Dalvík stands on the western shore of Eyjafjörður, where the valley of Svarfaðardalur meets the sea in northern Iceland. The name means "valley bay". About 1,400 people live here, and the economy runs on fisheries and fish processing. The harbour is a regional commercial port and the departure point for whale-watching boats and the Sæfari ferry to Grímsey. Böggvisstaðafjall, the mountain above the town, is a ski area known across the country.
Dalvík
- Currency
- Icelandic króna (ISK)
- Language
- Icelandic; nearly all speak English
- Power plug
- Europlug and Schuko sockets, 230 V
- Visa
- Schengen; outside the EU
- Time zone
- UTC±00:00 (Atlantic/Reykjavik)
- Tap water
- Safe; hot water smells of sulphur
- Tipping
- Not customary
- Emergency
- 112
Things to do
All tours in Dalvík on GetYourGuide
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When to go
Shoulder
Mar – May
Daylight returns quickly at this latitude while snow still holds on the mountain. This is the season for alpine skiing above the town and for heli-skiing trips out of Dalvík.
High season
Jun – Aug
The nights stay light through midsummer this far north. Whale-watching boats and the Grímsey ferry run from the harbour, and on the Saturday after the first Monday of August up to 30,000 people come for Fiskidagurinn mikli.
Shoulder
Sep – Oct
Autumn is short at 66° north. Daylight drops fast and the first snow settles on Böggvisstaðafjall above the town.
Low season
Nov – Feb
The sun clears the fjord walls for only a few hours around midwinter. Skiing on Böggvisstaðafjall is the main reason to come in this stretch.
How long to stay
One or two nights is a realistic stay. A day covers the town, the harbour and a boat trip on Eyjafjörður. The ferry to Grímsey is a separate full-day outing, so add a night if you want the island. Skiers on Böggvisstaðafjall stay longer, and anyone coming for the Fiskidagurinn mikli weekend in August should book far ahead: up to 30,000 people arrive in a town of 1,400.
Getting around
Dalvík holds about 1,400 people, and walking covers the town and the harbour. Strætó runs bus services to Akureyri and to Siglufjörður. The Sæfari ferry to Grímsey sails from Dalvík harbour, which also works as a regional commercial port for fishing and imports. Whale-watching boats and heli-skiing trips start from the town as well. A car is needed for what lies outside it: the ski area on Böggvisstaðafjall and the nine-hole Hamar golf course, a short drive away. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season. Check them before you build a day around them.
What to see
Destinations in Dalvík
Frequently asked questions
What is Fiskidagurinn mikli?
An annual fish festival held on the Saturday after the first Monday of August. The local fishing industry pays for a free fish buffet, and up to 30,000 people attend — many times the town's population.Can you reach Grímsey from Dalvík?
Yes. The ferry Sæfari sails from Dalvík harbour to Grímsey, Iceland's northernmost community, which lies on the Arctic Circle.Is there public transport to Dalvík?
Strætó operates bus services linking Dalvík with Akureyri to the south and Siglufjörður to the north.Is Dalvík a skiing town?
The ski area on Böggvisstaðafjall is known across Iceland, and heli-skiing is sold locally. The town has produced alpine racers who competed at the Olympics, World Cups and World Championships, among them Daníel Hilmarsson, Sveinn Brynjólfsson and Björgvin Björgvinsson.Was the Android Dalvik virtual machine named after the town?
Yes. The Dalvik process virtual machine took its name from Dalvík. It has been replaced by Android Runtime, but .dex and .odex files remain in use, so Dalvik bytecode still runs behind Android apps.