Bíldudalur lies by Arnarfjörður and is part of the municipality of Vesturbyggð. Several themes come together here to help you plan your trip: a workshop history dating back to before 1900, museums about music and legends, activities on the fjord, and a golf course. This gives you a way to decide whether you are more interested in history, distinctive storytelling traditions, or time on the water.
Workshop history and museums
Gamla smiðjan, also known as Járnsmiðjan, was built by Pétur J. Thorsteinsson before 1900. At the time, it was the country's first iron and metal workshop, and it is associated with a significant historical legacy. The building thus offers a different perspective on Bíldudalur than the museums: here, the focus is on craftsmanship and early metalwork.
The Melódíur minninganna music museum opened on June 17, 2000. Its collection includes numerous items connected with well-known Icelandic musicians, including Haukur Mortens and Ellý. The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum, also known as Skrímslasetrið, focuses instead on legends and sightings of legendary sea monsters from the Westfjords. Texts, pictures, videos, artefacts, and detailed accounts bring these themes to life. At the end of the exhibition is an interactive platform, considered the first of its kind in Iceland. Bíldudalur thus brings together music history and regional traditions as distinctly different cultural themes.
Boat tours and experiences on the water
Beffa Tours is based in Bíldudalur and offers private, customizable boat tours. These include whale watching, sea angling, and nature and fjord trips. Be sure to confirm the season and availability in advance, as these tours depend on the season and booking conditions. Private boat experiences are designed for groups of no more than seven passengers; confirm your group size when booking.
A sea-angling tour lasts two hours and departs from Bíldudalur harbour. The fishing grounds in Arnarfjörður are reached after approximately 15 minutes. The approximate travel time to the area and the total duration of the tour are two different time estimates. Check the weather and booking conditions in advance. Another experience available from Bíldudalur is a trip to the sites associated with Gísli Súrsson in Geirþjófsfjörður.
Event and golf
The family festival Bíldudals grænar takes place every two years on the last weekend of June in Bíldudalur. The programme includes, among other things, a play, concerts, a magic school, a foam party, monsters, face painting, bouncy castles, and lots of music. Individual activities may vary from one edition to another, so check the dates and programme if you want to plan your trip around the festival.
Another option, with a very different focus, is Litlueyrarvöllur, the nine-hole golf course in Bíldudalur. The golf club there was founded in 1992. If you are planning a round, ask locally about the condition of the course and access.
Plan your journey
Possible travel options include a flight from Reykjavík and the Flybus connection between Bíldudalur, Tálknafjörður, and Patreksfjörður. Before you travel, confirm that these connections operate on your dates. This lets you plan your journey around your actual travel dates instead of relying on unverified schedules.
On Road 60 between Bíldudalur and Þingeyri or Ísafjörður, the Dynjandiseheiði and Hrafnseyrarheiði mountain passes are closed in winter. Check the current road conditions before setting out. This is especially important if your plans depend on a particular road connection.
Discover more destinations: Staður, Súðavík, Sæból, Saurbær, Prestbakki, Reykhólar, Thingeyri, Suðureyri.
For the broader travel overview: Westfjords.
