Time and Place travels: Exploring quiet beauty on Iceland's Flatey Island
When global travel resumes, we’ll be seeking calm destinations with few people and authentic vibes. Hotel Flatey, a scenic Icelandic guesthouse far from crowds and furnished with eclectic antiques, would be just the place to take in a quiet escape with sensory beauty.
The setting is Flatey Island, situated in the middle of the Breiðafjörður, a bay in Northwestern Iceland separating the Westfjords from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The island’s Winter population of five swells only slightly in Summer with the arrival of Icelandic vacationers and a small handful of tourists. Besides the sheep that take right of way on the islands’s single road (no cars are allowed) and the arctic terns who use the land as nesting grounds, there are few distractions from rest, solitude, and communing with nature.
Flatey’s old village is a charming cluster of restored bright timber houses. In the heart is the 14-room converted guesthouse offering access to the small island’s wildlife and stunning views onto the small harbor. Rooms vary from singles to suites, and are lovingly decorated with one-off antiques. It’s easy to pass the time in the hotel’s cozy nooks and crannies. Evenings end with a meal at the onsite restaurant that serves local specialties like arctic char and greens from the hotel’s own garden.
Join us for a tour.
Hotel Flatey offers a warm welcome to visitors arriving by ferry from Stykkishólmur. Interiors are decorated simply but lovingly, with antique and handmade crafts.
Beamed ceilings and wall cladding add extra charm to quiet guest rooms and cozy common areas, perfect for curling up with a book or looking out to sea.
The hotel’s best feature is its scenic windows with views out to the quiet bay and the fishing boats.
Local birdlife of Breiðafjörður is featured in the hotel’s decorative details like room keys and door plaques.
Decor is unfussy but comfortable. Each room has antique furnishings, and many offer stunning waterfront views.
The island’s local creatures pass the time without much disturbance.
Flatey is an excellent escape for walking and taking in fresh sea air.
Life on the island is slow paced. Summers in the far North give 24 hours of daylight.
Birdwatching enthusiasts can take advantage of closeups with Arctic terns. People and sheep share the road peacefully.
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