Vigur Island
About Vigur Island
Vigur is a small, low island in Ísafjarðardjúp in the Westfjords, about half an hour by boat from Ísafjörður. It is only about 2 kilometers long, with a single working farm, a 19th-century windmill and one of the busiest seabird colonies you can visit in the region.
In summer the island is covered in nesting birds. Atlantic puffins burrow into the slopes, black guillemots line the rocky shore, and Arctic terns nest in the grass and will swoop at anyone walking too close. Eider ducks nest here in large numbers, and the farm still collects their down by hand after the chicks have left, using methods that go back centuries.
Vigur also has two buildings in the National Museum of Iceland's historic buildings collection. The windmill is the only preserved wooden wind-powered grain mill in Iceland, believed to have been built around 1860 by the goldsmith Daníel Hjaltason. Viktoríuhús, a timber house built in 1860 by the goldsmith Sumarliði Sumarliðason, is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the country.
The only way to visit Vigur is on a guided boat tour from Ísafjörður, since the island is a private farm. Tours run in summer and usually take two to three hours, including the crossing and a guided walk among the birds. The water in Ísafjarðardjúp can be choppy, so bring warm, windproof layers even on a sunny day.
The best time to visit Vigur is from June to mid-August, when puffins are on the island. After mid-August most of them head back out to sea. Boats only sail when the weather allows, so keep a spare day in your Ísafjörður plans if you can.
Good to know
Where is Vigur Island?
Vigur is in Ísafjarðardjúp, the large fjord in the Westfjords, about 30 minutes by boat from Ísafjörður. It is around 2 kilometers long and home to a single farm.
How do you get to Vigur Island?
You reach Vigur on a guided boat tour from Ísafjörður harbor, since the island is a private farm with no public ferry. Tours run in summer and usually last two to three hours.
When can you see puffins on Vigur?
Puffins nest on Vigur from about June to mid-August. After that most of them leave the island, so sightings later in the season are not guaranteed.
What birds live on Vigur Island?
Vigur has Atlantic puffins, black guillemots, Arctic terns and a large eider duck colony. The farm collects eider down from the nests by hand once the chicks have left.
Is there a windmill on Vigur?
Yes, Vigur has the only preserved wooden wind-powered grain mill in Iceland. It is believed to date from around 1860 and is part of the National Museum of Iceland's historic buildings collection.
How long is the boat ride to Vigur?
The crossing from Ísafjörður takes about 30 minutes each way. Seas in Ísafjarðardjúp can be rough, and trips may be canceled in bad weather.
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