Ferry Iceland
Stykkishólmur - Brjánslækur
The shortcut from Snæfellsnes into the southern Westfjords - with your car on board, or as a stopover on Flatey.
- Around 2.5 hours across the Breiðafjörður on the Baldur, run by Ferjuleiðir, calling at Flatey
- Year-round; winter timetable runs daily except Saturdays with one to two departures per direction
- Cars, motorhomes and motorbikes only between Stykkishólmur and Brjánslækur - Flatey is foot passengers only
Route guide
Ferry Stykkishólmur - Brjánslækur at a glance
Table of Contents
The ferry Stykkishólmur - Brjánslækur is the short link from the Snæfellsnes peninsula into the southern Westfjords. The Baldur, run by Ferjuleiðir, crosses the Breiðafjörður in around two and a half hours, calls at the island of Flatey along the way, and carries your car too between the two mainland ports.
Getting there and the port of Stykkishólmur
Stykkishólmur sits on the north coast of Snæfellsnes. From Reykjavík, take the Ring Road to Borgarnes and continue on routes 54 and 58 into town; the ferry departs from the harbour below the rocky islet of Súgandisey, right by the town centre. There's ample parking at the harbour and around it if you're leaving the car behind for a trip to Flatey.
Without your own vehicle, you can reach Stykkishólmur in summer with the daily long-distance coach Strætó from Reykjavík. Brjánslækur on the other side isn't a town but a landing point on Route 62 on the south coast of the Westfjords - so plan your onward journey before you board.
Check-in and departure
Booking is online with Ferjuleiðir, and the company allocates vehicle space by length and width. Flatey is a special case: passengers travelling to or from the island must be booked in advance, with no provision for boarding on spec at the landing. If you're bringing a vehicle, be at the quay early enough that loading is finished before departure; fixed departure times by day of the week and season are in the timetable.
The Baldur sails year-round, except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Breiðafjörður is open water, so a sailing can be cancelled in a storm - check the weather service Veðurstofa and road conditions on road.is, which the ferry company links to itself, on the day of travel.
On board the Baldur
The crossing is a day sailing, with no cabins. Free Wi-Fi is available on board, and catering can be bought; groups can pre-order a menu. As everywhere in Iceland, card payment is standard - you won't need cash.
The island of Flatey is the stop in the middle of the route: if you disembark, you can spend the day on the car-free island and continue in either direction on a later ferry - though over winter Flatey is served only three days a week.
Vehicle, bike and pet
Cars, motorbikes, motorhomes, caravans, trailers and coaches travel between Stykkishólmur and Brjánslækur. The fare is tiered by vehicle length, with a base rate up to five metres and a surcharge per additional metre; wide vehicles over two metres, along with motorhomes, caravans, folding trailers and horse trailers, have their own rates. No vehicles travel to Flatey - only foot passengers disembark there. What matters when registering a camper is covered in the guide Taking a motorhome to Iceland.
Pets are welcome in designated areas of the ferry; dogs must be on a lead or in a crate, and the crew will assign you a space. Strict rules apply to bringing a pet into Iceland, summarised in the guide Taking a dog to Iceland.
Arrival in Brjánslækur and onward travel
In Brjánslækur you drive straight onto Route 62. Heading west it leads via Patreksfjörður to the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg; heading north, Route 60 takes you to the Dynjandi waterfall and on to Ísafjörður. Expect gravel sections and mountain passes in the Westfjords; road.is reports current road conditions.
In the other direction, arriving in Stykkishólmur puts you right in the middle of town, with a short run to the Ring Road via Borgarnes or onto the Snæfellsnes loop.
Tickets and fares
Ferjuleiðir prices across two fare periods: summer from June to August and autumn/winter from September to May. Adults pay the full fare, seniors from 67 and people with disabilities get a discount, young people aged 12 to 17 pay half price, and children up to eleven travel free when accompanied. Separate, lower fares apply to the legs to Flatey; Westfjords residents get a discount after registering.
Rebooking is free up to 24 hours before departure, after which a fee applies. Cancelling more than 24 hours before departure means the company retains a small percentage; closer to departure a fixed fee applies. The booking window shows the actual prices for your travel date, and the fare overview explains how they're worked out.
Ferry across the Breiðafjörður
The ferry across the Breiðafjörður into the Westfjords
The Baldur is the only ferry across the Breiðafjörður: she departs Stykkishólmur on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and reaches Brjánslækur on the south coast of the Westfjords after around two and a half hours. Along the way she calls at the small island of Flatey, which you can build in as a stopover. The operator is Ferjuleiðir from Reykjavík, running the line on behalf of Iceland's road authority Vegagerðin.
If you're driving into the Westfjords, the crossing saves the long detour around the fjord via Route 60. Sailings run year-round, across two timetable periods: summer from June to August and autumn/winter from September to May. Vehicles travel only between Stykkishólmur and Brjánslækur; Flatey is served by foot passengers only.
- Crossing
- 2 hrs 30 min
- Operator
- Ferjuleiðir
- Frequency
- 1-2× daily, year-round
- From price
- €21
Next departures
Ferry Stykkishólmur - Brjánslækur
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Breiðafjörður ferry Baldur
How long does the ferry from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur take?+
The crossing from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur takes around two and a half hours. The Baldur takes about ninety minutes to reach Flatey, and around another hour from Flatey to Brjánslækur. The stop on the island is built into the timetable.
How often does the Baldur sail, and where do I find the timetable?+
The Baldur sails year-round. The timetable has two periods, summer from June to August and the autumn/winter timetable from September to May. Over winter there is one departure per direction daily except Saturdays, two on two weekdays, with Flatey served three days a week. There is no service on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Departure times for your travel date are shown in the timetable.
Can I bring my car or motorhome - even to Flatey?+
Only between Stykkishólmur and Brjánslækur. The Baldur carries cars, motorbikes, motorhomes, caravans and trailers, with the fare based on the vehicle's length and width. Only foot passengers and freight without a vehicle are dropped off at Flatey; if you're visiting the island, leave the car in Stykkishólmur or Brjánslækur. Tips on registering a camper are in the guide Taking a motorhome to Iceland.
Do I need to book the crossing to Flatey in advance?+
Yes, passengers travelling to and from Flatey must book in advance - there's no provision for boarding on spec. The same applies to the full crossing if you're travelling with a vehicle: spaces are allocated by vehicle length and are in demand, especially in summer. Book online with Ferjuleiðir or via the booking window on this page.
Can my dog come on the ferry?+
Yes. Pets are welcome on board the Baldur in designated areas; dogs must be on a lead or in a crate, and the crew will assign you a space. Strict import rules apply to bringing a pet into Iceland itself, explained in the guide Taking a dog to Iceland.
What does the ferry Stykkishólmur - Brjánslækur cost?+
The price depends on the timetable period, the leg and your vehicle; children up to eleven travel free when accompanied, and young people and seniors get a discount. The booking window shows what your crossing costs for your travel date; how the fares are structured is explained under Ferry prices to Iceland.