Region
East Iceland
2 day tours · 11 attractions · 8 h from Reykjavík
The quiet side of the ring road: deep fjords, reindeer country, artist towns like Seyðisfjörður and the basalt canyon of Stuðlagil. If you want Iceland without the crowds, keep driving east.
- 2 day tours
- 11 attractions
- 8 h from Reykjavík
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Towns & places in the east
All 11 places →
Seyðisfjörður
Seyðisfjörður combines colourful streets, the blue church and a fjord harbour. Road, ferry and hill-viewpoint plans need separate checks.
Egilsstaðir
Borgarfjörður eystri
Borgarfjörður Eystri combines the village of Bakkagerði, seasonal birdwatching at Hafnarhólmi and the Víknaslóðir walking network.
Djúpivogur
Djúpivogur combines harbour heritage, Langabúð and the Eggin í Gleðivík sculpture. Coastal wildlife and mountain walks are separate options.
Breiðdalsvík
Breiðdalsvík is a coastal East Iceland village beside Breiðdalur valley, with local heritage and routes towards the surrounding landscape.
Eskifjörður
Eskifjörður offers maritime heritage and Eastfjords scenery, with separate routes towards Hólmanes, waterfalls and mountain trails.
Fáskrúðsfjörður
Fáskrúðsfjörður is an Eastfjords village known for its French fishing heritage, with museum visits and coastal scenery as distinct stops.
Fellabær
Fellabær is across the bridge from Egilsstaðir near Lagarfljót, with Vök Baths outside the town and access to wider East Iceland routes.
Neskaupstaður
Neskaupstaður sits in Norðfjörður in East Iceland, with a nature reserve and separate coastal and mountain walking options.
Reyðarfjörður
Reyðarfjörður is an Eastfjords town with wartime heritage and access towards Búðará, Grænafell and the Hólmanes landscape.
Vopnafjörður
Vopnafjörður offers a harbour-town stop, the Bustarfell turf-house museum and Selárlaug bathing in the surrounding countryside.
From the team’s own list
Where locals eat in the east
East Iceland — frequently asked questions
How far is East Iceland from Reykjavík?
About 650 kilometres and eight hours whichever way you go round, which is why almost nobody drives out and back. It is reached on a Ring Road trip or by flying to Egilsstaðir.
What is there to see in the east?
Seyðisfjörður's rainbow street and blue church, the basalt columns of Stuðlagil, Hengifoss with its red clay bands, the Vök floating geothermal baths on Lake Urriðavatn, and a coastline of fjord villages most itineraries never reach.
Can you see reindeer?
This is the only part of Iceland where you can. The wild herd descended from 18th-century imports lives in the east; they move to lower ground in winter, which is when they are most often seen from the road.
How do you get to Seyðisfjörður?
Over the Fjarðarheiði pass from Egilsstaðir, 27 kilometres of switchbacks that can close in winter weather. The Norröna ferry from Denmark and the Faroes docks there, which is why the town is larger than its size suggests.
Which side of Stuðlagil should you go to?
The west side has a short walk from the car park to a viewing platform above the canyon. The east side takes a five-kilometre walk each way but puts you down among the columns. Water level decides how much of the canyon is visible either way.
When should you visit the east?
June to September, when the passes are open and the fjord roads are straightforward. Winter is possible but the mountain roads between fjords close often, and daylight in December is a few hours.
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