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IslandNorth Iceland

Kolbeinsey

North Iceland, IcelandBoat / ferry access

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IslandNorth Iceland

Kolbeinsey

North Iceland, IcelandBoat / ferry access

About

Kolbeinsey is a small Icelandic islet in the Greenland Sea located 105 kilometres off the northern coast of Iceland, 74 km (40 nmi) north-northwest of the island of Grímsey.

A unique Icelandic experience. Worth your time.

Check local conditions before visiting. Iceland's weather changes fast.

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Plan your visit to Kolbeinsey

Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Kolbeinsey

Kolbeinsey is in North Iceland at 67.1506°N, 18.6835°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Kolbeinsey on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Nearest town: Grímsey — 73.4 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 366 km in a straight line

Kolbeinsey weather and conditions

At Kolbeinsey in North Iceland, conditions as of 31 August 2026, 16:15 (Iceland time): 6°C (feels like 0°C), overcast, wind 8 m/s gusting to 11 m/s. Daylight today: 15 h 14 m (sunrise 05:38, sunset 20:52). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 31 August 2026, 16:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

Driving conditions

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Daylight today

Visit now · Open year-round · 30 min stop · Visibility —

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North Reykjavík South Coast West East Westfjords Reykjanes Highlands

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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation

KEF airport pickup 24/74.8

SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic

12,750 kr15,000 kr/day

Reserve −12%

Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

Tours near Kolbeinsey

Free cancellation

Small groups

Sightseeing

(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

Duration6 hours 30 minutes

HighlightsNorth Iceland

(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

Duration6 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyri

The freedom of covering all kinds of terrain on a snowmobile is something everyone should experience.

Duration5 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

Photos & videos

Kolbeinsey — photo by Tom Scott · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Photo: Tom Scott · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Kolbeinsey, no lookalikes. Search YouTube

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

How do I get to Kolbeinsey?

Kolbeinsey is in North Iceland. Most Icelandic islands are reached only by boat — a scheduled ferry where one exists, otherwise a private or chartered vessel. Crossings depend on the weather and are cancelled in rough seas, so check the marine forecast and never assume you can leave on schedule.

Can I visit Kolbeinsey?

It depends on access and protection status. Some Icelandic islands are open by ferry or summer boat tour; many are uninhabited seabird colonies where landing is restricted during the nesting season. Where visits are allowed, go with a licensed operator and keep your distance from nesting birds.

When is the best time to visit Kolbeinsey?

Summer (June to August) is when ferries and boat tours run their full schedules, seas are calmer and seabird colonies are active. Many operators do not run in winter, so plan an island visit for the warmer months and book ahead in peak season.

Is Kolbeinsey inhabited?

Most of Iceland's islands are uninhabited, with no facilities, shelter or scheduled transport — Heimaey in the Westman Islands is the notable exception. Treat any small island as a place with no services: bring supplies, tell someone your plan and allow flexibility for the weather.

Nearby

km column = your drive

1Grímsey73 km
2Flatey115 km
3Lagey117 km
4Hraunamöl119 km
5Hrólfssker119 km

Waterfalls

#1.Leyningsfoss

114 km·~137 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#2.Mígandifoss

121 km·~145 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#3.Þverá;waterfull

127 km·~152 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#4.Skeifárfoss

130 km·~156 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

4 waterfalls near North Iceland

Hot Springs

#1.Geothermal hot spring near Siglufjörður

111 km·~133 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

#2.Geothermal hot spring near Ólafsfjörður

120 km·~144 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

#3.Natural hot pot near Skagafjörður

124 km·~148 min drive

Swimming_pool hot spring

#4.hot spring

131 km·~157 min drive

Natural hot spring

4 hot springs near North Iceland

Campsites

#1.Grímsey Camping

74 km·~89 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

#2.Tjaldsvæði Siglufjarðar

112 km·~134 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

#3.Siglufjörður

112 km·~134 min drive

A beautiful campsite with three locations in town – by the harbor, at Rammalóð and by…

#4.Rammalóðin

112 km·~134 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

4 campsites near North Iceland

Supermarkets

#1.Kjörbúðin

112 km·~134 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#2.Jónsabúð

136 km·~163 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#3.Krambúð

136 km·~164 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#4.Verslunin Skerjakolla

136 km·~164 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near North Iceland

Gas stations

#1.Siglufjörður

112 km·~134 min drive

Olís · 310.8 kr/L petrol

#2.Ólafsfjörður

120 km·~144 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#3.Dalvík

131 km·~158 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#4.Árskógssandur

135 km·~162 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near North Iceland

Tours

#1.(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

6 hours 30 minutes

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

from 25.300 ISKView tour →

#2.(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

6 hours

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

from 25.900 ISKView tour →

#3.Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyri

5 hours

The freedom of covering all kinds of terrain on a snowmobile is something everyone should experience.

from 166.750 ISKView tour →

3 tours near North Iceland

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Tom Scott · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
OpenStreetMapVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community