14/07/2026
Thinking of a side trip to Seyðisfjörður?
It’s a popular diversion off the Ring Road from Egilsstaðir - a thrilling drive over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass on Route 93 (just 27 kilometres each way) is topped by astonishing views as you begin the winding switchbacks down to the fjord.
Gufufoss is just a short walk from a parking area on the right as the route descends towards Seyðisfjörður.
One of the prettiest villages in Iceland, Seyðisfjörður is known for its colourful wooden and ironclad houses, plunging waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and stunning hiking trails.
It’s also a vibrant and quirky artistic community, with pop-up festivals and cultural showcases throughout the year.
The Blue Church (Seyðisfjarðarkirkja) is the iconic symbol of the village with its rainbow path, and you’ll also find some splendid restaurants to whet your appetite.
The Blue Church Summer Series takes place every Wednesday in July, starting on July 8th.
https://www.facebook.com/blaakirkjan/
In 2016, Seyðisfjörður residents gathered to paint Norðurgata Street to celebrate the local Pride Walk. The street was such a big hit that it has become a permanent feature. Every summer, the rainbow is repainted.
The church has a grand piano, rarely seen in this part of Iceland. The interior was rebuilt in 1995, after a fire ten years previously.
Twisted girders stand near the Blue Church, a monument to an avalanche that hit the town in 1996.
Seyðisfjörður is also an international port, welcoming ferries from Denmark and the Faroe Islands, as well as larger cruise ships.
https://portsofmulathing.is/cruise-ship-arrivals/
This website includes the arrival and departure schedules for Seyðisfjörður, Djúpivogur, and Bakkagerði in Borgarfjörður Eystri.
When these visit, a significant number of people go to the village’s restaurants and cafés. So, try to time your arrival with that in mind!
Hotel Aldan (Norðurgata 2) offers high-quality accommodation, fine food, excellent breakfasts, and unique house cocktails featuring local Icelandic ingredients.
https://www.hotelaldan.is/
The hotel also houses Norð Austur, which specialises in sushi dishes.
https://www.instagram.com/nordaustur_sushi_bar/?hl=en-gb
Just over the road, Kaffi Lára El Grillo Bar (Norðurgata 3) is a popular choice to stop for a b**r or coffee, sit on the wooden benches outside, and soak up the views.
Its name is inspired by its former owner, Lára, and a wartime wreck, the SS EL Grillo, a British oil tanker that was bombed by the N***s in 1944 and sank in the fjord. The cannon from El Grillo stands on the shore to this day.
The Skaftfell Centre For The Visual Arts (Austurvegur 42) is the primary visual art centre for East Iceland, located in a timber-frame house built by Norwegian fishermen in 1907.
Pop in to explore its year-round arts programme and gallery exhibitions, which change throughout the year — it’s free to enter! There’s a café-bistro-bar offering pizzas and local b**rs.
https://skaftfell.is/
Just above the town stands Tvísöngur, a space-age sound sculpture created by German artist Lukas Kühne.
Interconnected concrete domes create a natural amplifier that converts voice or sounds into a five-tone harmony.
And there’s something else to enjoy in Seyðisfjörður this summer!
KIOSK 108 is an independent art project owned by the No Panic ehf. company, set in the transformed captain’s cabin of a 1969 fishing boat.
https://www.kiosk108.net/
It’s a quirky cultural venue and small bar that provides a home for unique art and Icelandic and international musicians, featuring unexpected “underground” performances.
Enjoy a great lineup of music and live acts across a range of genres, along with coffee, cakes, and freshly made fish soups every day from early afternoon, open for the summer season until mid-September.
On your way back to Egilsstaðir, check out the intriguing art installation “Heavier Mountain”, a collection of colourful concrete blocks.
Seyðisfjörður is full of surprises - don’t miss it!
More tips like this can be found in my 2026 guidebook for East Iceland and on the official website for Seyðisfjörður.
https://a.co/d/j3v9sBv
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B39MMWSQ
https://www.visitseydisfjordur.com/
