Region · East Iceland
East Iceland: fjord towns and slower days
Use East Iceland for longer stays in fjord towns and deliberate walks rather than a quick Ring Road passage.
East Iceland feels most rewarding when a town is somewhere you stay, not just somewhere you pass. Fjord-side streets, harbour life, wooded inland areas and walks into the surrounding hills invite a slower pace.
Egilsstaðir is a practical inland hub, while Seyðisfjörður and other fjord towns offer a different setting. Staying by the coast can add atmosphere but also repeated journeys over a pass or around a fjord.
- A useful time allowance
- 4–6 days, editorial suggestion
- Season and conditions
- Summer for the broadest choice; other seasons need careful pass and service checks
- Getting there
- Car; check each public-transport connection individually
Make the next choice
Plan your next step
Choose the next step that fills a gap in your visit. The alternative is optional; you do not need to do both.
These parts of your trip are already arranged. Keep the guide handy and check conditions before you go.
Places to group together
Inland from Egilsstaðir: Hengifoss/Litlanesfoss as the main walk, then Hallormsstaður forest as a shorter next-day outing. Use the forest arboretum and Atlavík lakeshore rather than an unnamed scenic drive.
Fjord stays: Seyðisfjörður pairs Rainbow Street/Blue Church with Skaftfell art and harbour time. Djúpivogur belongs to a southern-fjord stage, with its harbour and Eggin í Gleðivík sculptures; it is not a quick extra after crossing to Seyðisfjörður.
Make two clusters
Begin with Egilsstaðir and the Lagarfljót area for inland outings and travel supplies. Decide how much walking you want before adding distant sights: one sustained walk can fill the centre of a day.
Then choose one or two fjord towns for a separate stay. Seyðisfjörður has a distinctive cultural-town appeal; southern fjord communities suit a coastline journey. Avoid promising a tour of every fjord from one inland base.
Look beyond the viewpoint
Give a harbour, local museum or café time between landscape stops. The shape of the mountains and water changes as you travel; stopping in a community makes those journeys feel less like transit.
Choose paths for the conditions and your ability. Attractive canyon images do not show the state of an approach road or a steep bank. Use official local information and respect closures rather than following a social-media pin.
Getting here changes the plan
A domestic arrival can remove the need to circle the country, but schedules and onward transport must work together. An international ferry journey also needs its own timetable and vehicle arrangements; neither is assumed in this guide.
Winter conditions can affect the passes to coastal towns. Keep a fallback near your present base, and avoid committing to an early distant departure after a weather-sensitive transfer. The slower East route develops this regional idea into a practical sequence.
Keep in mind
- Before setting out
- Check the current conditions for the actual route, then confirm the facilities and transport you need for that day.
- Planning budget
- 4–6 days, editorial suggestion; this is editorial guidance, not a minimum stay or access promise.
Some source checks are due for an update. Confirm current prices, timetables and access with the linked official source before making plans.
Sources & editorial review · 2026-09-30
Time allowances and suggested combinations are our editorial recommendations. Check the provider for current access, opening times and conditions.
- Visit Austurland — checked 2026-09-30
- SafeTravel: driving — checked 2026-09-30
- Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration: traffic information — checked 2026-09-30
- Icelandic Meteorological Office — checked 2026-09-30
- Visit Austurland: Hengifoss — checked 2026-09-30
- Land and Forest Iceland: Hallormsstaður National Forest — checked 2026-09-30
- Visit Austurland: Seyðisfjörður — checked 2026-09-30
- Visit Austurland: Seyðisfjörður approach — checked 2026-09-30
Ways to experience this place
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Every place in East Iceland
4 place guides to help you shape a day or a longer stay.
Place · East Iceland
Seyðisfjörður
Follow Rainbow Street to the blue church, then discover Seyðisfjörður’s timber houses, fjord and resonant Tvísöngur sculpture.
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Place · East Iceland
Hengifoss
Hike past Litlanesfoss’s basalt columns to the red-striped cliffs of Hengifoss, with a shorter first-waterfall option.
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Place · East Iceland
Hallormsstaður
Trade open slopes for trees: wander the Mörk arboretum or follow Hallormsstaður’s 5.4 km forest circuit.
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Place · East Iceland
Djúpivogur
Pause in Djúpivogur for historic Langabúð, a working harbour and thirty-four sculpted eggs beside Gleðivík.
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Route · Across Iceland
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Give a selective summer circuit about two weeks, with repeat nights and a return buffer rather than daily long transfers.
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Region · North Iceland
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