Hesteyri
About Hesteyri
Hesteyri is a deserted village on the shore of Hesteyrarfjörður, the westernmost of the Jökulfirðir fjords in Iceland's Westfjords. There's no road in, so you arrive by boat from Ísafjörður and step ashore onto a meadow of wildflowers, with a few wooden houses spread along a river that runs into the fjord.
At its peak, around 80 people lived here. Norwegian whalers set up a station nearby at Stekkeyri in the 1890s, which later became a herring factory, and its rusting ruins are still standing. Residents began moving away in the late 1940s, and by the early 1950s nobody lived at Hesteyri year-round.
Today the old homes are summer houses, and the Doctor's House (Læknishúsið) serves food and offers rooms to visitors in summer. The village also lies inside the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, where arctic foxes are fully protected, dogs aren't allowed and camping is limited to designated sites. Film fans may recognize Hesteyri as the setting of the Icelandic horror film I Remember You (Ég man þig).
Scheduled boats to Hesteyri run from Ísafjörður in summer and take about an hour each way, and some operators sell guided day trips that include a walk through the village. Expect a day trip to last around five hours, and pack rain gear even in July, since the weather turns quickly and return pickups can run late. Outside the summer season, visitors to the reserve must register their travel plans with the Environment Agency in advance.
Good to know
How do you get to Hesteyri?
Hesteyri can only be reached by boat or on foot through the reserve. Scheduled summer boats leave from Ísafjörður and take about an hour, so book ahead and confirm the return pickup time.
Is Hesteyri part of Hornstrandir?
Yes. Hesteyri is inside the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, on Hesteyrarfjörður in the Jökulfirðir area, so the reserve rules on dogs, camping and fires apply.
Why was Hesteyri abandoned?
The village depended on whaling and then a herring factory nearby, and once that work ended, families moved to larger towns. Residents began leaving in the late 1940s, and the village was empty year-round by the early 1950s.
Can you stay overnight in Hesteyri?
Yes, in summer the Doctor's House (Læknishúsið) offers accommodation and meals. Camping in the reserve is allowed only at designated sites, so check with the Hornstrandir Visitor Center in Ísafjörður before you go.
What movie is set in Hesteyri?
Hesteyri is the setting of I Remember You (Ég man þig), an Icelandic horror mystery film based on the novel by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.
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