Dalvík

Basic Information

When you visit the land of fire and ice (Iceland), make sure you explore Dalvík which is a vibrant fishing village in North Iceland. Get a glimpse of beautiful ski slopes and enjoy whale watching tours. On your tour to whale watching in Dalvík, you can spot up to nine species. Located at a drive of about an hour from Akureyri, the village attracts many travelers throughout the year. The village lies at the eastern coast along the Eyjafjörður fjord which is surrounded by mountain ranges at each side. It sits on the Tröllaskagi peninsula that translates to “Troll’s peninsula”. The scenery around Dalvík is incredible that amazes travelers. The white church in the village is one of the most picturesque and charmingly situated churches in Iceland. From Dalvík, you can get a fabulous view of Hrísey, a small island in the middle of Eyjafjordur that is known to be the longest fjord in Iceland.

For adventure lovers, there are many hiking trails in the Dalvík area that will take you high up into the mountains through deeply carved valleys. Although the hike up to the mountains can be steep, the views from there are unparalleled.

Things to Do in Dalvík

Though Dalvík is a small village, it conjures up a wide range of local events, cultural activities, and a festival called The Great Fish Day or Fiskidagurinn Mikli in Icelandic. Fiskidagurinn Mikli, a fish day festival is organized every year in August. The local fish industry of the village provides free fish dishes for everyone on this occasion. A large stage is set up above the harbor and lots of activities take place all day. If you visit this place during the Fish Day occasion, you can enjoy the music night with fresh Icelandic fish.

At Dalvík Library (Bókasafnið), there is an art gallery that will amaze you with amazing masterpieces. You can also find a Museum in Dalvík that shows local history and culture. There are many facilities for visitors including cafe´s, restaurants and the Beer Spa that is located close by. While exploring this beautiful place, you will find a swimming pool where you can take a bath in the hot tubs. In winters, you can get an amazing view of skiers gliding down the Böggvisstaðafjalli Mountain. Take a ferry trip to Grímsey Island that is located on the Arctic Circle.

With a population of just 1500 people, the main industries of Dalvík are fisheries and tourism. It is best known to be one of the top sites in Iceland for Whale Watching. The major reason behind the formation of this village was the herring that filled up around Dalvík. Fishermen came all over and since then the village became the biggest ports in the area. There are two smaller villages named Hauganes and Árskógssandur that are part of the Dalvík municipality.

How to Get There

Dalvík is located at a distance of about 411 kilometers from Reykjavík, 43.5 kilometers from Akureyri, and 291 kilometers from Egilsstaðir. There are three ways to reach the popular village by bus, flight or car.

If you are planning to travel by bus, board bus number 57 from Reykjavik to reach Akureyri. From Akureyri, take another bus 78 to arrive at Dalvík. Though the trip will take the whole day, you can enjoy the incredible views on the way. You can also plan for a flight to Akureyri. You can reach Akureyri in 45 minutes by flight and then take a rental car or board bus to reach Dalvík. Driving from Reykjavík to Dalvík takes about 5 hours in total. Drive to the north from Reykjavik, passing Mt. Esja. Cross the Borgarnes village and drive through Borgarfjörður valley. In the Skagafjörður region, take left turn by the fjord to reach Dalvík. When driving from Reykjavik we recommend that you stop at some of the beautiful attractions that will be on your way.