Eyrarbakki is known for its cohesive historic townscape: protected workers’ houses, a merchant’s house and the church tell different chapters of the town’s architectural and local history. Museums add perspectives on domestic life, social change and seafaring. The trails also vary considerably in scale, from the four-kilometre Fjörustígurinn between Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki to the nearly 50-kilometre regional South Coast Lighthouse Trail.
Historic houses and protected buildings
Eyrarbakki’s historic settlement and architectural conservation area includes one of Iceland’s most completely and cohesively preserved settlements of workers’ houses from around and after 1900. Many surviving houses in the town date from 1890 to 1920. Their appearance gives the impression of travelling about a hundred years back in time. The town’s history is thus visible not only in a single building, but also in the preserved settlement as a whole.
The three protected buildings in the area include Húsið and Eyrarbakkakirkja. Húsið is a historic merchant’s house built in 1765. Eyrarbakkakirkja preserves a special connection to art history: Queen Louise of Denmark painted the altarpiece. Together, these two buildings lead to different aspects of the town’s history—trade and ecclesiastical heritage.
Museums: everyday life, change and seafaring
Húsið connects the history of the building with a depiction of domestic life: the presentation falls somewhere between an exhibition and a reconstruction of the everyday life of a merchant family in the 19th century. It is worth keeping two time periods distinct: the house dates from 1765, while the way of life depicted takes you into the 19th century. This means the site is about both the historic merchant’s house and the family life illustrated by the presentation.
The Eyrarbakki Maritime Museum is dedicated to the history of the sailors on Iceland’s south coast, who went out to sea every day in rowing boats. Its largest exhibit is the twelve-oared rowing boat Farsæll, built in 1915. Visitors can also handle various items from an old sailor’s chest. The boat and the objects offer two specific ways into the subject of seafaring: a large item from the collection and things visitors can hold themselves.
A different period takes centre stage in the exhibition at Kirkjubær. It shows everyday life and social changes in the region from 1920 to 1940. This complements the domestic-life presentation at Húsið with a later period and another perspective on life in the region.
Coastal and local trails
Fjörustígurinn is a four-kilometre trail between Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki. It offers recreation in nature as well as coastal views, and can be used for walking and cycling. Its length and the two named towns provide clear orientation if you are looking for a trail option on a manageable scale.
The regional South Coast Lighthouse Trail is a longer route: it is nearly 50 kilometres long and runs from Selvogsviti Lighthouse to Knarrarósviti Lighthouse. The route passes through Eyrarbakki, among other places. You can drive it, hike along the coast, run or cycle. These give you different ways to experience the route; the Fjörustígurinn and the Lighthouse Trail also differ considerably in length and geographical scope.
Northwest of Eyrarbakki, the trail passes through Hallskot Recreational Forest and into the Flói Bird Protection Area. The area is an important breeding ground, particularly for wetland birds, and is classified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Its focus differs from that of the protected houses and museums: the protected area is important above all as a habitat for birds.
Discover more destinations: Selfoss, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Skálholt, Laugarvatn, Vík Í Mýrdal, Ásólfsskáli, Laugarás, Ólafsvellir.
For the regional travel overview: Sudurland.
