Grímsey, a small island just 40km off Iceland’s northern coast, is one of Europe’s most remote settlements and home to a thriving seabird population. Despite its beauty, the island’s weather is harsh, with strong winds that make it feel like nature itself could wipe you off the map.
My husband and I visited Grímsey in late August, armed with wooden sticks to protect ourselves from the Arctic terns that are known for dive-bombing tourists who get too close to their nests. As we explored the island’s stunning cliffs, we even spotted a few puffins before they left for the sea.
Grímsey is the northernmost inhabited part of Iceland, sitting in the Arctic Circle. It’s only 6.5 square kilometers in size, but it offers a unique experience of Iceland’s extreme nature. Until 1931, the only way to reach the island was by boat twice a year, delivering letters. Today, you can fly there in just 20 minutes from Akureyri or take a 3-hour ferry from Dalvík.
The island has around 20 permanent residents, including Halla Ingolfsdottir, a local tour guide who moved to Grímsey full-time in 2019. She loves the island’s magic, its powerful nature, and the changing seasons that bring different beauty and wildlife.
Grímsey is also off the national power grid, running on a diesel-powered generator. While life is simple and remote, residents are trained for emergencies, as there’s no hospital or police station on the island. Community life is built on local cooperation, with people running guesthouses, a schoolhouse-turned-community center, a small grocery store, and a restaurant.
The island’s history is deeply connected to local legends. It was first mentioned in 1024 in an Icelandic saga. Over time, it grew from a fishing community to a tourism destination, though it remains incredibly isolated.
A key feature of Grímsey is its location at the Arctic Circle, marked by two monuments. One of them, a concrete art installation placed in 2017, marks the point where the Arctic Circle intersects the island. Every year, the monument must be moved to stay in alignment with the shifting circle. In 2047, the island will technically no longer be in the Arctic Circle, and the sphere will be rolled into the sea.
Islanders live through polar nights, where darkness lasts for months, but they cope by lighting up their homes with Christmas decorations, creating a magical atmosphere. Grímsey’s future includes new plans for a retreat for writers and creatives to stay on the island, continuing its commitment to a more personal, low-impact form of tourism.
During our short visit, I gained a deep respect for Grímsey’s close-knit community and the special bond its residents share with the land. It’s a place that invites reflection, solitude, and a connection to nature that’s rare to find anywhere else.