The ferry, not the map, sets the day
Island research often begins with a landscape photograph, but the booking is decided by one sailing. Herjólfur runs from Landeyjahöfn to Heimaey in about 35 minutes. If sea conditions move the departure to Þorlákshöfn, the South Coast drive, check-in and crossing all become longer. From Vík, you also need to put the return drive to the port and the post-ferry car collection into the same day. Heimaey works when you want to make a volcano, Eldheimar museum, puffins or a RIB trip one of two main activities, then decide whether to sleep on the island.
To reach Grímsey, take Sæfari from Dalvík; the crossing commonly takes about three to three and a half hours, and your time on the island depends on that day's sailing. The Arctic Circle marker, lighthouse, seabird cliffs and a small swimming pool make up the walking itinerary. Cars normally stay on the mainland, so bring only a day bag. Trying to fit Grímsey between Akureyri and Lake Mývatn, then adding whale watching or a hotel check-in after the return, makes two activities compete for the same hours. It is better understood as a theme day reserved for the Arctic Circle.
Hrísey leaves from Árskógssandur and takes about 15 minutes by ferry. You can walk around the bay, look for birds and see the village. Two to four hours is commonly enough for a short route, and you can return to Akureyri for the night. Consider an island guesthouse only if you want evening light or need to avoid fitting the island into a transfer day. A short crossing reduces the time exposed to seasickness and cancellations, but it does not make sailings interchangeable; keep a return window.
Heimaey’s sea cliffs are a full-day choice
Heimaey, Westman IslandsSouth Coast ferryGrímseyFrom DalvíkHríseyNorth of Akureyri
Compare time, cost and effort in one table
| Option | Transport window | Best-fit activities | Accommodation and next stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westman Islands | Port check-in is usually early; the crossing takes about 35 minutes, and a port change adds road time | Eldfell, Eldheimar, puffins, boat trip | One night on Heimaey separates the activities; return to Vík or Hvolsvöllur on the South Coast |
| Grímsey | The return crossing takes about 6–7 hours, and you must follow one sailing | Arctic Circle, seabird cliffs, island walk | Stay in Akureyri or Dalvík; do not add an early whale-watching tour on the same day |
| Hrísey | Short crossing; two to four hours on the island is common | Coastal walk, birds, village wandering | Returning to Akureyri keeps the plan flexible; check island rooms only if staying overnight |
Split the cost into four lines: adult ferry tickets, the vehicle or parking, fuel for the port transfer, and any extra night created by the sailing. Taking a car to the Westman Islands buys freedom between South Coast stops, but parking is limited and both peak-season ferry tickets and accommodation need early booking. Grímsey does not require taking the car across, but a single sailing may mean an extra night in Dalvík; from Akureyri, the roughly 80-kilometre road return is also a cost. Hrísey's fare and short fuel cost are easier to control, but if you miss the return sailing you still need to keep an Akureyri hotel and dinner available.
Let the terrain set the activity plan. The Eldfell volcano walk on Heimaey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours; strong wind can slow you on loose volcanic ground, while the Eldheimar indoor exhibition is a useful wet-weather alternative. Puffin activity is usually concentrated between May and August. Wildlife does not appear on a traveller's timetable, and binoculars and boat trips remain weather-dependent. Grímsey's walking routes are relatively level, but allow for fatigue and seasickness after the long crossing, and do not cross safety barriers at the seabird cliffs for a photograph. Hrísey puts the value in a low-pressure pace, making it suitable for travelling with young children or for a North Iceland afternoon without a long drive.
How the accommodation base reconnects the island to your route
A same-day return to Heimaey is comfortable only when the port, tickets and the rest of the South Coast drive all go smoothly. If you are heading east the next day, one night on Heimaey separates the volcano walk from the sea activity. If your flight lands in the afternoon, staying first in Hvolsvöllur or Hella and reaching the port the following morning usually leaves more margin than chasing the last sailing after landing. See the two-day Westman Islands itinerary, then use Hotel Vestmannaeyjar to check room type, breakfast, SPA and parking.
Use Akureyri as the recoverable base for both Grímsey and Hrísey. The Akureyri destination guide can absorb meals, the swimming pool and an indoor day; moving the accommodation to Lake Mývatn adds the road to Dalvík back into the budget. Staying in Dalvík the night before Grímsey reduces the morning drive but gives you fewer city services. Hrísey is easier as an Akureyri base with consecutive nights: put the island day on the steadier-weather date, then keep Lake Mývatn or Húsavík available the next day.
When booking, check the free-cancellation deadline, late-arrival policy, breakfast start time and luggage storage. Island activities are weather-sensitive, so the most useful room is one that can absorb a change of date, not simply one closest to the pier. If a sailing is cancelled, let the road and the next fixed departure decide whether you stay in the port town, switch to a land-based activity or move the island day later; do not push a family into unsafe seas because a room has already been paid for.
Three practical decision tools
- Reverse-plan the sailing: Separate check-in, queueing, time at sea, disembarkation and the port-to-hotel transfer. For Heimaey, put the South Coast road version for a Þorlákshöfn change on its own line; for Grímsey, treat dinner after the return sailing as the final fixed point.
- Choose one main event: Write one non-replaceable activity for each island first: the Heimaey volcano or puffins, the Grímsey Arctic Circle, or the Hrísey coastal walk. The second activity must be cancellable.
- Keep a return-risk note: Record the last sailing, the next free-cancellation deadline, the distance from the port to your accommodation, available buses or taxis, and a confirmation phone number for when you are offline.
With only one day, both Heimaey and Grímsey make transport a major part of the experience, which suits travellers with a clear theme in mind. Hrísey is easier to fit around dinner and rest. With two nights, Heimaey can shift from a day trip to an overnight; Grímsey can make Dalvík the North Iceland working base for the day. On a seven-to-ten-day ring-road trip, do not chase all three islands: every ferry boarding uses part of your weather buffer. Choose one and give the saved days to a South Coast glacier, Lake Mývatn geothermal sights or an Akureyri city fallback.
Chosen your island? Check the base and transport position first
Compare island and port accommodation for the same dates
Fix the number of guests, bed type, breakfast, parking and cancellation deadline, then put the ferry check-in time back into the full itinerary; final availability and prices are set on the payment page.
Q&A | Choosing an Iceland island
Can I visit two islands in one day?
It is not recommended. The three ports are in different directions, and the ferry and road legs would turn the visit into a transfer with no weather fallback. Choose one island.
Which island is easiest without a car?
Hrísey is simplest to arrange from Akureyri. Heimaey can work with local transfers or walking, while Grímsey requires you to confirm the Dalvík connection and ferry timetable first.
Are the islands still worth visiting outside puffin season?
Heimaey still has its volcano and museum, and Grímsey still has the Arctic Circle and coast. When seabird sightings are less likely, do not base the value of the ticket only on one species of wildlife.
References | Sources and limits
- Herjólfur: Westman Islands sailings, check-in and port-change notices.
- Dalvík: Grímsey departure point and port information.
- Sævar: Hrísey route information; recheck for the date.
- OpenStreetMap contributors: base map for the location figure.
This article was compiled from public information available in September 2026. Sailings, ports, activities, room prices and opening hours can change; check the operator's notice before departure.
Island planning also depends on who is travelling: anyone prone to seasickness should start with the shorter crossing, families with young children should ask about toilets and shelter, photographers should separate dawn or dusk light from the return sailing, and older travellers should put gradients, rest seats and medical fallback options in the same table. These conditions can change the number of nights and the ferry risk you are willing to accept.