The usual trip to Heimaey is a two-hour drive or bus to Landeyjahöfn, followed by a 35–40-minute ferry.
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For most travelers, reaching the Westman Islands from Reykjavik means leaving Reykjavík about three hours before the sailing, driving or taking a bus to Landeyjahöfn, and boarding the Herjólfur ferry. The route is straightforward, but the road connection, ferry check-in, and possible weather changes need to be planned as one trip.
Self-driving gives you the most control. Travelers without a car can use Strætó routes 51 and 53 through Selfoss, a seasonal direct transfer, or a day tour. Direct flights from Reykjavík Domestic Airport appear on selected dates, but they are not the dependable everyday choice.
Compare the workable road-and-sea combinations for your dates here:
Reykjavík To Heimaey By Road, Sea, Or Air
Herjólfur from Landeyjahöfn is the standard route because it runs several times daily and carries both foot passengers and vehicles. The flight is much faster in the air, but limited operating dates make it a backup rather than the default plan.
Drive And Park At Landeyjahöfn
Landeyjahöfn is roughly a two-hour drive from central Reykjavík in normal conditions. A regular two-wheel-drive car is enough for the paved route, and Herjólfur provides free passenger parking beside the terminal.
Leaving the rental car on the mainland is usually the easiest setup for a short visit. Heimaey town, the harbor, Eldheimar Museum, and the lower slopes of Eldfell are close enough to cover on foot if the weather is reasonable.
Take The Car Across
Carrying a vehicle makes sense for an overnight stay, poor walking weather, limited mobility, or plans that include Stórhöfði and several outer viewpoints. Vehicle spaces are scarcer than passenger seats, so reserve the car at the same time as the sailing.
How Long Does The Trip Take?
A realistic one-way trip takes about three hours by car and ferry, including the required check-in buffer. Public transport usually takes longer because the bus changes in Selfoss and its timetable must line up with the sailing.
Currency note: USD estimates use roughly 125 Icelandic krónur to $1 and are rounded. Ferry, bus, transfer, and air prices can change by date.
| Route | Time To Allow | Rough Adult Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rental car, park, walk onto ferry | About 3 hours one way | 2,700 ISK ($22) ferry, plus rental and fuel |
| Rental car carried on ferry | About 3 hours one way | 2,700 ISK ($22) per adult, plus vehicle fare |
| Strætó routes 51 and 53, then ferry | About 3.5–4 hours one way | 8,700 ISK ($70) combined |
| Seasonal direct transfer, then ferry | About 3.5–4 hours one way | About 10,200 ISK ($82) combined |
| Private road transfer, then ferry | About 3 hours one way | Quote-based, plus 2,700 ISK ferry |
| Direct flight from RKV to VEY | 25 minutes in air; allow 1.5–2 hours total | Recent 2026 returns from about 30,475 ISK ($244) |
| Guided day tour from Reykjavík | Usually 12–14 hours round trip | Current group tours from about $263 |
| Weather reroute through Þorlákshöfn | About 4 hours or more one way | Existing ticket; confirm the operator message |
Book The Ferry Before The Road Leg
Ferry availability should set the rest of the schedule, especially when taking a car or traveling from June through August. Herjólfur asks passengers to check in at least 30 minutes before departure and closes access five minutes before sailing.
Reserve the outward and return crossings together, then work backward from check-in time. A sensible driving buffer from Reykjavík is two hours and 15 minutes, which leaves room for slower traffic, a fuel stop, or wind without making the ferry wait.
Public Bus And Transfer Options
The lowest-cost car-free route uses Strætó route 51 from Mjódd in Reykjavík to Selfoss, then route 53 to Landeyjahöfn. The current adult countryside fare from Reykjavík to the ferry port is 6,000 ISK ($48) each way, before the 2,700 ISK ($22) ferry ticket.
The connection runs only a few times daily, so a missed bus or delayed ferry can remove the same-day fallback. Buy the ferry separately, check both Strætó legs for the exact date, and avoid building a tight connection around the final sailing.
Summer direct transfers remove the Selfoss change. A current advertised fare is 7,500 ISK ($60) each way from Reykjavík to Landeyjahöfn, with the ferry bought separately.
Should You Take A Car Onto Heimaey?
Most day-trippers should park at Landeyjahöfn and cross as foot passengers. Take the car aboard when you are staying overnight, need easier access to the island edges, or want shelter from rain and strong wind between stops.
- Leave it on the mainland: cheaper, no vehicle-space risk, and suitable for the harbor, town center, Eldheimar, and Eldfell.
- Carry it across: useful for Stórhöfði, families with equipment, limited mobility, and changeable weather.
- Check the rental contract: confirm that ferry travel is permitted and that roadside coverage applies on Heimaey.
For a self-drive plan, compare rental availability before committing to a ferry time:
Weather Can Move The Departure Port
Sea and harbor conditions can shift Herjólfur from Landeyjahöfn to Þorlákshöfn, turning a short crossing into a roughly 2-hour-45-minute sailing. The road approach also changes, so check the port before leaving Reykjavík.
The official Herjólfur sailing schedule lists normal departures and the fallback times used when the ferry operates through Þorlákshöfn. Travelers with bookings should also watch for operator messages about automatic port changes.
Stay Overnight If The Island Is The Point
One night on Heimaey turns the transport day into a relaxed visit and protects the plan from a late arrival or changed sailing. It also leaves time for Stórhöfði, a harbor boat trip, or a slower Eldfell walk without watching the return clock.
Heimaey lodging is concentrated near Vestmannaeyjar harbor, which is the easiest area for foot passengers. Compare the available stays on the island map:
A Realistic Day-Trip Schedule
A day trip works when you take an early outbound ferry and a late return, but the island deserves at least six clear hours. Public-bus travelers have less flexibility than drivers, so an overnight stay removes the biggest timetable risk.
| Trip Stage | Time To Reserve | Planning Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík to Landeyjahöfn | 2 hours 15 minutes | Add more time in winter or high wind |
| Ferry check-in | 30 minutes | Arrive before the stated cutoff |
| Landeyjahöfn to Heimaey | 35–40 minutes | Longer if moved to Þorlákshöfn |
| Walk from harbor into town | 5–10 minutes | No transfer is needed for central sights |
| Useful island time | 6–8 hours | Enough for town, Eldheimar, and Eldfell |
| Return check-in | 30 minutes | Do not arrive at the gangway at departure time |
| Heimaey back to Reykjavík | About 3 hours | Retain a later road buffer after dark |
Flights Work Only On Selected Dates
Direct flights link Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) with Vestmannaeyjar Airport (VEY) in about 25 minutes when scheduled. Flight availability varies sharply by season and event dates, so air travel should not be assumed until a live search shows seats for the exact day.
Icelandair has displayed bookable summer dates, with current examples starting near 30,475 ISK ($244) round trip. Norlandair publishes a limited winter schedule from December 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027. Use RKV, not Keflavík International Airport (KEF), when searching for the island flight.
Choose The Route That Fits Your Trip
Self-driving to Landeyjahöfn and walking onto Herjólfur is the strongest choice for most travelers. It combines schedule control, free mainland parking, the lowest ferry cost, and no need to manage a vehicle on a compact island.
- For control: drive to Landeyjahöfn, park, and cross on foot.
- For the lowest car-free price: use Strætó 51 and 53, then Herjólfur.
- For less bus handling: take a seasonal direct transfer to the ferry.
- For a long island stay: reserve a vehicle space and take the car across.
- For speed: use a direct RKV–VEY flight only when the exact date is operating.
- For bad-weather resilience: leave room for a port change to Þorlákshöfn.
The booking order is simple: secure the ferry first, match the road or bus connection to its check-in time, then confirm the departure port again on travel day.
References & Sources
- Herjólfur.“Sailing Schedule of Herjólfur IV.”Lists the normal Landeyjahöfn timetable and the fallback Þorlákshöfn departures.