Things to Do in Videy Island

Videy Island sits about a kilometre off the Reykjavik waterfront, close enough that you can see the city's corrugated rooftops and Mount Esja looming behind them—yet the moment the small ferry pulls away from the pier, the urban noise disappears completely. It's one of those small-island experiences where the brevity of the crossing makes the contrast feel almost theatrical. The island is roughly 170 hectares of wind-smoothed grass, basalt outcrops, and Arctic tern colonies, and it carries an astonishing amount of history for something so quiet—Viking-age settlement, a medieval Augustinian monastery, Iceland's oldest stone building still standing, and a Yoko Ono peace installation that lights up the sky toward Reykjavik on certain autumn nights. Most visitors treat Videy as a half-day trip from Reykjavik, which is probably the right instinct—you can walk the whole island's main circuit in two hours if you're moving at a reasonable pace, though the more you slow down, the more the island gives back. The western half is gentle and walkable, centred on the historic Videy House and its small church; the eastern section, called Ennisey, gets more rugged and wind-battered, and that's where you're most likely to find yourself alone with the birds and the sea. The views toward the Reykjanes peninsula and across to the mountains tend to stop people mid-stride, which seems to be the island's whole point. For whatever reason, Videy doesn't get as crowded as you might expect given how close it is to a major capital. Even in peak summer, the island absorbs visitors well. It has the character of a place that has been important, then forgotten, then gently remembered—archaeological layers visible in the landscape if you know to look, and a stillness that feels earned rather than manufactured.

Videy has zero residents—just summer staff. No dining scene, period. The Videy Bistro, tucked inside 18th-century Videy House, opens only during summer ferry season. Stone walls, water views—atmosphere you can't fake. Menu? Soup, sandwiches, waffles. No tasting menu, ever. Hours shrink; prices nudge tourist-premium, understandable, not crazy. Smart travelers eat in Reykjavik first. Old Harbour packs the city's best restaurants—walk off the ferry and you're there.

June through August—summer—means the island is fully operational. Ferries run most frequently, the bistro is open, days stretch ludicrously long, and birdlife hits peak activity. The catch? Arctic terns turn combative during nesting season, so June and July come with that caveat. Early September is arguably the sweet spot. The terns have quieted down, summer crowds have thinned, light turns golden in a way that flatters the landscape, and ferries still run reliably. October is worth considering specifically for the Imagine Peace Tower lighting on the 9th—a memorable evening if the weather cooperates, which it may not. Winter visits are possible but rare. Ferry service becomes unreliable, and the island in January is a seriously exposed and wind-battered place. Not unpleasant if you're prepared and inclined toward that kind of bleakness, but it's an acquired taste.