A tiny Icelandic island on the west coast. The populations doubles during tourist season when the hotel & restaurant open.
DINK Details
Deets: - Population: 6 -12 (seriously!) - Vibe: Quaint, Windy, Salty | Ferry: - 1.5 hour from Stykkishólmur - 1 hour from Brjánslækur - Cars stay on the ferry¹ |
Plan Ahead: - Dinner and hotel reservations (if you plan to stay over night) - Ferry tickets | Town Highlights: Walking path, nature reserve, tiny church, tiny library, 1 hotel, 1 restaurant/bar, 1 café/info center. Maybe puffins² |
1. Leave your car and car keys with the ferry boat staff. You'll pick it up on the other side the next day. No cars allowed on the island except on island business .
2. Puffins are only nesting here during the summer. No guarantees
How did the scooter get here??
Getting To Flatey
The Ferry
The ferry runs all year round with fewer stops in the winter and services the towns of Stykkishólmur and Brjanslaekur. The ferry can take you between both hubs or you can just do a round trip to Flatey. If you plan to walk around the island, there are two options: 1) sleep at the hotel on Flatey overnight (only in June to August) or 2) a single day BUT the ferry does NOT stop twice on Flatey every day. Look up ahead of time.
If you decide to take the car and continue north, the option is interesting because the car doesn't get off with you to Flatey. You leave the keys with the crew and they park the car at the final destination for you. You get your keys back the next day when pick up your car. This gave us a little anxiety but worked out very well.
Ticket Link: https://www.seatours.is/excursions/flatey/
Warning
The waters can be very, very rough on the way to the island. The day we went, was a windy day. We recommend any Dramamine or nausea patches.
We had a tough time making it through, but the weather the next day was amazing and more than made up for it! It was smooth sailing the whole way and we got to enjoy the view from the top deck.
Things to Do
Walking Paths & Wildlife
Flatey is only about a mile long (2km) so you can walk the entire thing in 15-20 minutes. There are the "paved" paths that run from the dock to the middle of town as well as a few nature paths around the coast of the island. The nature paths on the west side of the island close seasonally to preserve the area for wild sea birds. People often report seeing puffins on the north side during June-August. We did not see any in late May.
Church
You can't miss it. Let yourself in if it's open. The murals on the ceiling are fantastic.
Library
A tiny yellow building located right behind the church is home to a cozy library with books in Icelandic and a few in English.
Stay
Hotel Flatey (the only hotel on the island)
Link: https://www.hotelflatey.is/
The hotel is made up of two buildings. The larger building houses the reception, restaurant/bar and a few rooms.
The smaller green building (where we stayed) is two floors has about 4 rooms and a shared bathroom on each floor. We had a beautiful view of the sea.
Bites and Sips
Hotel Flatey
Located in the Samkomuhús (meeting house) area of the hotel. This is the only hot food on the island. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at set times. Seasonal menus usually include fish, meat, and a vegetarian options. Reservations are necessary and supplies are limited so they may run out of some dishes depending on when you decide to dine. The hotel also has a small bar located below their reception where you can grab a beer.
Bryggjubúðin
There is a little shop/information center right near the ferry dock. There were signs for coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks but no one was there during our stay. We suspect may only be open during busy season (June-August).