Flatey is a peaceful island where time stands still. It is known also for the rich birdlife on the island.
There are many beautiful old houses on the island as well as a hotel and restaurant. Here you can visit also the oldest and smallest library in Iceland, established in 1864. This library was once home to the Flatey Book, the largest of medieval Icelandic manuscripts.
The Flatey Church dates back to 1926 and is decorated by Baltasar Samper, a famous painter and father of renowned film director, Baltasar Kormákur. The altarpiece shows a picture of Christ with fishermen at the Flatey harbour. Christ is wearing an Icelandic woollen jumper, the ‘lopapeysa’ and bears an uncanny resemblance to the artist himself. Flatey was the biggest cultural centre in Iceland in the mid-19th century.
The ferry Baldur sails from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur, stopping at Flatey twice a day in the summer months.