About the Port
Vestmannaeyjar sits off Iceland's south coast, a cluster of volcanic islands whose main settlement, Heimaey, was reshaped by a 1973 eruption that buried part of the town beneath ash and lava. Visitors can walk streets flanked by rock still warm with memory, climb the young cone of Eldfell for sweeping views over harbor and sea, and see excavated homes preserved as they were left, an ongoing exhibit sometimes likened to a northern Pompeii. Offshore, the island of Surtsey, born of eruption in the 1960s, remains a protected natural laboratory visible only from a distance.
The islands also host one of the North Atlantic's great puffin colonies, drawing birders to nearby cliffs in warmer months, alongside a small aquarium and folk museum near the harbor. The town center lies within easy walking distance of the pier, making Heimaey's compact grid of cafés, church, and waterfront simple to explore on foot.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Vestmannaeyjar.
Explore Eldheimar Museum
Walk among homes excavated from the 1973 ash fall, preserved mid-life as a rare window into the eruption's suddenness. Located a short stroll from the harbor, it rewards an hour or so of unhurried viewing.
Hike Eldfell's Summit Trail
A steady 20-30 minute climb up loose volcanic scoria leads to panoramic views over Heimaey's harbor, rooftops, and the open Atlantic. Wear sturdy shoes; the ground stays sun-warmed from lingering geothermal heat.
Scout the Puffin Cliffs
Storm Petrel-like whirs of wingbeats fill the air near Stórhöfði and the sea cliffs, home to one of the North Atlantic's densest puffin colonies. Best visited on foot or by short local transfer during nesting months.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Vestmannaeyjar
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 10 | $11,560 | |
| May 27, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $9,730 | |
| Jun 3, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $9,870 | |
| Jul 9, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | L'Austral | 7 | $7,700 | |
| Jul 16, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | L'Austral | 7 | $7,240 | |
| Jul 19, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Wind | 13 | $15,470 | |
| Jul 22, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $9,730 | |
| Jul 23, 2027 | Ponant Cruises | L'Austral | 7 | $7,700 | |
| May 22, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 10 | $11,880 | |
| Jun 1, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $10,090 | |
| Jun 25, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Boreal | 12 | $12,470 | |
| Jul 4, 2028 | Silversea | Silver Wind | 12 | $13,500 | |
| Jul 7, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Boreal | 7 | $8,240 | |
| Jul 14, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Boreal | 7 | $8,240 | |
| Jul 21, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Boreal | 7 | $8,240 | |
| Jul 27, 2028 | Ponant Cruises | Le Bellot | 7 | $9,040 |