Eiriksstadir - Viking longhouse

Taking Road 54 from Stykkishólmur towards Búðardalur in April turned out to be a surprisingly pleasant experience. The unsurfaced track winds gently around the fjords, revealing new stretches of scenery at every bend — quiet inlets, distant mountains, and the first hints of colour returning to the landscape.
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There we were, seven of us packed into a jeep, heading for Eiríksstaðir on a bright April day. The last patches of snow were melting away, giving space to the first signs of an Icelandic spring. It felt like the whole countryside was waking up as we drove deeper into the valley.

We were on our way to Eiríksstaðir, a reconstructed Viking longhouse and the former homestead of Erik the Red, the first European known to have reached Greenland. This remote valley was also the birthplace of his son, Leif Eiriksson, the first known European to set foot in the Americas — a remarkable bit of history tucked into the Icelandic countryside.
The unsurfaced Route 586 leading to the site is a scenic drive in itself, especially as it winds around Haukadalsvatn, a striking lake whose deep blue waters looked almost inviting in the crisp April light.​

The open‑air museum was closed on this particular April day, but we still enjoyed wandering around the site and exploring the replica longhouse from the outside. Our next stop was the town of Búðardalur, where we went in search of a restaurant — unfortunately without success. Thankfully, many Icelandic petrol stations double as small diners, but with the weather on our side, we opted for an improvised picnic instead. Even so, jackets and hats were still very much needed.

In the centre of town, a small pool home to two seals provided unexpected entertainment, much to the delight of the children who watched them play.