In the middle of the cold, open waters of the North Atlantic, on a remote island called Ellidaey, stands a small white house that has stirred global fascination. Is it a celebrity’s secret hideaway? A doomsday bunker? A sanctuary for the end of the world? The truth is more down to earth—and just as captivating.
Located on Ellidaey Island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, south of Iceland, this enigmatic house was built in the 1950s by a local hunting association. Its purpose? A rustic base for puffin hunters. Contrary to the swirling internet rumors, no one lives there permanently. The island remains uninhabited, accessible only by boat, and the steep cliffs make reaching the house a real physical challenge.
The home itself is strikingly minimalist. There’s no electricity, no running water, and definitely no Wi-Fi. It runs on a basic generator and collects rainwater for limited use. Yet it’s this stark simplicity, perched on a lush green plateau surrounded by dramatic cliffs and endless ocean, that captures the imagination of travelers and dreamers.
Ellidaey Island is volcanic in origin, covered in windswept grasslands and sharp rock formations. The sheer isolation of the house—standing alone without roads, neighbors, or even a dock—has made it one of the most photographed and misunderstood homes in the world.
Whether seen as a peaceful retreat or a ghostly outpost, the Ellidaey house is a reminder of the raw beauty of Iceland’s wildest places—and how mystery thrives in solitude.
