Hrisey, Iceland

Recognized as the “Pearl of Eyjafjörður” for its tranquil beauty, Hrísey is a dreamy little island set within the Eyjafjörður fjord in northern Iceland. It was established as a settlement in the 10^th century, and is mentioned in both the medieval Landnámabók and Víga-Glúms saga. Fishing has always been the main industry here, and a herring factory kept the place humming during the 19^th century. Hrísey was a hub for shark hunters, too; the Shark-Jorundur house, built in the mid-1800s, features an exhibit on the hunting practice in Iceland. Today around 200 people live on the island, a birder’s paradise with more than 40 species — including one of Europe’s largest breeding colonies of arctic terns.