Cultural Centres

The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

Tales of sea monsters have played a colourful role in Icelandic folk culture for centuries, and several written accounts of them can be found all around the country. Today, these elusive creatures have been given a worthy home at the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum, located in the village of Bildudalur on the shores of Arnarfjörður fjord, said to be one of the most prolific centres of monster activity in the country.

Visitors to the Sea Monster Museum watch these remarkable creatures brought to life through a lively mix of words, images and videos, an action-packed multimedia display that culminates in a spectacular interactive plinth, the first of its kind in Iceland.

First-hand accounts from eye-witnesses are joined on-screen by academic theories on the nature of sea monsters, while a variety of relics and artefacts relating to this mysterious branch of zoology appear throughout the museum as tangible evidence for their existence.

And to feed monster appetites, the museum cafeteria offers a range of light refreshments and snacks.

Eiríksstadir - Living Museum

Come and join us in the 10th century. Let's sit by the fire and meet storytellers, telling renowned tales of the 10th century Iceland. You can try real Viking tools and get to know the craftsmanship, architecture, and Viking clothing, all made by hand with original tools and methods.

Our storytellers are well-versed in the history of the farm, its inhabitants, and the Viking age. Tours are ongoing throughout the day, you can pop in at any time.

Open every day 10 am to 5 pm, from the 1st of May to the 31st of October.

Kómedíuleikhúsið / The Comedytheatre

The Comedytheatre is the first and only professional theatre in the Westfjords, founded in 1997. The theatre has hosted 45 plays, which usually reflect the history of the Westfjords in one way or another. The Comedytheatre has focused on solo performances that have attracted considerable attention.

Find us on Facebook here.

The Arctic Fox Center

The Arctic Fox Centre is a non-profit research and exhibition center, focusing on the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) - the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland.

The Arctic Fox Centre was established on September 15th 2007 in Sudavik Westfjords. Founders were 42, mostly local people, tourist operators and municipalities in the Westfjords. All of which share their interest in the arctic foxes and believe in increasing ecotourism in Iceland. The idea of the Arctic Fox Centre comes from prof. Pall Hersteinsson, University of Iceland and he serves as a quality witness for the center.

The long term aim is to collect all available knowledge and material relevant to the arctic fox in past and presence.

We house an exhibition focusing on educating material:

  • About biology and history of the arctic foxes as a species.
  • About the war that has been waged between the man and the arctic fox, since the early settlement of humans in Iceland (1100 years).
  • About the status and specialities of the Arctic Foxes in Iceland and other regions of its distributional range.
  • About fox hunting as the oldest paid operation in Iceland, methods and materials, stories and descriptions.
  • About fox farming activities and it´s consequences for the wild population throughout the decades.

We emphasize on:

  • Participate in and promote research programs on Icelandic arctic fox populations, in collaboration with academic and research centers.
  • Participate in developing sustainable wildlife torism in Iceland, in collaboration with the authorities and other interested parties.
  • Stimulate development and manufacturing on handicraft and souvenirs, specialized for The Arctic Fox Center.

Open:

  • May: 10:00-16:00
  • June - July: 09:00-18:00
  • September: 10:00-16:00
  • Oct 01 - May 14: Upon request