Seyðisfjörður
Seyðisfjörður is a small fjord town in East Iceland, reached by the mountain road from Egilsstaðir or by the Norröna ferry from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Visitors come for Rainbow Street, the Blue Church and the harbor.
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Seyðisfjörður is a small town of about 700 people at the head of a fjord on Iceland's east coast. Its narrow valley sits between steep mountains. Visitors come for Rainbow Street, a road painted in bands of color, and the Blue Church, a small blue church by the water. The harbor is where the Norröna ferry calls on its route between Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, mainly in the summer months.
The town suits travelers who want a quiet base for fjord walks, or a stop between the ferry and the rest of East Iceland. Summer, roughly June to August, brings the longest daylight and the most open roads. The mountain road from Egilsstaðir can be closed in winter, so check conditions before you travel. One night works for a short visit. Two nights give you time for a hike and a slower pace.
Seyðisfjörður in five
- Cross Fjarðarheiði after a road checkThe village is reached from Egilsstaðir over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass, with a zig-zag descent into the town. Check road and weather conditions before you leave, since mountain conditions change quickly.Road conditions
- Book the Norröna early if you bring a carSmyril Line sails Hirtshals, Tórshavn and Seyðisfjörður. Summer crossings to Iceland run weekly on a 2-night passage leaving Denmark on Tuesdays; spring and autumn crossings take 3 nights and leave on Sundays.Smyril Line Iceland
- Walk Rainbow Street to the Blue ChurchResidents painted the street in 2016 and repaint it each summer; the blue church stands at its end. A concert series runs in the church every summer, so look at the program before booking a night.
- Hike to Tvísöngur or a waterfall pathTrails lead to Tvísöngur, a mountainside sound sculpture, along the Fjarðará river and up through waterfalls in Vestdalur Nature Reserve. Check the weather before you leave the village.
- Visit Skaftfell for the arts sceneSkaftfell is the visual arts center on Austurvegur, open all year. The town has summer and winter art festivals and artist residencies despite its size of around 700 people.
Things to do in Seyðisfjörður
See all attractions in Seyðisfjörður
Need to know
- Airport
- Egilsstaðir, with Icelandair flights from Reykjavík
- Getting there
- From Egilsstaðir over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass
- By ferry
- Norröna from Hirtshals via Tórshavn; seasonal, see the 2026 schedule
- Getting around
- Walkable village; car for the pass and side valleys
- Time needed
- One night; two if you hike
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuarySnow, quiet
- FebruarySnow, quiet
- MarchSnow, thaw
- AprilCool, quiet
- MaySpring, quiet
- JuneLong light
- JulyChurch concerts
- AugustFerry, concerts
- SeptemberAutumn, lights
- OctoberDark evenings
- NovemberDark, quiet
- DecemberDarkest
Right now in Seyðisfjörður
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -4°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Seyðisfjörður
01:01 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today5°-1°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed3°-1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu4°-1°2%Thursday: Drizzle. High 4°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri5°0°6%Friday: Fog. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat2°-3°4%Saturday: Fog. High 2°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun3°-4°20%Sunday: Fog. High 3°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Mon3°-2°43%Monday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 43%.
Updated 10:55 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 121.8 ISK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Egilsstaðirover the Fjarðarheiði passThe nearest town for the airport, supermarkets and buses on the Ring Road.
- Vestdalur Nature Reserveon foot from the villageWaterfalls and the path toward Vestdalur lake and the cave of the Mountain Maid.
- Mývatn and the northa long drive west; plan a nightBuses between Akureyri and Egilsstaðir pass Mývatn, which opens the Diamond Circle.Read the guide
Before you go to Seyðisfjörður
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Rules for Seyðisfjörður, checked
- Norröna sails Hirtshals, Tórshavn and Seyðisfjörður weekly in season; the 2026 schedule lists winter periods with no sailings to Iceland.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Seyðisfjörður
East Iceland within a full Ring Road trip
Read the guideNorth IcelandMývatn and the Diamond Circle, west on the Ring Road
Read the guideSoutheast IcelandSkaftafell, Jökulsárlón and Höfn along Route 1
Read the guideBest time to visit IcelandFerry season, church concerts and snow
Read the guideRenting a car abroadPass driving and ferry-to-car planning
Read the guideSeyðisfjörður FAQ
Is Seyðisfjörður worth visiting?
Yes if you like small towns with character: colorful wooden houses, Rainbow Street, an arts center and fjord walks. It is a long detour for a short stop, so give it a night, especially around a ferry day.
How do you get to Seyðisfjörður?
By road from Egilsstaðir over the Fjarðarheiði pass, or by the Norröna ferry from Denmark via the Faroe Islands. Icelandair flies Reykjavík to Egilsstaðir, and Strætó buses connect Egilsstaðir with Akureyri.
How long is the ferry from Denmark to Seyðisfjörður?
Smyril Line gives about 2 days and 16 hours from Hirtshals to Seyðisfjörður, longer if you stop in the Faroe Islands. Summer crossings take 2 nights; spring and autumn crossings take 3 nights.
Can you bring your own car on the Norröna?
Yes. Smyril Line carries cars, campers, 4x4s and motorcycles, and oversized vehicles should be confirmed with the company before booking. Check Iceland's rules for driving off marked roads before you arrive.
What is Rainbow Street in Seyðisfjörður?
A street in the town center that residents painted in rainbow colors in 2016 as a community project. It ends at the blue church, which hosts a summer concert series that is one of East Iceland's main cultural events.