Seyðisfjörður combines a particularly well-preserved collection of historic wooden houses with art, culture and waterside excursions. Seasonal information is also useful for planning: the Fossastígur and Fjallkonustígur trails are listed for June to September; the Blue Church Summer Concert series takes place every summer.
Getting There and Culture in Town
The Smyril Line ferry connection to Seyðisfjörður runs from Hirtshals in northern Denmark, via the Faroe Islands, to eastern Iceland. A stopover in the Faroe Islands is possible.
Among the town’s best-known features is Rainbow Street, which ends in front of the blue town church. Every summer, Seyðisfjörður hosts the Blue Church Summer Concert series, one of the major cultural events in eastern Iceland. If you are interested in the town’s architectural history, you can also find it at Seyðisfjörður Swimming Hall: built in 1948, it was designed by state architect Gudjón Samúelsson. The indoor swimming pool has hot tubs and a sauna; check seasonal opening hours before your visit.
The Technical Museum of East Iceland presents the outdoor exhibition “Working Women” in Harbour Garden, exploring the history of women in Seyðisfjörður around 1900. Check the current exhibition details before your trip. Skaftfell Center for Visual Art hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year and offers an international artist residency program as well as an arts education program. Individual events and programs may change.
Smaller venues also have their own focus: Geirahús is a small museum run by Skaftfell that can be visited by appointment. This allows you to arrange your visit there in advance, while Skaftfell offers a year-round program.
Walks, Hikes and Other Activities
Fossastígur is an easy walking trail from the town center toward the Fjarðarsel valley and is listed for June to September. Along the Fjarðará River, you can see some of the most impressive of its 25 waterfalls. Fjallkonustígur is listed as 6 kilometers and 3.5 hours; it leads to Lake Vestdalur and the cave of the “Mountain Maid.” This hike is also listed for June to September.
The two trails offer different things: Fossastígur is an easy walk with waterfalls along the Fjarðará as its main features, while Fjallkonustígur has a specified distance and duration and leads to a lake and cave. This can help you decide what kind of excursion to include in your stay.
The Vestdalur trail also recalls an earlier purpose of routes in the region: it was once used to carry mail and goods between Seyðisfjörður and other places in eastern Iceland. The Seven Summits Challenge involves climbing seven peaks around the fjord of Seyðisfjörður. It is listed as a summer activity; check details and trail conditions locally.
For guided activities, Eastfjords Adventures, based in Seyðisfjörður, offers hiking and snowshoeing tours. Another leisure option is Hagavöllur, a 9-hole golf course on the edge of town. Alongside culture and trails listed as seasonal, tours and golf offer different options to consider when planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Neskaupstadur, Bjarnanes, Brekka, Eiðar, Hof, Reydarfjördur, Vopnafjörður, Hámundarstaðir.
For the regional travel overview: Austurland.
