Eastern Fjords of Iceland are a hidden gem, often overlooked by travelers rushing along the Ring Road. But if you're searching for breathtaking landscapes, remote fishing villages, and untouched nature, this region is an absolute must-visit.
As someone who has explored Iceland extensively, I can confidently say that the Eastfjords offer some of the country’s most dramatic coastlines, towering mountains, and secluded black sand beaches—without the crowds of the Golden Circle or South Coast.
What makes the Eastern Fjords special? First, the wildlife. This is one of the best places in Iceland to spot reindeer, puffins, and even seals basking on the shores. The region is also rich in Viking history, with sites like Búðirkirkja and Petra’s Stone Collection showcasing the area's cultural and geological heritage. Not to mention, the scenic drives here are legendary—winding roads hug the cliffs, offering jaw-dropping views of the Norwegian Sea and the towering Dyrfjöll Mountains.
In this guide, I’ll take you through the best places to visit in the Eastern Fjords, from the colorful town of Seyðisfjörður to the rugged beauty of Vestrahorn. Whether you're an adventure seeker, a photographer, or just someone looking to escape into Iceland’s raw beauty, the Eastfjords won’t disappoint.
Carved by the patience and perseverance of ancient glaciers, with endless valleys and stoic mountains, the fjords of eastern Iceland are bathed by the water of the Atlantic Ocean and crossed by rivers and waterfalls that descend from inland glaciers. And on its coasts, dotted with impressive cliffs and beaches, in summer the curious puffins nest, one of the most incredible and friendly animals you can see on your trip to Iceland. Are you still wondering if it is worth extending your route through Iceland to reach the eastern fjords ? Well, keep reading to find out…
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What to see in the eastern fjords of Iceland
We arrived at the East Fjords after visiting the south of Iceland and before continuing our tour of the north of the country on our 10-day circular route along the Ring Road . As time was limited, we only dedicated one day to this part of the island, but ideally we would have had 2 or 3 days to explore it as it deserves, or to visit its main points of interest in a leisurely manner.
On the day of departure we stayed at REY Stays – Small & Cozy Studio in the glacier area, and during the tour along the east coast of Iceland we spent the night at the Skipalækur Guesthouse with a beautiful location on the banks of the Lagarfljót River near the town of Egilsstaðir. Both are highly recommended.
That said, pay close attention as we look at what awaits you in the Austurland region of Iceland , numbered from south to north:
1. Vestrahorn Mountains, Stokksne Beach and Viking Village
No matter how many stunning landscapes you've seen, even if you've had your fill of them, this place has the ability to surprise you even more. The Vestrahorn Mountains are a range of brutal, rugged peaks dyed entirely in black, rising almost from the ocean itself, reaching 450 metres in height.
The best place to see this impressive landscape is from the also black Stokksne beach . To access it there is a gravel path of about 10 km until you reach the Viking Cafe , where you will have to pay a fee of 1,000 ISK. Don't leave without taking a look at the replica of a Viking village , with its wooden houses, its walls built with sharpened logs (in the purest Obelix village style) and a pretty cool Viking ship. Apparently, it was built to film a movie or series, and after being abandoned, its current state of preservation is not the best.
A few kilometres further on, on the other side of the lagoon, the Hvalnes Lighthouse is another panoramic point from which to observe this mountain range. This is where we saw a reindeer in the wild , the first of many, and this beautiful animal lives in this whole area (especially in the Breiðdalsvík valley ), both in the wild and on farms.
2. Skútafoss waterfall
This is a small waterfall , not comparable to other ones in Iceland either in size or popularity, but with a lot of charm . The setting, in a tundra valley and surrounded by huge black mountains with snowy peaks, is its best attraction.
The detour from the main road is very short and the walk from the parking lot (free) will only take you 10 or 15 minutes. When you reach the first waterfall, don't turn around, because if you continue up, you will reach a second waterfall that has a surprise: on the right side you can access a small cave and with a little care, you can even get right behind the stream of water.
3. Djupivogur village
If the above is not the best waterfall in the country, this is not the prettiest village either, but it represents a key point on any route through the fjords of eastern Iceland . It will be time to decide whether to continue along the Ring Road , which winds along the capricious topography of this part of the country, or take a shortcut through the Öxi Valley , and its mountain pass on road 939.
This dilemma—sort of a crossroads—is found after a few kilometers, after entering the Berufjörður fjord . But first, make a quick stop at the sleepy fishing village of Djúpivogur , an old Danish settlement that still preserves some of its original houses. It is also popular for hosting an important colony of birds and for the, in our opinion somewhat bizarre, sculpture Eggin í Gleðivík , made up of 34 enormous granite eggs, one for each species of bird that lives here. Are you around lunchtime? The day we went it was closed but Langabud Kaffihús looked great.
The time has come, what have you decided? We decided to take the alternative route and shorten the journey, without having any idea of what awaited us, and it turned out to be crazy ! As you continue through this valley, accompanied by a small stream that occasionally offers a beautiful waterfall (like Folaldafoss) , you will leave behind you an impressive view of the fjord and the mountains. In our case, the snow was taking over the asphalt, forming white walls sometimes several meters high, but with Jairo's skill at the wheel we got through it without any scares.
Until 2019, this road was made of gravel and going down it, especially in winter, was little less than reckless. Today it is perfectly paved and, if it is not closed due to snowfall (remember to always check the road.is website ), it will be quite an experience.
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4. Egilsstadir
Egilsstaðir, located on the shores of the picturesque Lake Lögurinn , stands out as the main urban centre in the eastern fjords of Iceland. We decided to stay here, specifically at the Skipalækur Guesthouse , and it seemed like a good choice to establish our base for the day, since it has supermarkets, petrol stations and plenty of bars and restaurants.
Our tip is to try the pizza and craft beer at Askur , with vegan options and happy hour (2pm-6pm, all beers 999 ISK!). It's one of our favourite restaurants in Iceland .
And if you want to end this day on a high note, very close by are some of the best hot springs in Iceland. Which ones?…
5. Vök Geothermal Baths
Ending a route through the fjords of eastern Iceland with a relaxing and therapeutic bath in a thermal bath seems to us to be the perfect way to put the finishing touch. The Vök Geothermal Baths are characterized by modern and well-kept facilities , with floating infinity pools at different temperatures (between 37º and 39º) located within Lake Urriðavatn itself.
But above all, it offers a unique experience : after soaking in its warm, healing waters, you have the opportunity to dive into the frozen waters of the lake ! Would you dare? Plus, it's the only place in Iceland where you can make tea using the geothermal water that flows directly from the ground (it's drinkable!). It was our first thermal experience in Iceland and we can't recommend it more highly.
⭐ There are different tickets, the standard one costs around 45-50€ and we found that if you buy it online through GetYourGuide it is cheaper. We did it this way and when we arrived the only thing they asked us was the name of the reservation.
Remember to get the Revolut card ( with a €10 promo ) to avoid commissions when paying and withdrawing money abroad
6. Seyðisfjörður village
From Egilsstaðir we suggest you take road 93 towards the fjords where a priceless reward awaits you: the charming village of Seyðisfjörður . This quiet and peaceful place will enchant you with its colorful wooden houses, the iconic blue church and its famous rainbow street. In addition, you will find cozy cafes and craft shops where you can buy some souvenirs. It always appears on the lists of the most beautiful villages in Iceland and for that reason alone it is worth taking a look.
Although tourism is the town's main economic driver today, Seyðisfjörður has a fascinating past as one of the region's most important fishing ports , especially known for its herring fishing.
7. Search for puffins in Borgarfjörður
The Borgarfjörður fjord and its namesake cliffs hide an even greater treasure than its landscapes: this is one of the best places in Iceland to see puffins . After spending the entire winter in the northern seas, this friendly bird returns to dry land and from May to September settles on these and other cliffs on the coasts of Iceland to mate.
From the village of Bakkagerði you will have to continue to Hafnarhólmi , a small islet with a path of wooden steps and platforms that allow you to get close to the nesting areas of these seabirds without disturbing them. Imagine seeing hundreds of puffins in their natural habitat! We are still imagining it because we didn't see a single one (but we went in mid-April and they hadn't arrived yet).
However, we really enjoyed this route along the panoramic road 93 , with snow-capped mountains, viewpoints, winding curves, cliffs, dramatic landscapes, colourful wooden houses and a special light. And one last piece of advice, on the way to the cliffs make a stop at the viewing point of the Storurd Visitor Centre as the views are worth it.
8. Hengifoss waterfall
We didn't have time to go, but if you're visiting Iceland's eastern fjords for several days, you'll have a date with Hengifoss Waterfall. At 118 meters high , Hengifoss is the second highest waterfall in the country and has a unique attraction: to get to it, you'll have to go into a gorge formed by basalt columns known as Hengifossérgljufur .
But this is just the beginning of the wonders that await you. Once you reach the waterfall, you will be speechless by the spectacular rock wall made up of alternating layers of red clay and dark basalt . Sounds good to you? Wait, you might lose your appetite… The path (round trip) to get there is about 5 km and will take you approximately 1 hour and a half to walk (a little longer if there is snow). The first part is steep, so keep this in mind if you are not very fit 😛
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9. Studlagil Canyon
We did go to this canyon, another of the most spectacular places to see in the eastern fjords, and although the time of year when we visited was not the best, as it was still covered in snow, we were able to perceive the grandeur of the place . As in the previous waterfall, basalt is the main protagonist : tall hexagonal columns of this black material surround this spectacular gorge, where a river of turquoise waters meanders through.
To get to Studlagil Canyon, turn off Highway 1 onto Highway 923 and drive about 20 km on a gravel track, but in good condition. You will then have two ways to visit it : via a trail that allows you to reach the base of the river, or from a viewing platform on the other side of the canyon. We give you all the information on how to visit Studlagil Canyon in our article on North Iceland .
10. Visit the most isolated vending machine in the world
Or so the story goes, and it makes perfect sense, as we can't imagine a more curious, peculiar and out-of-the-way vending machine! You'll find it inside a green wooden hut on the road to the Berufjörður fjord in the middle of nowhere. It runs on wind power from a small windmill and solar panels , and there are some chairs to enjoy your drink.
We were lucky enough to meet the owner and inventor of this crazy idea, who was just going to collect the coins from the machine (there were quite a few hehe). He was telling us how it works and his future plans (he's thinking about installing a card payment system, he's a genius!). It was a surreal moment, but hey, this trip we were left wanting to see the Northern Lights, but we met Mr Vending and not just anyone can say that 😉
More things to do in the East Fjords
Take note of these other ideas if you have several days in the area:
- Another waterfall to see, located on the road to Seyðisfjörður Village, is Gufufoss , which is a quick visit.
- The Klifbrekku Waterfall is another of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area.
- Hallormsstaður Forest is the largest forest in Iceland, quite a peculiarity!
- The Mjóifjörður fjord has the reputation of being one of the most beautiful fjords in the country and where, among other things, you can see the remains of the WWII US Navy LCM .
Map of the East Fjords of Iceland
To help you plan your route through the eastern fjords of Iceland, here is a map with the location of the best places to visit and points of interest to keep in mind:
Did you like the route? Personally, we thought it was going to be an area without much attraction, like a mere passage between the south and the north. How wrong we were! We don't rule out returning with more time (although, during the puffin season to get over it). Do you know of any more things to see in the fjords of eastern Iceland ?
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