Iceland's ghost town landscape is produced by mechanisms specific to a remote North Atlantic island: herring stock collapse emptying factory villages overnight in the 1950s–60s, agricultural abandonment as Iceland's rural population fled to Reykjavík at extraordinary speed and the specific Westfjords isolation that made some communities simply too remote to sustain. Djúpavík — entirely abandoned in 1968 after the herring factory closed in 1954 — and Hesteyri — a thriving Westfjords whale processing centre abandoned in 1952 — are the two most compelling ghost town typologies in Iceland. Discover the 5 best ghost towns in Iceland, selected from our Iceland Urbex Map — 50+ verified GPS locations.
Why Iceland Has the Most Dramatic Ghost Town Landscape in Europe
Iceland's ghost towns are not the result of gradual decline — they were emptied with a speed unique in European experience. Djúpavík was entirely abandoned in a matter of years after the factory closed. Hesteyri's residents left in a single year. The sub-Arctic setting and the complete absence of subsequent development make these ghost towns among the most dramatic in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Djúpavík – Westfjords — Herring Village 1917, Factory Closed 1954, Entirely Abandoned 1968, Remote Fjord, Corrugated Iron Factory Hulk Still Standing (Known Location)
Djúpavík is not a place for comfort seekers. It is a destination for those who wish to hear absolute silence, wander among rusty structures, and feel the intertwining of history and mist. In summer, a small guesthouse opens, offering the rare chance to sleep in a place that seems suspended in time. Occasionally, experimental concerts echo through the hollowed-out halls of the old factory, blending art, decay, and stark Icelandic beauty into one unforgettable experience. Unlike Iceland's mainstream attractions, Djúpavík remains remote, authentic, and almost untouched, a vivid testament to a vanishing past.
🔗 Sources: Abandoned Spaces – Djúpavík | Infinite Road – Djúpavík Ghost Town
2. Hesteyri – Hornstrandir, Westfjords — Whale Processing Village, Abandoned 1952, No Road Access, Accessible by Boat Only in Summer, Arctic Fox Reserve (Known Location)
Hesteyri is an abandoned village in the Westfjords, once a thriving fishing and whale processing village. The last residents left in 1952 when the whale processing factory closed, making the trip to the Hornstrandir nature reserve necessary only by boat. Today it is part of the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, accessible only by summer ferry from Ísafjörður. No road has ever reached Hesteyri — the village was connected to the outside world only by sea. The combination of complete road inaccessibility, the Hornstrandir Arctic landscape and the 70+ years of abandonment make Hesteyri the most remote ghost town in Iceland. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Iceland →
3. Selatangar – Reykjanes Peninsula — Medieval Fishing Village Ruins, Abandoned Late 19th Century, Active Lava Field, Atlantic Coast, Freely Accessible
Selatangar is ruins of an old fishing village on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The ruins of the stone shelters, tool storage rooms and sleeping quarters of this medieval fishing camp spread across an unforgiving stretch of Reykjanes lava field — a ghost camp abandoned in the late 19th century when changing fishing technology made the remote station unnecessary. The Reykjanes Peninsula's ongoing volcanic activity since 2021 gives these 19th-century ruins a contemporary geological resonance: the same lava field is still being extended by active eruptions. All GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
4. Stöðvarfjörður – East Fjords — Fishing Village with Multiple Abandoned Buildings, Decline of Fishing Industry, East Fjords Setting, Several Derelict Structures (Exclusively on Our Map)
Stöðvarfjörður is a village with several abandoned buildings, reflecting the decline of the fishing industry. The East Fjords fishing village of Stöðvarfjörður — on the eastern Ring Road between Höfn and Egilsstaðir — retains multiple derelict structures from its fishing industry peak: a ghost village in slow motion, with several abandoned buildings interspersed with the small active community that remains. The extraordinary East Fjords setting — one of Iceland's most dramatic fjord landscapes — frames the dereliction in a visually exceptional context. Mapped exclusively in our Iceland Urbex Map.
5. Abandoned Highland Farm – Þingvellir or Inland Iceland — Viking-Age Settlement, Rural Exodus 20th Century, Turf or Iron Structure, UNESCO Landscape (Our Map Only)
Þingvellir National Park is home to abandoned farms and historical sites — a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Þingvellir area and the broader inland Iceland corridor contain Viking-age farmsteads abandoned at various points from the Little Ice Age through the 20th-century rural exodus: turf and stone ruins returning to the specific Þingvellir lava and birch landscape. The UNESCO World Heritage setting and the historical depth of Viking-age settlement abandonment create a ghost farm experience of exceptional resonance. GPS in our Iceland Urbex Map.
Safety Tips
- Hesteyri boat access: summer ferry from Ísafjörður only — no winter access; always book the return ferry before disembarking; being stranded in Hornstrandir is a genuine survival situation
- Djúpavík road conditions: the Westfjords gravel road to Djúpavík can be impassable after heavy rain or snow — always check road.is before departing; carry food, water and a sleeping bag for a 24-hour delay
- Reykjanes volcanic activity: check vedur.is and almannavarnir.is before visiting Selatangar — the Reykjanes Peninsula has been under periodic access restrictions since 2021
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person; in remote Iceland locations like Hesteyri and Djúpavík, solo exploration can be fatal if injury occurs
❓ FAQ
What is the most famous ghost town in Iceland?
Djúpavík in the Westfjords — a herring village that thrived from 1917, with one of the world's largest herring factories built in 1934, and was entirely abandoned in 1968 after the factory closed in 1954. The massive corrugated iron factory hulk still stands on the fjord shore. Hesteyri in Hornstrandir (abandoned 1952, no road access, accessible by summer ferry only) is the more extreme ghost town experience.
How do I get to Hesteyri?
By summer ferry from Ísafjörður in the Westfjords — approximately 2 hours. The ferry operates June–August only; no access in winter. Hornstrandir Nature Reserve requires no entry fee but is a serious wilderness environment: always carry emergency supplies, a map and a satellite communicator. Book the return ferry before arriving.
When were Iceland's ghost towns abandoned?
Most Icelandic ghost towns were emptied in two main waves: the herring stock collapse of the 1950s–60s emptied factory villages (Djúpavík 1968, Hesteyri 1952) and the 20th-century rural exodus emptied farming communities progressively from the 1940s onward. Both processes were remarkably rapid by European standards.
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