Exploring Eldfell: An Intriguing Volcano on the Westman Islands

Iceland seems to be synonymous with volcanoes whenever it’s mentioned in the news. The ongoing activity on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021 is a prime example, and it’s impossible to forget about the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption that grounded flights across Europe. If you want to really learn why this is called the Land of Fire and Ice, Eldfell—on the Westman Islands—is worth visiting. 

Eldfell is one of Iceland’s newest volcanoes; it emerged in dramatic fashion on a morning in January 1973. Evidence of the eruption is clear wherever you look on the Westman Islands, and over 50 years later, many houses are still buried beneath the lava. 

Today, you can actually hike Eldfell. Doing so is an absolute must if you’re on the Westman Islands and the weather plays fair. Before visiting, however, you should ensure that you have all the necessary information for a better adventure.

I had the privilege of visiting the Westman Islands in April 2024, and hiking Eldfell was one of our trip highlights. Based on those experiences, I’m putting together this comprehensive guide. 

Out of Nowhere: A Volcano Is Born

Imagine waking up one morning, looking outside your window, and seeing a new volcano erupt right in front of your eyes. That was the exact reality for the residents of Heimaey, the Westman Islands’ only populated island, in the early hours of January 23rd, 1973. 

This cinder cone volcano emerged after erupting without warning, prompting an evacuation of the entire island. Since fishing was (and still) a crucial industry here, a frantic attempt to save the harbor—by using seawater to call the lava—commenced. 

The volcano erupted for just over five months. Over 400 homes were destroyed, but over 4,000 people have now moved back to the island. Today, you’ll see dried lava stacks that show just how close some houses were to also getting destroyed. And in some cases, the remains of buildings are still visible.

When you hike Eldfell, you can still feel the heat in some places. In fact, you could technically bake bread in certain areas. Sadly, though, I didn’t see anyone deciding to take their cooking hobby to the mountains when I visited. 

Hiking Eldfell

I used to be obsessed with volcanoes when I was young, so it’s needless to say that I was very excited to visit the Westman Islands. Given my love for hiking that has developed since traveling extensively across Northern Europe, this was a match made in heaven. 

The hike starts from a nearby parking lot; you’ll see a gravel trail and a map showing you the route. It’s around an 8-minute drive from the island’s main harbor. The parking lot is free to use.

How Was the Hike?

Compared to some hikes I’ve done, it wasn’t *too* strenuous. I think that anybody with reasonable fitness levels can do it; the journey took my girlfriend and I around an hour each way (which included me stopping to take multiple photos). You could probably do it in less time; coming down is much quicker than going up. 

However, I need to give some caveats here. First and foremost, the ground can be quite unstable. As we got close to the top, I also felt like some parts became quite steep. I recommend wearing a good pair of hiking boots (which you should bring when packing for a trip to Iceland in general). 

We were lucky with the weather, too. It was overcast with little wind when we completed this hike. But just a few hours after coming back down from the volcano, we had a snowstorm. Our guesthouse had a view of the volcano, and we could not see anything from our room once the snow started falling. 

I would happily do this hike on a day without much wind and clear visibility. However, I would not dream of doing so in snowy or foggy weather. Others have said that it can get incredibly windy, and if we had that issue, I probably would also have thought twice. 

Wait… But Isn’t Eldfell Still Active?

Technically, yes—Eldfell is still active. However, it hasn’t erupted since 1973 and doesn’t show signs of an imminent eruption. 

The volcano is, of course, being closely monitored. If something was to happen, the authorities would communicate that with you.

A Rewarding View

It was hard not to take an ungodly amount of photos from the top of Eldfell. We could see over the whole of Vestmannaeyjabær, the only town on the Westman Islands. We also had a great view over pretty much the whole archipelago. 

Since the Westman Islands aren’t far from the Icelandic mainland, we had a fantastic view of Eyjafjälläjökull; it’s the snow-capped mountain in the background of the picture below. This trip really was all about volcanic themes. 

Because we visited in spring, we got really cool colors. The other mountains looked quite barren in shades of gray, brown, and orange. I’d love to visit again in the summer, though, and see everything covered in green. 

Whether this is your first trip to Iceland or your 20th, you will find this view particularly rewarding. 

Exploring Eldfell’s Surroundings

In addition to hiking Eldfell, we did the Lava Walk when we got back down. You’ll see signs for where homes and streets once stood, and it felt surreal to think that all of this happened not so long ago.

We also saw a lava forest. Walking here was much more difficult than I thought, but it was still fun to explore. 

Learning More About Eldfell (and Seeing a Buried House)

Besides seeing the effects of the 1973 eruption, I wanted to learn more about how it impacted the island on a deeper level. To do this, we went to the Eldheimar Museum. 

The exhibition was super fascinating, and it involved seeing the remains of a home destroyed during the eruption. We heard first-hand accounts of what it was like to evacuate the island and learned about how Heimaey recovered once the volcano had stopped erupting. 

In addition to learning about Eldfell and its impact on the local community, we also learned about nearby Surtsey. This volcano emerged in 1963 and created a new, uninhabited island. I had known about this volcano since childhood, and finding out more about it was fascinating.  

We paid for admission to the museum at the reception; our tickets cost 3,400 ISK (roughly $25.50) each. 

Stay Overnight if You’re Going to Hike Eldfell and Visit the Museum

While you could hike the volcano and visit the museum on a day trip, I recommend staying for longer. Firstly, the weather on the Westman Islands is unpredictable; if you’re unfortunate enough to encounter high winds or low visibility, hiking Eldfell really isn’t a good idea. Staying for the night (or longer) will give you flexibility if needed. 

Secondly, I feel like doing both on the same day—while also exploring the island’s other wonders—would be a bit rushed. Staying overnight as part of your Iceland adventure will allow you to go at your own pace.  

We stayed at Guesthouse Hamar, but you have plenty of accommodation choices on the Westman Islands. You can browse the map below if you want to assess your options.

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