Hvammstangi: Seal Museum, Hiking Route and Swimming Pool

During a stay in Hvammstangi, you can focus on different things: exhibitions about seals and wildlife, a marked hiking route with historic sites, or the local swimming pool. These experiences are quite distinct. The Seal Museum focuses on nature and cultural traditions; along the route to Kirkjuhvammur, the church, information board, mill and a view over the town are the specific points of interest. The swimming pool adds to this selection with an outdoor pool, a whirlpool with water massage and a steam bath.

Seals, Wildlife and Tradition

The Seal Museum in Hvammstangi provides information about seals on Iceland’s coasts and in coastal waters, as well as seal species from around the world. Its exhibitions also cover wildlife in the area around Hvammstangi, particularly birds and marine life. Another focus is the role of seals in Icelandic culture and traditions, including seal hunting. In this way, the museum combines natural history topics with a cultural perspective on seals.

A Different Historical Perspective

Bardúsa in Hvammstangi preserves the remains of an old trading store from the early 20th century. Its date gives the former store a specific historical context. While the Seal Museum covers seals, wildlife and traditions, Bardúsa focuses on a different subject: trade. Hvammstangi therefore offers a range of perspectives, from nature and cultural history to the remains of a store from an earlier period.

Hiking Route to Kirkjuhvammur

The marked Hvammstangi–Kirkjuhvammur hiking route starts beside the Kaupfélag grocery store in Hvammstangi. It leads to the old church at Kirkjuhvammur; an information board there provides information about the church and the settlement of the surrounding area. Shortly after the church, the route offers a view over the town. It also leads to Iceland’s only water-powered grain mill. The church and information board give the route a historical connection; the view over Hvammstangi and the mill add their own points of interest. The route thus brings together several specific themes rather than focusing on a single destination.

Outdoor Pool, Whirlpool and Steam Bath

Hvammstangi’s swimming pool has an outdoor pool measuring 25 m × 11 m. It also has a whirlpool with water massage and a steam bath. These details describe different facilities: the outdoor pool’s dimensions are given, the whirlpool’s water massage is noted, and the steam bath is described as a facility in its own right. You can compare the information and choose the feature that interests you. The swimming pool offers a different experience from the Seal Museum and hiking route: its focus is on the pool and other bathing facilities.

Finding Your Way at the Harbour

The Seal Museum is at Hvammstangi harbour, four minutes from Route 1. The Icelandic Seal Center at the harbour houses a tourist information office. These details help distinguish the museum from the tourist information office: the museum is a place for exhibitions, while the Icelandic Seal Center houses the tourist information office. For finding your way around Hvammstangi, both the museum’s location and the location of the tourist information office are provided.

Discover more destinations: Svínavatn, Miklibær, Skagaströnd, Laugarbakki, Ríp, Hólar, Undirfell, Vidhidalstunga

Back to the regional travel guide: Norðurland Vestra.