Seyðisfjörður village

About Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður was built up from the 1840s onward by Norwegian fishermen, who brought a style of colourful timber building not seen elsewhere in Iceland, and many of those original houses still stand around the harbour today. The most photographed street, painted with a rainbow leading up to the blue Seyðisfjarðarkirkja church, has become something of a symbol for the whole town, but the wider streets of wooden houses are worth exploring beyond that one spot.

The town's setting, deep at the end of a narrow fjord, makes it feel more separate from the rest of Iceland than most East Iceland towns, an impression reinforced by the mountain pass that has to be crossed to reach it. Two mountains stand over it: Bjólfur (1,085 m) to the west and Strandartindur (1,010 m) to the east, with waterfalls running down the slopes on both sides. That isolation has also helped it build a strong reputation for art and music. The LungA arts festival was held here every July from 2000 until its final edition in 2024, and the town still has an arts centre, artist residencies and a community of resident artists.

Walking the streets is a large part of the visit. Houses are painted in strong colours, some walls carry murals, and gardens hold sculptures made from iron, wood and recycled material. The natural harbour is big enough for Norröna, the car ferry that links Iceland with the Faroe Islands and Denmark, and that sea link to mainland Europe is why Seyðisfjörður has been a trading centre since the 19th century.

Quick facts

A Norwegian fishing town in an Icelandic fjord

The story of the fjord starts in the settlement age. By tradition the first settler was a man called Bjólfur, who claimed the whole fjord, and the mountain above the town still carries his name.

Norwegian herring fishermen began settling Seyðisfjörður in the mid-1800s, bringing building styles and trades that shaped the town's distinctive look, still visible in the wooden houses that line its main streets. The area's history goes back further still: an 11th-century stave church was excavated at nearby Þórunnarstaðir, and Vestdalseyri, just outside town, was home to one of the world's first industrialised whaling stations in the 1860s.

The town has also seen hard times. In December 2020, after days of heavy rain, mudslides came down into the town and damaged 39 houses, twelve of which were destroyed.

How to get to Seyðisfjörður

Fjarðarheiði pass can close temporarily in winter storms, and its exposed, snowy road becomes a small ski area in winter. Check umferdin.is before driving in poor weather.

What to see in Seyðisfjörður

The town is small enough to see on foot in a couple of hours. These are the stops most visitors come for.

Best time to visit Seyðisfjörður

Safety and practical tips

• Walk beyond the famous Rainbow Street. The wider grid of wooden houses is just as worth seeing.
• If arriving by ferry, allow time to cross Fjarðarheiði afterwards, as it can be slow in poor weather.
• Check Smyril Line's schedule well ahead if you plan to use the ferry, since it runs weekly, not daily.
• The town has good cafés and galleries worth an unhurried stop rather than a quick photo.

Facilities and accessibility

Seyðisfjörður has guesthouses, hotels, a campsite, restaurants, cafés, a cinema, a swimming pool, a small supermarket and a fuel station.

On the map

Nearby places worth a stop

EgilsstaðirEast Iceland's main town, over the mountain passHallormsstaðaskógurIceland's largest forest, near EgilsstaðirStuðlagil canyonBasalt column canyon further inlandGufufossWaterfall on the road down to Seyðisfjörður

Borgarfjörður eystriPuffin village further northFardagafossWaterfall at the Egilsstaðir end of the pass

Where to stay near Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður itself has a small range of guesthouses and hotels for those who want to stay in the town, while Egilsstaðir, a short drive over the pass, has a wider choice.

Seyðisfjörður FAQ