A perfect day at Seydisfjordur Iceland

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Seydisfjordur. This unpronounceable name is for the tiny fjord town in Eastern region of Iceland. We had quite a packed road trip across Iceland and didn’t get a chance to stay overnight to explore the eastern region more. But I am so glad we passed through Egilstaddir, the largest town in East Iceland. And managed a day trip to the charming town of Seydisfjordur.

The East fjords in Iceland are a group of fjords, about 10, each of which basically has a town. This area is not very populated but the scenery is memorable. You do need to rent a car to access the East Fjords and the towns that lie therein. We drove from Lake Myvatn in the North towards the Eastern region of Iceland.

A detour to Studlagil Canyon

Starting from Lake Myvatn on our North Iceland itinerary, we took a detour to view Studlagil Canyon. This breath-taking canyon deserves more than just a view. You can stop at car parking 1 and take a 10 km hiking loop to get to the bottom of the canyon. Stunning basalt rock columns and mesmerising blue water awaits! This is where you get all those screensaver worthy photos of this hidden gem in Eastern Iceland.

But for folks like us, who had a long day ahead or those who are not interested in hiking to the bottom, drive upto the car park 2. This is about a distance of 4 km from the car park 1. There are toilet facilities and a food truck here. But best of all, there is a fabulous viewing platform easily accessible from the car park 2 to take in the beauty of Studlagil canyon.

It had started drizzling a bit and the coffee from the food truck was very welcome. As was the rain jacket we had with us. Did I mention that the weather in Iceland in unpredictable? And that you need to put some thought while figuring what to pack for Iceland.

Scenic drive to reach Seydisfjordur Iceland

We then drove ahead to Egilstaddir and stopped here only for refueling. The distance between Egillstaddir and Seydisfjordur is only 27 km along Route 93, and this drive is via a scenic mountain pass. The road took us up a mountain through ice patches up on the summit, and then back down the mountain to the fjord. We were surrounded on all sides by numerous waterfalls. The whole scenery is just incredible.

Iceland has wild rugged beauty all over the country. And the Eastern region, even more so. The sparse population and the panorama just comes alive, even if you manage a day trip to Seydisfjordur.

Things to do in Seydisfjordur Iceland

After crossing the mountain pass, we reached the town of Seydisfjordur. The town is located in the fjord by the same name. There are plenty of art stores, museums, and colorfully painted buildings here. So what can you do in the charming Seydisfjordur for half a day?

View the Blue Church

The Blue Church is an iconic landmark in Seydisfjordur Iceland. — The rainbow street leads to the Church.

This lovely church with a rainbow street is front is what has made the town of Seydisfjordur famous on Instagram. Seydisfjordur Church is built in traditional Icelandic architecture, and creates a striking contrast against the backdrop of a rugged mountain. The street leading up to the Seydisfjordur Church is a delight, as it is painted with the colours of the rainbow.

The Church is open for visitors in the summer, but we didn’t go inside. There is funky street art on the buildings that lead to the church. The church also hosts various cultural events, including concerts and art exhibitions

Enjoy Gufufoss

Just outside of Seydisfjordur lies a beautiful waterfall, Gufufoss. It is super accessible, literally by the side of the road. You can park the car on the shoulder of the road and then walk down to the waterfall. Flat ground and a short train leads you to the waterfall. The large rocks / boulders in front the falls are wet and slippery, so do be careful.

Visit to Gufufoss is one of the best things to do in Seydisfjordur. — No one around this beautiful waterfall.

Visit the Sound Domes

One of the reasons for us to drive to this lovely town was the Sound Domes, also known as Tvisongur. This is a site specific installation by German artist Lukas Kahne. Tvisongur is located on a mountainside above the town of Seydisfjordur. There is an uphill hike up a gravel road for about 15 minutes.

Do visit the sound sculpture at Seydisfjordur. — Tvisonngur Sound Sculpture.

This mushroom-looking sculpture is actually interconnected domes of different sizes. The heights of the domes are between 2 and 4 meters and looks a bit weird to be honest. Each dome has its own resonance that corresponds to a tone in the Icelandic musical tradition of five-tone harmony. The entire area is very tranquil, or was, until we burst into songs, inside the domes!

Grab a lovely lunch

We walked down from the domes and sat for a while at a bench, just admiring the beauty of the fjord. We had a fantastic lunch and local beer at El Grillo Bar, a local pub near to the Blue Church.

The weather was turning foggy. It had started raining a bit. And we had a long drive ahead to Hofn to start our South Iceland adventure. The day trip to Seydisfjordur turned out to be all that it had promised and more.

Fjord Tours, Hiking and wildlife in Eastern region of Iceland

East Iceland has beautiful natural scenery. You can see continuous high mountains, beautiful fjord coasts and rolling hills. Boat tours are popular in Seydisfjordur. Like any Norway travel itinerary famous for its fjords, you can take a boat tour to see majestic fjords up close.

The landscape here is a paradise for hiking, and you can do a day hike, if you are staying in the town. There is a moderate-to-challenging hike to Hengifoss that you can take. En route, you pass Litlanesfoss, which is surrounded by beautiful basalt columns

You can also go to Borgarfjordur Eystri, about 100 km north-east, to see puffins in season. About 10,000 pairs of puffins nest every summer (mid-April until mid-August) in Borgarfjörður. This is probably the easiest place to watch puffins in Iceland.