Vík is a seaside village with a rich maritime history, like the majority of Icelandic villages. However, what sets it apart is the fact that it has never had a harbour. The harsh waves and the shallow shores make it nearly impossible for ships to approach the land without stranding. And many ships did, in fact, strand on the black sands of the south coast.
The Hafnleysa Maritime Museum depicts the extraordinary maritime history of the south coast. Its centerpiece and namesake is the Skaftfellingur ship, which brought people and products along the south coast from 1918 to 1939. It then served on the Atlantic in WWII and is renowned for saving a crew from a sinking German U-464 submarine in 1942. In the year 2001, Sigrún Jónsdóttir, a famous artist from Vík, salvaged the remains of Skaftfellingur and brought it home to Vík. She had a deep emotional connection with the ship, and if it were not for her, visitors might never have been able to see it up close and learn about its fascinating history.
The museum is ideal for families. Kids can try on costumes, see the ship up close, learn about its history, and watch a documentary with historical footage from Vík.
In the summer of 2023, the artist Macjie Lenda painted a beautiful mural on the museum to honor all the fantastic, hardworking people who made the foundation for Vík as a village at the beginning of the 20th century.
Entrance fee:
Adults: 500 ISK (free for seniors).
12-16 year-olds: 200 ISK
Children under 12: Free entrance
20% discount for groups of 8 or more.
