Viðey is the Perfect Reykjavik Island for a Family Day Out

TheYes, you read that right. If you find yourself stuck in Reykjavik with your family and you are looking for a diversion for yourself and the kids, look no further than the island of Videy.

It is only a stone´s throw from Reykjavik harbor, and the ferry takes only five minutes to get there. When you disembark after the short journey you are all of a certain in a different world from Reykjavik.

Viðey Island has everything the family needs. Rich history and a load of good, clean fun. When I went there with my own family last weekend, I got this great map with loads of information at a small house that poses as the “ferry terminal” – it is pretty cool as an aid to explore this really nice island.

To cut a long story short, it has the following diversions for the family:

• The short boat trip to and from the island
• A nice cafe/restaurant in a more than 250-year-old stone building – one of the oldest stone houses in Iceland
• A church from 1774 with the original interior inside
• Hiking trails 
• Puffins and other sea birds
• The Imagine Peace Tower – a landmark for Reykjavik
• Many beaches and coves

The island has many hillocks and grassy fields, which provide the perfect setting for a nice picnic. It is also perfect for hiking but please take care not to disturb the birds when they are nesting.

The rich history of Videy Island

Videy has a rich history, both ancient and modern. Archaeological digs indicate that the island has been inhabited since Viking times (the ninth century), and during the Middle Ages it had a rich monastery, which was sacked during the Reformation. The island has one of the oldest stone houses in Iceland and the second-oldest stone church. Stone houses were a rare luxury in the 18th and 19th centuries in Iceland. Viðey was the home of Skúli Magnússon, the 18th-century magnate Treasurer, often called the father of Reykjavik for his efforts to bring industry and progress to the rather unimpressive hamlet.  

Videy in the Second World War 

On the 24th of October 1944, the Canadian destroyer Skeena ran aground on the west side of the island after the captain attempted to seek shelter from a vicious storm with 15-meter-high waves. 15 sailors drowned in the tempest. However, mostly due to the heroic efforts of the sailor Einar Sigurðsson, MBE, 198 sailors were rescued. This is just one of the many disasters at sea that have taken place in the vicinity of Viðey Island.

The latest addition to Viðey is the landmark Imagine Peace Tower, conceived by the artist Yoko Ono. It is a large beacon of light lit between John Lennon´s birthday on October 9th and his death on December 8th. The Imagine Peace Tower is also lit on the winter solstice, New Year´s Eve, and the first week of spring. It is quite a lovely sight on dark winter nights.

 How to get there
The ferry terminal is located at Reykjavik (Sundahofn) harbor

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Written by Jón Heiðar Þorsteinsson