Bolungarvík: Culture, Trails and Swimming Pools

Bolungarvík offers points of interest for culture enthusiasts and for anyone who wants to fill their days with exercise or water activities. Hólskirkja and nearby Ósvör offer different insights into history; walking and running trails, training areas, and a golf course round out the picture. When planning your trip, you can consider which of these interests will shape your stay.

Church history and maritime tradition

Hólskirkja in Bolungarvík was built in 1908 and consecrated on 6 December of the same year. The church houses two large bells dating from 1620 and 1775. The different dates link the church building with furnishings that are considerably older, giving culture enthusiasts specific points of reference as they explore the area.

Near Bolungarvík is Ósvör, a unique reconstruction of a 19th-century fishermen’s shelter. It gives visitors an insight into the lives and work of Icelandic fishermen. Ósvör includes a smokehouse, a turf house, and tools and equipment used for fishing. This puts not only the shelter itself but also various objects and buildings from the fishermen’s daily working lives in the spotlight.

Sjómannadagur is also part of Bolungarvík’s cultural history: the festival has a long and significant history and is one of the town’s major cultural events each year. For anyone interested in local traditions, it offers another cultural point of reference alongside the historic fishermen’s shelter.

Trails and outdoor activities

Heilsustígurinn is a 4.3-kilometre walking and/or running trail around the settlement of Bolungarvík. There are 15 training stations along the route. Its combination of a trail and exercise stations sets it apart from a simple walking route: you can use it for walking or running and incorporate the available exercise options along the way.

Another walking option is located above the Óshólaviti lighthouse. From there, an old trail leads on an easy walk of about 15 minutes to a small viewpoint. For a longer outing, you can choose the old Óshlíð road between Hnífsdalur and Bolungarvík. It offers a route of about 8 kilometres for cycling, running, and walking, is usable in summer, and has only gentle inclines. These options distinguish a short walk from a longer route that is accessible in summer, so you can choose the kind of outing that suits you.

Hreystivöllur in Bolungarvík is an outdoor obstacle and training course. Its varied exercises work the whole body. For anyone interested in exercise using training stations or obstacles, it offers an alternative to the trails around the settlement.

Golf and water activities

Syðridalsvöllur is located just outside the built-up centre of Bolungarvík. The golf course has nine holes with different tee positions on each hole, so it is listed as an 18-hole course, and it has a par of 71.

The outdoor area of the swimming pool in Bolungarvík has hot tubs, a paddling pool, a water slide for children, and a cold-water pool. Musteri vatns og vellíðunar has an indoor pool measuring 8 × 16.66 metres. The outdoor area and indoor pool offer a range of specific water activities; the paddling pool and slide, in particular, are identified as options for children.

Bolafjall and seasonal planning

The road to the summit of Bolafjall leads from Bolungarvík up to the radar station there. It is typically open from mid-June to mid-September, provided weather and road conditions are favourable. If you include this destination in your trip plans, you should take both the stated period and the conditions into account.

More local pages: Látur, Thingeyri, Bíldudalur, Staður, Hnífsdalur, Garpsdalur, Ísafjörður and Tálknafjörður.

Go to the main travel overview: Westfjords.