East Iceland Guide

East Iceland is the least visited region along the Ring Road, and that is precisely what makes it special. While tour buses crowd the Golden Circle and coaches line up at Jokulsarlon, the Eastfjords remain genuinely quiet. You can drive for an hour along staggering coastal scenery and barely pass another car. This is Iceland as it was before the tourism boom — remote, rugged, and unhurried.

The landscape here is defined by deep fjords that slice into the coastline like jagged teeth. Towering mountains rise directly from the water, their slopes streaked with waterfalls in summer and snow in winter. Unlike the flat lava fields and glacial outwash plains of the south, East Iceland is vertical country. Every bend in the road reveals a new fjord, a new mountain, a new composition of sea and stone.

Beyond the scenery, East Iceland offers something increasingly rare in Iceland: authentic local culture without a tourist veneer. Seydisfjordur has emerged as an artistic enclave, with galleries, workshops, and a creative community drawn by the extraordinary setting. The region is also the only place in Iceland where wild reindeer roam, descendants of animals introduced from Norway in the 18th century.

Most visitors reach East Iceland by driving the Ring Road. Coming from the south, the route passes through Hofn and follows the coast northward through a succession of fjords and tunnels before reaching Egilsstadir, the regional hub. From the north, the Ring Road descends from the Myvatn area through highland passes into the Egilsstadir valley. Either approach takes roughly three to four hours from the nearest major stops.

For those short on time, domestic flights connect Reykjavik to Egilsstadir in about one hour. Icelandair operates scheduled flights year-round, making it possible to fly in, rent a car, and explore the Eastfjords without driving the full Ring Road.

The third option is the Smyril Line ferry, MS Noronna, which sails from Hirtshals in Denmark via Torshavn in the Faroe Islands to Seydisfjordur. The ferry arrives once a week in summer, turning the arrival itself into an experience as the ship glides through the narrow fjord to the tiny harbor.

Seydisfjordur is the jewel of East Iceland and one of the most photogenic small towns in the entire country. Tucked at the head of a narrow fjord, it is reached by a dramatic 25-kilometre mountain pass road from Egilsstadir that climbs to 600 metres before descending through a series of switchbacks with waterfalls cascading alongside the road. The drive alone is worth the trip.

The town itself is a collection of brightly painted wooden houses, many dating from the early 20th century, clustered around a small harbor. The most photographed feature is the rainbow-painted road that leads to Bla Kirkjan, the Blue Church, a charming timber church that hosts concerts and events throughout summer.

Seydisfjordur has developed a thriving art scene. The Skalanes nature reserve at the mouth of the fjord combines art residencies with wildlife watching. Galleries and craft workshops dot the town. The LungA art festival in July draws artists and musicians from across Europe. Despite its small population of around 700 people, the town punches well above its weight culturally.

Practically speaking, Seydisfjordur has a handful of restaurants, a small supermarket, and several guesthouses and hotels. Allow at least half a day here, but a full day or overnight stay lets you absorb the atmosphere properly.

The stretch of Route 1 through the Eastfjords is one of Iceland's most scenic drives, yet it rarely appears on highlight lists because most visitors are rushing between Hofn and Egilsstadir. That is a mistake. The road winds through a chain of fjords, each with its own character, connected by mountain passes and tunnels carved through solid rock.

Heading south from Egilsstadir, the first major fjord is Reydarfjordur, the longest fjord in East Iceland and home to a town of the same name. Continue south to Faskrudsfjordur, once a base for French fishermen and still bearing French street names alongside the Icelandic ones.

Further along, Stodvarfjordur is home to Petra's Stone Collection, an extraordinary private collection of minerals and semi-precious stones gathered over a lifetime by local resident Petra Sveinsdottir. At the southern end of the fjord drive, Djupivogur is a quiet fishing village with a pleasant harbor and views across Berunes peninsula.

The driving itself requires attention. Roads are mostly paved but narrow in places, with single-lane tunnels where you must yield to oncoming traffic. Coastal fog can reduce visibility without warning. The entire Eastfjords stretch from Egilsstadir to Djupivogur takes about three hours without stops, but half a day with pauses is far more rewarding.

Egilsstadir is the largest town in East Iceland with a population of roughly 2,500. It serves as the services and transport hub for the entire region. The town sits on the banks of Lagarfljot, a long narrow lake that stretches 25 kilometres to the southwest — home to one of Iceland's most enduring legends: the Lagarfljot Wyrm, a serpent-like creature said to inhabit its murky depths.

Just south of town, Hallormsstadaskogur is Iceland's largest forest — a dense woodland of birch, larch, and spruce stretching along the lakeshore. Walking trails wind through the forest, and in autumn the birch turns golden and orange, creating some of the best fall color anywhere in Iceland.

Egilsstadir is also the starting point for highland drives into the interior, including routes toward Snaefell and the Karahnjukar highlands. These require 4x4 vehicles and are only open in summer, but they offer access to some of the most remote and untouched landscapes in Europe.

While most visitors experience Vatnajokull from its southern outlet glaciers at Jokulsarlon and Skaftafell, the eastern side of Europe's largest ice cap offers a wilder and less-visited perspective. The glacier's eastern edge is visible from sections of the Ring Road between Hofn and Egilsstadir, a wall of white rising above the dark landscape.

The Lonsorbaefi wilderness area, between Hofn and the Eastfjords, is one of Iceland's most remote lowland areas. Rivers braided across black sand outwash plains flow from Vatnajokull's eastern tongues. For experienced hikers this area offers genuine solitude and raw glacial landscapes.

Vestrahorn and the Stokksnes peninsula, technically in the southeast near Hofn, are often visited as part of an East Iceland itinerary. The dramatic peaked mountain reflected in tidal flats has become one of Iceland's most photographed scenes. A small fee is charged for access via the Viking Cafe at Stokksnes.

Egilsstadir has the widest selection of accommodation in the region, including hotels, guesthouses, and a hostel. It is the most practical base if you are spending multiple days in East Iceland, with easy access to Seydisfjordur, the Eastfjords drive, and Hallormsstadaskogur.

Seydisfjordur offers a smaller but characterful selection of places to stay, from the Hotel Aldan in renovated heritage buildings to cozy guesthouses and a well-run campsite by the river. Staying overnight here lets you experience the town after the day-trippers leave, when the fjord falls quiet and the light turns soft on the mountains.

Camping is available at multiple sites throughout East Iceland, including in Egilsstadir, Seydisfjordur, Hallormsstadaskogur, and several fjord towns. The campsite at Hallormsstadaskogur, set among the trees beside the lake, is particularly pleasant and one of the best camping spots in Iceland.

Summer, from June through August, is the prime season for East Iceland. All roads are open, the weather is at its mildest, daylight is nearly continuous in June, and services throughout the fjord towns operate at full capacity. July is the warmest month, with average temperatures around 10–12 degrees Celsius.

September brings autumn colors to Hallormsstadaskogur and the fjord slopes, making it arguably the most beautiful month in East Iceland. The birch forests turn vivid shades of gold, orange, and red against the dark mountains. Tourist numbers drop sharply after August, so you will have the roads and towns largely to yourself.

Winter in East Iceland is a serious proposition. The mountain pass to Seydisfjordur (Route 93) can close for days during storms. On the other hand, the Eastfjords in winter are hauntingly beautiful, with snow-covered mountains, frozen waterfalls, and a chance to see reindeer at lower elevations.