The Viking Ship, "The Icelander"

This ship, which is now on land in Keflavík, is an exact replica of an ocean going viking-ship. In the year 2000 it set out to commemorate, celebrate and in some way replicate Leif Erikson’s^1 ^ voyage to the continent now called America some thousand years earlier. The journey was made without modern equipment and clothing but proved a great success. The group made it to the Vínland camp (L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada) and even sailed all the way to New York, as detailed here. Notably the expedition did not sail to Baffin Island or Labrador as the original expedition probably did.

The ship is located close to the Keflavík-Reykjavík road and to see it one turns towards the sea just before^2^ reaching the Kaffitár roasterie and café, which is just by the road. The ship is kept outside and you can explore it freely. It is within the garden (wall) of an old style turf cottage and by it there is a picnic table and an information board. I believe the cottage is a part of the local museum and that perhaps the local clerk can help you with more info and souvenirs but I have not been there when it’s open. They also seem to be constructing a historical park in the area.

For now though you can visit the reconstruction of Leif’s house of birth, Eiríksstaðir in Dalir or the reconstruction of the long-house Stöng in Þjórsárdalur

^{1 – (neo-Anglicization)(old Norse: Leifr Eiríksson – modern spelling: Leifur Eiríksson) (ei is pronounced as the ay in say)}

^{2 – (or after if coming from Reykjavík)}