Vík is a sea-side village with a rich maritime history like the majority of Icelandic towns. However, what sets it apart is the fact that it has never had a harbour. The harsh waves and the shallow shores make it nearly impossible for ships to approach the land without stranding. And many ships did in fact strand on the black sands of the south coast.
The Skaftfellingur maritime museum depicts the extraordinary maritime history of the south coast. Its centerpiece and namesake is the Skaftfellingur ship in its entirety, which brought people and products along the south coast in the years 1918 – 1939. It then served on the Atlantic in WWII and is renowned for saving a crew from a sinking German U-464 submarine in 1942. In year 2001 Sigrún Jónsdóttir, a famous artist from Vík salvaged the remains of Skaftfellingur and brought it home to Vík. She had a deep emotional connection with the ship and if it were not for her, visitors might never have been able to see it up close and learn about its fascinating history.
The museum is ideal for families. Kids can try on costumes, see the ship up close, learn about the history and watch a documentary with historic footage from Vík.
Entrance fee:
Adults: 500 ISK
12-16 year-olds: 200 ISK
Children under 12: Free entrance
25% discount for groups of 8 or more.
Sími: 852-1395
Netfang: info@vik.is
Veffang: www.kotlusetur.is
Opening period: all year
