Sealwatching
Visitors exploring Hrísey and the surrounding waters may be lucky enough to spot one of the area’s most fascinating residents: seals.
Seals can be seen resting on rocks along the coastline or swimming in the calm waters around the island. One particularly good place to keep an eye out is along the Blue Trail on the western shore of Hrísey, where the coastline offers opportunities to spot wildlife both on land and in the water.
Two seal species can be found in the area: the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Although they can be difficult to spot at first, they may suddenly appear above the surface, looking surprisingly curious before disappearing beneath the waves again.
For anyone walking the trail, it is worth slowing down and taking a moment to look out across the water. You never know when a pair of eyes might appear above the waves. 🦭
Visit Hrísey
Hrísey is a small island just off the coast of North Iceland and makes for an easy day trip from Akureyri. The island is accessible by ferry from Árskógssandur, with the crossing taking approximately 15 minutes. Ferries run roughly every two hours, making it convenient to spend a few hours exploring the island before returning to the mainland.
Along with its wildlife, Hrísey offers peaceful walking trails, beautiful coastal scenery and a chance to experience the slower pace of island life.
If you’re visiting Hrísey, keep your eyes open — the seals may be watching you too.
How to get there:
