Stykkishólmur

The charming and laid-back fishing town of Stykkishólmur, located about 172 km north of Reykjavik, is popular among travelers for a plethora of reasons and wonderful options for everybody. This town takes cleanliness very seriously and it is not surprising that it was Europe’s first community to receive the prestigious ‘Earth Check’ environmental certification from the Advisory Board for Sustainable Travel and Tourism Practices and also Iceland’s first municipality to fully sort its waste.

The charming and laid-back fishing town of Stykkishólmur, located about 172 km north of Reykjavik, is popular among travelers for a plethora of reasons and wonderful options for everybody. This town takes cleanliness very seriously and it is not surprising that it was Europe’s first community to receive the prestigious ‘Earth Check’ environmental certification from the Advisory Board for Sustainable Travel and Tourism Practices and also Iceland’s first municipality to fully sort its waste.

Stykkishólmur, which has banned plastic, is also the recipient of Blue Flag Eco Label for its well-maintained harbor. Visitors are in awe of the imaginatively-conceptualized church, Stykkishólmskirkja, by architect Jón Haraldsson, which showcases a thousand suspended lights inside, along with murals and painting. The town with free wifi also has Vatnasafnið, a Library of Water, which houses 24 artistic collections of glass columns that contain water from major glaciers of Iceland. Stykkishólmur, which is also known for its love for basketball, also has museums including the volcano museum, Norwegian House and folk museum.

The town, which has featured in Hollywood flicks, is a gateway to Flatey Island, where one can enjoy nature activities like bird-watching, hiking, fishing etc and Súgandisey Island. This quaint town, which celebrates a Danish festival in August, has, over the years, become one of the most-visited destinations in Iceland.