About the Port
Heimaey, the only inhabited island of Iceland's Westman archipelago off the southern coast, rises from the North Atlantic in dramatic cliffs and dark lava fields. In 1973, a sudden volcanic eruption buried part of the town under ash and rock, forcing a swift evacuation; today the Eldheimar museum preserves an excavated home as a window into that event. Nearby, the younger island of Surtsey, formed by eruptions in the 1960s and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be viewed by boat from the harbor.
Modern Heimaey has been rebuilt atop and around its volcanic scars, its compact town center within easy walking distance of the pier. Colorful rooftops sit beneath the still-warm lava that reshaped the coastline, while sea cliffs nearby shelter one of the region's notable puffin colonies. The island's layered history of eruption, evacuation, and resilience makes for a compelling, unhurried visit into Icelandic life at the edge of the sea.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Heimaey.
Climb Eldfell Volcano
Hike the reddish cinder cone that erupted in 1973, a short walk from town, for sweeping views over the harbor, lava fields, and neighboring islands.
Tour Eldheimar Museum
Walk through the excavated home buried by ash, built directly over the site, for an intimate look at the eruption's human toll and the town's recovery.
Spot Puffins on the Cliffs
Head to the sea cliffs above town or join a short boat trip to see one of Iceland's largest puffin colonies nesting in the rock ledges.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Heimaey
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2026 | Swan Hellenic | SH Diana | 11 | $7,100 | |
| Aug 18, 2026 | Ritz Carlton | Evrima | 10 | $16,900 | |
| May 17, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 10 | $11,560 | |
| May 22, 2027 | Holland America | Zuiderdam | 14 | $2,504 | |
| May 27, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $9,730 | |
| May 29, 2027 | Holland America | Zuiderdam | 7 | $1,314 | |
| May 29, 2027 | Holland America | Zuiderdam | 14 | $2,329 | |
| Jun 3, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $9,870 | |
| Jun 5, 2027 | Atlas Ocean Voyages | World Voyager | 7 | $6,236 | |
| Jun 6, 2027 | Holland America | Rotterdam | 14 | $2,754 | |
| Jun 7, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Venture | 40 | $43,298 | |
| Jun 8, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | L'Austral | 10 | $11,400 | |
| Jun 13, 2027 | Holland America | Rotterdam | 7 | $1,509 | |
| Jun 13, 2027 | Holland America | Rotterdam | 14 | $2,884 | |
| Jun 18, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | L'Austral | 11 | $11,830 | |
| Jun 19, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Venture | 28 | $31,598 | |
| Jun 25, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vela | 14 | $11,799 | |
| Jun 28, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sea | 7 | $7,299 | |
| Jun 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Pride | 17 | $13,260 | |
| Jun 29, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | L'Austral | 10 | $10,760 |
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