Cultural Centres

Tales of sea monsters have played a colourful role in Icelandic folk culture for centuries, and several written accounts of them can be found all around the country. Today, these elusive creatures have been given a worthy home at the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum, located in the village of Bildudalur on the shores of Arnarfjörður fjord, said to be one of the most prolific centres of monster activity in the country.Visitors to the Sea Monster Museum watch these remarkable creatures brought to life through a lively mix of words, images and videos, an action-packed multimedia display that culminates in a spectacular interactive plinth, the first of its kind in Iceland. First-hand accounts from eye-witnesses are joined on-screen by academic theories on the nature of sea monsters, while a variety of relics and artefacts relating to this mysterious branch of zoology appear throughout the museum as tangible evidence for their existence. And to feed monster appetites, the museum cafeteria offers a range of light refreshments and snacks.  

Cafe Dunhagi is a restaurant specializes in local cuisine. Fresh local fish, Icelandic lamb, vegetarian specials and homemade breads and desserts to die for. We use local herbs and spices from the fjord and serve a wonderful selection of wine and beer for your pleasure. A place of story telling. I have put together a wonderful collection of old photographs of the people that settled this beautiful fjord. The photos tell a remarkable story of survival, adverse conditions and a colorful culture that has shaped Iceland to what it is today. The Cafe is located in one of the oldest buildings in the fjord. When you walk through the door you'll take a step into the past. You can browse the collection of historic photos assembled by the native owner while dining on local cuisine in the warm and cozy interior. Aside from her skills as a chef, the owner is known for her atmospheric music as well as her knack for storytelling. In the summer months, you can take in Icelandic culture at Dunhagi´s weekly events, which include author readings, concerts, and plays. Our goal; To create a memorable event for our customers in a place where you can enjoy thoughtful food, beautiful wines while being surrounded by untouched nature and unprecedented bird colonies a footstep away.

 Outvert Art Space is a non-profit organization and a dynamic, contemporary cultural arts space where variedperspectives and issues are explored through visual arts, music, performance and other forms of media. Outvert Art Space (Gallerí Úthverfa) was founded in 2013 by Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir and Gunnar Jónsson, and collaborates closely with ArtsIceland programs. ArtsIceland and Outvert Art Space are particularly interested in helping artists and curators achieve projects that have significant cultural impact but would be impossible to realize in a traditional gallery or museum setting.  Opening hours: Thursday - Saturday 4 – 6 pm and by appointment.    Outvert Art Space is supported by the Westfjord Cultural Fund & the Municipality of Ísafjörður.  

The Old Bookstore in Flateyri is the oldest original store in Iceland, fourth generation family business since 1914. In this uniq store you will find all of the best products and books from the Westfjords, combined with high quality products from brands that are at least 100 years old from all around the world.  At the Bookstore you will also find the merchant apartment of the founder of the Bookstore. Nothing has been change since 1950, when Jón, the founder of the Bookstore past away. – It is a truly an unforgettable experience to take a step into the past, by visiting the old apartment in the Old Bookstore. But if you truly want to experience the real history of the Old Bookstore and the family you can stay at their home, above the Old bookstore.  See: https://bookstore.is/

The Comedytheatre is the first and only professional theatre in the Westfjords, founded in 1997. The theatre has hosted 45 plays, which usually reflect the history of the Westfjords in one way or another. The Comedytheatre has focused on solo performances that have attracted considerable attention.   Find us on Facebook here.

The aim of the centre is to collect, categorize and preserve legends, rhymes, pictures and any remains connected to the settlement in the Snæfjallahreppur and Grunnavíkurhreppur parishes by making exhibitions, publishing, making a website and with conferences and various events. Hours of Operation: Summer: July 12 - August 05

The Arctic Fox Centre is a non-profit research and exhibition center, focusing on the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) - the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland. The Arctic Fox Centre was established on September 15th 2007 in Sudavik Westfjords. Founders were 42, mostly local people, tourist operators and municipalities in the Westfjords. All of which share their interest in the arctic foxes and believe in increasing ecotourism in Iceland. The idea of the Arctic Fox Centre comes from prof. Pall Hersteinsson, University of Iceland and he serves as a quality witness for the center. The long term aim is to collect all available knowledge and material relevant to the arctic fox in past and presence.  We house an exhibition focusing on educating material:  About biology and history of the arctic foxes as a species. About the war that has been waged between the man and the arctic fox, since the early settlement of humans in Iceland (1100 years). About the status and specialities of the Arctic Foxes in Iceland and other regions of its distributional range. About fox hunting as the oldest paid operation in Iceland, methods and materials, stories and descriptions. About fox farming activities and it´s consequences for the wild population throughout the decades. We emphasize on: Participate in and promote research programs on Icelandic arctic fox populations, in collaboration with academic and research centers. Participate in developing sustainable wildlife torism in Iceland, in collaboration with the authorities and other interested parties. Stimulate development and manufacturing on handicraft and souvenirs, specialized for The Arctic Fox Center. Open: May: 10:00-16:00 June - July: 09:00-18:00 September: 10:00-16:00  Oct 01 - May 14: Upon request