Getting to Siglufjörður, Iceland
Siglufjörður, Iceland is the Northern most town of the mainland! Due to its location, there are times of the year that this village never sees the sun. In 2010, a tunnel opened up under one of the Fjords, making this city more accessible to travelers visiting Iceland on Ring Road. To visit, you will need to rent a car or visit with a tour from Akureyri*. It’s about an hour north of the city.
Herring Era Museum History
In the middle of the 20th century, Siglufjörður Iceland was the capital of fishing herring in the North Atlantic. While thoughts of a museum here were proposed in the 1950’s, it wasn’t until the 1990’s that the collection came together completely in one space.
In the museum, you can see ships & salting stations, learn about the fishing and see the factory where herring was turned into meals & oil. It is truly a unique lesson in history to see how much this industry transformed this town.
Visiting the Herring Era Museum
The museum is open daily June through August from 10:00-18:00. In May and September, it is open from 13:00-17:00 and in the Winter by appointment only. It costs 2,200 ISK ($17) to visit for adults, which includes entrance to all 3 buildings on-site and access to the Folk Music Center. Tickets can be purchased on-site. For more information visit: Herring Era Museum.
Review
This was definitely one of the more unique museums we’ve visited in our travels! It’s very evident that herring fishing was crucial to this town’s survival and they take pride in the industry that built them. Siglufjörður, Iceland is a quaint stop for any history lovers looking to get off the beaten path while driving Ring Road or taking a day trip* from Akureyri!
