East Iceland is often overlooked as its location is slightly difficult to reach, unless you plan to travel around the whole ring round, that loops the entire country you may decide to skip this part of the country.
But let me tell you my friend, this would be a huge mistake as this region boasts some of the most spectacular scenery and it’s utterly enchanting.
Home to the most trees in the whole country, like there’s actual forests that you can roam around, making East Iceland extra special!
If you’re arriving by ship then you will arrive into one the best towns, the east has to offer, the cute, quaint town of Seydesfjodur!
Let’s jump into this guide of East Iceland!
Best Time to Visit East Iceland
Summer time is by far the best season to visit the east coast of Iceland, navigating this rugged vast landscape in the winter season can be quite challenging as there are many road closures due to the extreme weather and remoteness of this region.
It’s not to say you can’t explore this area during the winter, but we suggest those who have winter driving experience and those with the confidence to explore the area using a 4×4 car or simply join a tour.
You start to see a change in Temperatures as early as May and then full blown summer starts in around June till the send of August.
We’ve personally experienced highs of 26degrees in the east, and it was absolutely glorious and top sun bathing temperatures! Imagine the sun never going down below the horizon and having endless daylight to explore the spectacular East Fjords!
Weather and Climate
As you may have already heard, Iceland has some of the most temperamental weather in the world. I kid you not, one minute it can be blazing sunshine and then it’s hammering it down with rain alongside gale force winds!
Preparation is key and essential in keeping yourself safe during your visit. Many people have sadly lost their lives whilst travelling the country due to poor planning and simply not even checking the weather forecast before venturing out.
Summer season usually consists of long days where the sun never goes below the horizon and you can expect temperatures to range between 2 and 20 degrees with highs of 26 if your lucky!
The winter is the polar opposite and can bring in temperatures ranging from minus 10 to 0 degrees, chilly to say the least!
Winters are very wild in Iceland and it’s something to really consider when planning your trip, be sure to check vedur.is for the weather forecast and umferdin.is to keep an eye on the road conditions.
How to Get to East Iceland
There are a number of ways to reach east Iceland and an option to suit every budget, however Iceland is bloody expensive so expect to fork out a fair bit on travel!
Iceland has some great connections and options to explore the country, so let’s have a look at the best ways to reach this part of the world.
Fly
If you’re short on time and you need to reach the east as fast as possible, then flying directly from Reykavik would be your best bet, unfortunately there’s no direct international flight to the east, so securing a domestic flight is the best way!
In less than an hour you’ll arrive in Egilsstaðir (EGS) and from there you can pick up a rental or you’re Tour company can pick you up.
Be sure to secure a rental or book your tour in advance, as depending on the season these can book up fast!
Bus
If you have time on your side and cost is something you need to consider, then why not hop on one of the many buses that head towards the East of the country.
You can also contact some tour agencies like Reykjavik excursions or catch the local bus from the Capital to the east- Straeto would be the company to contact and you can easily check online to reserve and ticket or pay on board in cash.
Self Drive
This would be our top pick all day long! We had our own car as we were lucky enough to live in this beautiful country for two years, we always suggest getting a rental car as this gives you the freedom to explore on your own terms.
If you book in advance, you can bag yourself a good deal an be on the road as soon as you exit the airport.
Some of the top well known companies to rent from are Hertz, Europecar and Enterprize. Be sure to book in advance as rentals get booked up months ahead!
By Ship
This is probably the most adventurous way to reach the country and there’s only one company that offers this service. Back in the day you used to be able to sail from Scotland in the UK, but they stopped that service a while back unfortunately.
The Smyril line offers several sailings per week in high summer season, from Hirtials in Denmark to Seydesfjodur in East Iceland. The journey takes approximately 3 days with a short stopover in the Faroe Islands, you can also pre book a longer stopover to explore these majestic islands.
The ship offers private cabins along side a luxury option if your budget allows or opt for a shared cabin if the purse strings are tight.
The food can be quite pricey on board, so if you’re on a tight budget, it could be a good shout to bring packet noodles and use the kettles on board to have cheap meals.
Where to Stay
There’s so many accommodations to choose from in this part of the country and it all depends on how much you want to splash out.
We always opt for Airbnbs as we love to cook and it also tends to save us money so we don’t have to eat out three times a day.
Don’t forget to bag yourself a discount with Airbnb, check out our blog on the latest Airbnb money saving hacks.
Booking.com is our second go to when travelling the world. You can join the Genius Program, allowing you to unlock instant discounts depending on your level.
Lastly, check out good old google, this will give you the low down on any locals hotels or hostels in the area and you can check out the reviews while you’re at it!
Things to See and Do
Seyðisfjörður
The small charming town of Seyðisfjörður is nestled deep down on the edge of a fjord. It’s a stunning drive over Fjarðarheiði mountain pass, the drive down into Seyðisfjörður will blow your mind.
The road can get treacherous during the winter months, be sure to check the weather forecast on Vedur.is and road conditions on Umferdin.is. T
he ferry from Denmark to Iceland also docks here, it’s only 3 nights if you have strong enough sea legs to handle the crossing.
Seyðisfjörður is known as a creative town, lots of artists reside here and cultural programmes take place year round, including the Seyðisfjörður Arts Festival and the Icelandic Folk Music Festival.
The town’s buildings are also historical and date back to the early 20th century, that’s old for Iceland.
Our favourite street is where the church is located, this is an iconic street in Iceland, the rainbow painted road leading up to the blue wooden church, makes a great photo op. It’s a must see on your trip to East Iceland!
Stuðlagil Canyon
Found in the Jökuldalur valley, Stuðlagil Canyon is an incredible sight to see, famous for its towering basalt columns.
It was formed by lava that cooled and contracted it created a striking geometrical pattern of vertical, hexagonal pillars.
It makes for quite the sight and with the contrasting dark columns and the turquoise waters of Jökulsa á Dal river, it’s a favourite spot for photographers.
Here you can really feel Iceland’s power and magic all around you. Find a spot to sit and watch the powerful river flow, taking in the views of the stunning columns, this is East Iceland and we’re here for it!
Vök Baths
A geothermal spa found near the town of Egilsstaðir, Vok Baths should definitely be on your list. Take a soak in floating pools that are built on the Lake Urriðavatn, surrounded by East Iceland’s raw and beautiful landscape.
With several different pools varying in temperature, there’s something for everyone, they also have a steam bath, cold mist tunnel, a pool bar and a fantastic bistro restaurant on site.
Rejuvenate your mind and body as you soak in the naturally heated waters, with lots of good minerals for your skin, you’ll leave feeling absolutely relaxed and brand new.
Borgarfjörður
Perhaps you’re a big fan of puffins and have seen them before, or maybe this is your first time trying to spot the colourful beaked birds?!
Well Borgarfjörður is the place to be, with over 10,000 pairs of puffins every summer, it’s puffin galore!
With the rugged cliffs overlooking the ocean, it’s the perfect place for the puffins to pair up and nest for the breeding season.
You’ll catch puffins flying out to sea to catch their food, they’re only on land during the summer months the rest of the year they live out to sea.
There are observation huts dotted around the cliffs so you can sit and observe and perhaps catch a break from the harsh Icelandic wind.
Fun fact- Puffins beaks are only colourful during the breeding season!
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest
Icelands largest forest is found here in East Iceland, Hallormsstaðaskógur forest is a breath of fresh air to explore.
You might have noticed Iceland lacks tree’s, well those hardcore Vikings chopped them all down for their ships and left Iceland barren.
This forest was established in the early 20th century as part of Icelands reforestation efforts.
To be surrounded by trees in an Icelandic forest is absolutely as enchanting as you’d imagine.
Inside the forest, there’s many trails which offer stunning views of Lake Lagarfljót and the surrounding mountains, if you come in Autumn you can witness the beautiful transition of the warming orange and red colours.