Photo: Diego Delso (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Vestmannaeyjar
A remote volcanic archipelago off Iceland's south coast, where dramatic crater landscapes, a legendary 1973 eruption, and a resilient island community come together in one of the world's most unique golf destinations.
Sights & activities
- Vestmannaeyjar Golf Club: Golf course nestled in the hollow of an extinct volcanic crater with 700-foot black rock cliffs. Home to the annual Volcano Open tournament. reel
- Vestmannaeyjar Islands: Collection of 15 volcanic islands off Iceland’s south coast. The largest island (Heimaey) has 4,500 residents across 17 square kilometers. reel
- Heimaey: Largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, where the golf course is located. Site of the catastrophic 1973 volcanic eruption, which was partially halted by residents spraying seawater on the lava flows. reel
Practical tips
- The Volcano Open is held annually to commemorate the end of the 1973 eruption that nearly destroyed the island. reel
- Ferry access is required to reach the islands from mainland Iceland’s south coast. reel
- The golf course offers uniquely dramatic volcanic scenery, with black rock amphitheater walls rising 700 feet overhead. reel
- Visit during summer months for the best golfing weather and to witness the landscape’s dramatic geology. reel
- Local culture emphasizes “Þetta Reddast” (it will all work out), a philosophy of resilience born from surviving natural disasters. reel
- The 1973 eruption destroyed 400 houses; locals saved hundreds more by cooling lava with seawater, a source of community pride. reel
- The small population (4,500) on a tiny 17 sq km island creates an intimate, tight-knit community feel. reel