Suðurland Shipwreck lies on the shore at Djúpavík, in the Westfjords of Iceland, next to the ruins of an old herring factory. The steamer was beached here and used as lodging for the men who worked at the factory. The factory closed long ago, and both are ruins now. The hull is corroding fast and looks further gone each year. The wreck is visible from the road, and most visits are a short stop on the way through.
Sudurland shipwreck
The rusting hull was once a dormitory: men from the Djúpavík herring factory slept aboard, and what they complained about was the lack of ventilation.
- Parking
- Two free car parks about 150 m from the wreck; gravel and unsurfaced.
- Transport
- No public transport: no bus stop within 5 km. Access by car.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Djúpavík, Reykjarfjörður
What makes it special
The Suðurland did not run aground. The steamer was brought to Djúpavík on purpose and turned into a dormitory: the men who worked at the herring factory beside it slept aboard, and their complaint about the ship was the lack of ventilation.
The factory is a ruin, and the ship is going the same way. The steel corrodes fast enough that anyone returning after a year sees the difference. Most people photograph it from the road as they drive past, and that is a fair visit. Walk closer and the hull reads for what it was — a building rather than a boat, with rows of openings where men lived.
Good to know
- No facilities. There are no toilets and no drinking water at the site.
- Nesting birds. Seabirds nest around the harbour in summer and dive at anyone approaching the wreck on foot.
- The hull is falling apart. The steel corrodes fast and is not sound. Do not climb on it.
- Information point. There is one about 300 m from the wreck.
Getting there
No bus comes to Djúpavík, so the wreck is reached by car on the coast road. A car park sits about 150 m away, on gravel and unsurfaced ground, and the rest is on foot down towards the harbour where the ship lies. Plenty of people never get out: the hull is in full view from the road, and a drive-by photograph is the usual stop.
Best time to visit
Better: outside the seabird nesting season, when you can walk up to the hull unbothered.
Avoid: summer, if approaching on foot is the point of the stop — birds nesting around the harbour dive at people walking towards the ship.
Weather changes the wreck less than rust does. It is visibly further gone every year, and the plating that photographs well now will not be there indefinitely.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Sudurland shipwreck on the map
Seabirds nest around the harbour and attack people walking towards the wreck in summer. If they start diving, hold something above your head and walk away from the nesting ground. The hull itself is corroding fast, the steel is unsound, and it is not a structure to climb on.
Get directions
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
What is the Suðurland?
A steamer beached at Djúpavík and used as lodging for the male workers at the herring factory next to it. The men who lived aboard complained about the lack of ventilation.How long does a visit take?
It is a brief stop. The wreck is in view from the road, and many people photograph it without getting out of the car.Can you walk up to the wreck?
Yes. A car park sits about 150 m away and the rest is on foot. In summer, seabirds nesting around the harbour dive at people approaching.Are there toilets?
No. There are no toilets and no drinking water at the site.Is there a bus?
No. There is no bus stop within 5 km of the wreck, so you need a car.