More than 30 murals turn Hellissandur into an outdoor gallery on the Snæfellsnes coast. A short walk reveals work by Icelandic and international artists inspired by local stories, nature and folklore.
Art-walk snapshot
Hellissandur's mural project began in 2018 and now covers walls across the small fishing village.
Local artist Kári Viðarsson helped start the project with the community, bringing Icelandic and international artists to Hellissandur. More than 30 large works now fill gable ends, warehouse walls and smaller surfaces around the village.
The paintings draw on Snæfellsnes rather than following one visual style. Whales, birds, fishing, sagas, mountains and imaginary figures appear beside abstract work. Together they show a lived-in coastal place, not a matching set of decorative panels.
Project origin, community involvement and current scale.
Regional description of the old fish-factory murals and their themes.
Photo guide
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Large works cover whole walls across the village.
Several of the biggest works stretch across the former fish-factory buildings, making this the clearest place to begin.
Large walls allow whole scenes to unfold: ships, sea animals, mountains and stories from the peninsula. Smaller pieces continue along nearby streets, so the visit feels less like entering one art site and more like noticing how the village has used its existing buildings.
Start with the factory walls, then continue only as far into the village as your interest and the weather allow.
Half an hour is enough for the main cluster and a few nearby works. Allow an hour if you want to photograph details or follow the murals onto more side streets. New work and changes to buildings mean the collection can shift between visits.
This is an outdoor walk through Hellissandur, not a separated pedestrian museum. Watch for vehicles, keep entrances clear and do not enter private yards or working areas for a better camera angle.
Wind, rain, snow and low winter light can make even a short village walk slower.
Wear layers that let you stop and look without getting cold. Nearby Svöðufoss is a separate walk across open ground, where conditions can feel rougher than on the village streets. Road conditions can also change between Hellissandur and later stops in Snæfellsjökull National Park, so check them before continuing.
Village context beside Snæfellsjökull National Park.
Current official road information for Snæfellsnes.
By ThorPublished Updated
