few fences to walk around. The village also holds Iceland’s oldest surviving library building, a small wooden structure that has stood since the 1800s and still holds its original book collection, though it is not always open to the public.

Birdlife is one of the main draws in season. The island and its surrounding skerries host nesting Arctic terns and Atlantic puffins, along with black guillemots and various shorebirds. Terns nest close to the paths in early-to-mid summer, so keep a respectful distance and watch your head near active colonies.

Doing it as a day trip

The classic pattern is an out-and-back: take a morning sailing from Stykkishólmur, spend a few hours ashore, and catch an afternoon or evening return sailing. Depending on the day’s schedule, the layover in Flatey can run from under two hours up to several — a longer stopover gives more room to walk the whole village, climb to the small church for the bay view, and sit by the harbour before the boat comes back. The crossing itself takes a little over an hour each way, with wide views over the islets of Breiðafjörður along the route.

• Getting there: Baldur ferry (Seatours) from Stykkishólmur harbour; book the Flatey stopover in advance
• Duration: about 1 hour 15 minutes each way by ferry; plan a half-day to full-day round trip
• Season: two daily summer sailings roughly June 1 to August 31; check the current timetable before you go
• What to bring: layered clothing and a windproof jacket, binoculars for birdwatching, cash or card for any small purchases on the island
• Timing tip: early-to-mid summer gives the best chance of active tern and puffin colonies

Where to Stay

The Stykkishólmur Inn sits in the walkable old town of Stykkishólmur, close enough to the harbour that you can walk to the Baldur ferry terminal for an early sailing without needing a car or a taxi. That makes it a practical base for a Flatey day trip — check out of your room, walk down to the dock, and be back in town for dinner after the return crossing. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Salvor Gissurardottir via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5.