Canonical URL: https://www.iceland.org/museums/eldheimar Content updated: 2026-09-10 This is the Markdown representation of the page. Interactive tools and forms are available on the [HTML page](). Source-check and review dates retain the meanings stated in the article. --- # Eldheimar Museum: 1973 Vestmannaeyjar Eruption Exhibition A museum built around a house buried by the 1973 Eldfell eruption on Heimaey, telling the story of the night an entire island was evacuated. Updated September 10, 2026 · [Published by Iceland.org]() · [Writing & review]() Location Vestmannaeyjar Westman Islands • Heimaey ## Quick Answer Eldheimar on Heimaey tells the story of the 1973 eruption and evacuation around an excavated house. Compare adult, youth and family admission before visiting. Eldheimar (House of Fire) is a museum in Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) built around an excavated house that was buried during the 1973 Eldfell eruption on Heimaey island. On the night of January 23, 1973, a volcanic fissure ripped open just 200 meters from the edge of town. More than 5,000 people had to evacuate the island. Over the following months, lava and ash buried approximately 400 homes. The museum preserves the excavated house at Gerðisbraut 10 and tells the story of the eruption, evacuation, and recovery through personal accounts, photographs, and multimedia displays. Sources and page update Updated: 2026-09-10 This guide is a travel-planning summary, not emergency guidance. Conditions in Iceland can change quickly; check official alerts, roads, and weather before driving, hiking, or booking around volatile conditions. For sourcing standards and how to report an error, see the editorial policy. Official sources to check - [Eldheimar official site]() - [Visit Westman Islands]() - [Visit Iceland]() Admission 3,550 ISK Ages 10–18: 1,900 ISK; under 10 free. Checked September 10, 2026 Opening Hours 11:00–17:00 Current daily hours; check date-specific notices. Verified September 10, 2026 Family admission 7,200 ISK Confirm family-ticket eligibility with the museum. Checked September 10, 2026 ## Check the child age band before buying The [museum’s price list](), checked September 10, 2026, charges 3,550 ISK for an adult and 1,900 ISK for ages 10–18; children under 10 enter free. A listed family ticket costs 7,200 ISK. Ask the museum which people it covers before comparing it with individual tickets. The posted daily hours are 11:00–17:00, and groups can request visits outside those hours. Date-specific notices can override the regular schedule, so confirm the museum opening alongside your sailing before committing to an island day trip. ## What to Expect ### Excavated House The preserved house at Gerðisbraut 10, buried under tephra in 1973 and carefully excavated starting in 2005 ### Eruption Timeline A detailed chronological account of the eruption from the first fissure opening to the end of volcanic activity ### Overnight Evacuation The evacuation of more than 5,000 people from the island ### Personal Stories Video testimonies and photographs from survivors recalling the eruption and its aftermath ### Pumping the Lava How Icelanders sprayed seawater onto the advancing lava flow to save the harbor ### Eldfell Volcano Views The museum sits near Eldfell volcano, which can be hiked for panoramic views of the island and lava field ## Getting There Herjólfur lists the Landeyjahöfn–Vestmannaeyjar route. Check the [operator’s departure notices and booking calendar]() for your date, then plan travel from the island harbor to Eldheimar. Avoid treating the scheduled crossing as the whole journey: boarding, arrival and reaching the museum take additional time. ## Best Time to Visit Summer (June–August) offers the best weather and most frequent ferry service, plus the chance to see puffins nesting on the island. Check the museum’s dated opening notices as well as the ferry timetable. A day trip from the mainland is feasible, but staying overnight allows time to hike Eldfell volcano and explore the island's other attractions. Check ferry schedules in advance, especially outside peak season. Planning help ## Eldheimar FAQs Quick answers with safety notes where it matters. **What happened during the 1973 Vestmannaeyjar eruption?** On January 23, 1973, a volcanic fissure opened without warning on the island of Heimaey, just 200 meters from the town. Over the following five months, the eruption buried approximately 400 homes under lava and ash. More than 5,000 residents had to evacuate the island. One person died from toxic fumes, but the evacuation otherwise succeeded. **How do I get to the Westman Islands?** Herjólfur lists a ferry route between Landeyjahöfn and Vestmannaeyjar. Check the operator’s timetable and departure notice for your travel date before arranging the museum visit; the departure port and sailing conditions matter as much as the crossing time. **Is the excavated house the original building?** Yes, the museum is built around an actual house excavated from the volcanic tephra. The house at Gerðisbraut 10 was buried during the 1973 eruption and remained preserved under the ash until archaeological excavation began in 2005. Visitors can see the original walls, rooms, and household items left behind during the evacuation. **How long should I spend at Eldheimar?** Allow time for the excavated house, multimedia exhibits and personal accounts of the eruption. Fit the museum between your confirmed arrival and return arrangements, with separate time for walking around town or hiking Eldfell. [Back to Museums]() Country reference: [Iceland statistics]().