Hólmavík, Iceland: Mini Guide on Where to Go, Eat & Stay
One of my favorite towns in the Westfjords is Hólmavík, one of the first towns you’ll approach if you’re coming from the Northern edge of the RIng Road if you’re driving counterclockwise (the most common circumnavigation route).
For me, it came at the end of a week in Western Iceland and the Westfjords and it was the perfect finale before heading back to busier sights along the Ring Road and back near Reykjavik.
| 🇮🇸 Planning a trip to Holmavík? Here are my quick picks if you’re planning in a hurry! 🏨 Where to Stay: – Gistihús Hólmavíkur ($$, guesthouse, includes breakfast) – Finna Hótel: ($, hotel, breakfast additional price) – Seafront House: ($$$, rental home, self-catering possible) 🐋 What to Do: – Whale Watching with Láki Tour (humpbacks & orcas possible!) – Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft (top attraction in town!) – Sea Kayaking or Horseback Riding in Heydalur (20 min. drive) 🚗 Getting Around: You’ll definitely need to rent a car when visiting remote parts of Iceland like Holmavík. I recommend renting a car with Discover Cars; however, skip their full-coverage insurance and instead buy a la carte insurance from whichever rental provider you book with. This is because you’ll want to buy individual insurances such as windshield insurance, etc. as Iceland presents some unique risks for driving that you ought to be separately insured for. |
Hólmavík is a compact but packed town with a few things going for it. It’s not a place you’ll stay for a very long time — it is rather small, after all — but the things that it does have going for it are pretty unique and not easily replicable elsewhere in Iceland, so it is worth a stop.
From whale watching to quirky museums to its charming church to fjord kayaking, here are the best things to do in and around lovely Hólmavík, as well as where to eat and where to stay if you are making more than a brief visit.
What to Do in Hólmavík
Go whale watching on the fjord
I’ve written a full post about my experience whale watching in Hólmavík so if you want all the details I’ll direct you to read that post for even more information.
However, for just a quick overview, know that this is a place where you can see humpback whales with no other boats around — literally not a one, as there is only one boat company operating whale watching tours in Holmavík, which is a far cry from what you’ll experience elsewhere in Iceland.
If you visit in April or May, you also have the chance to possibly see orca whales; however, this is a bit of a difficult time to visit the Westfjord region as it doesn’t really fully open up until June, so Holmavík is better suited as a detour from a Ring Road itinerary rather than as a gateway or ending point of a Westfjords road trip.
There are other sorts of whales you can see throughout the year, including minke whales and even sperm whales if the weather is calm enough to go into the deeper parts of the fjord.
As for what whale watching company to go with, the answer is pretty simple: the only one in town. But despite it being the de facto default option, they’re an incredible tour company and I can promise you’ll love your day out on the water with Láki Tours. They’re a great ethical whale watching company that operates both in Holmavik and in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Check out the local church (and its rainbow steps!)
Iceland does have a penchant for making lovely churches against even lovelier backdrops, and in Holmavík there’s no exception.
In fact, this church is even more iconic for its rainbow staircase leading up to the church, which is placed on a hill jutting above the town for even better views over the fjord.
Visiting the church is free and it’s one of the most photogenic spots in town so it’s a no-brainer for your visit!
Step back in time at the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
A must-stop is the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft, a unique place in the region of Strandir, which has been one of Iceland’s biggest hotspots for folklore and the supernatural.
Strandir is where the first execution for sorcery took place in 1652. A witch hunt then swept the region for the rest of the 17th century, taking the lives of 16 men and 1 woman.
But easily the most famous (and grossest) part of this museum is the replica of the “Necropants,” made of a dead man’s skin and said to guarantee the wearer an unending flow of money so long as he wears them… as much as I do love money, personally, I’ll pass.
Explore the town’s charms
Hólmavík is a bit of a large ‘town’ by Westfjords standards. Meaning it’s got about 400 people living there!
While that definitely isn’t a lot by most standards, for this remote region of Iceland, it’s actually a pretty big hub for other more remote towns in the Westfjords. This means it has more restaurants and other options than you’ll find in many places… okay, still not that many, but at least more than one.
The most popular place to eat in town is Galdur Brugghús, which is simultaneously a brewery, taproom, and a restaurant serving pub food. Another option is Café Riis Hólmavík, which has bistro classics and also pizza.
Wander the harbor area
Hólmavík very much embodies the quintessential Icelandic fishing town and it’s always charming to walk along the fjord’s edge and see the small businesses and homes along the water’s edge as well as, of course, the views out onto the water.
You can look onto the peninsula where the town of Drangsnes is, and, off in the distance you can even spot the small, almost-hat-shaped island of Grimsey Island, a nature reserve that houses a lot of puffins during their migration.
Soak in the Drangsnes Hot Pots
Speaking of Drangsnes, you ought ot make the 25-minute drive detour to the Drangsnes Hot Pots, which are a few hot tubs that have been placed along the coast so that they almost blend in with the rocky shore… but of course, it being Iceland, the water is all natural and heated by geothermal power.
It’s really nice to sit in these hot pots and soak with a view of Hólmavík from the other side. And best of all, it’s completely free to enjoy these geothermal tubs!
Go to Heydalur for a kayak or horse ride
OK, this is another place outside of Hólmavík but it’s only a 20-minute drive and very few people have Heydalur on their radar (even though they should!) so I am going to suggest it anyway.
In Heydalur, you can go sea kayaking (what I did) or go horseback riding (which I did in Þingeyri instead, but loved and think would be great anywhere in the Westfjords. You can organize the activities online here.
On my sea kayaking cruise I got to see both seals and even the last of the puffins before they finished their migration period in Iceland! It was magical.
Where to Stay in Holmavik
There aren’t a ton of options, but if you plan to stay the night here, here are the best choices:
- Gistihús Hólmavíkur: Right near the Witchcraft Museum, this is a traditional Icelandic guesthouse with great sea views, although the rooms can be a bit small. A delicious breakfast is included, helpful in Iceland where everything is rather costly.
- Finna Hótel: Charming, affordable, and centrally located with great fjord views from around the property and some rooms even have their own sea view. However, breakfast is not included and is rather pricy, so it evens out the savings on the hotel room.
- Seafront House: While I try to generally recommend hotels over vacation rentals to support small businesses and local economies, I understand that for many large families or for those who need to cook for themselves for dietary purposes, staying in a rental home is the only real option. This house has excellent reviews and epic vistas — some past guests even reported being able to spot orcas from the porch using the provided binoculars!
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
