About

The long, calm, deep fjord of Seydisfjordur twists and turns 17 kilometres from its mouth to the head of the fjord, where the town of the same name shelters beneath Mt. Strandartindur and Mt. Bjolfur.

In the valley above the town, the river Fjardara cascades from the edge of the heath above in innumerable beautiful waterfalls, down to Lon (the lagoon) at the head of the fjord. A road leads up from the fjord, along by the river, to the Herad district, 26 km away across Fjardarheidi heath. Once a hazardous place to travel, the heath is now crossed in a mere half-hour by a high-quality road, commanding splendid views of the surrounding area. The route (Stafirnir) down into Seydisfjordur by the Fjardara river is one of Iceland’s most spectacular roads.

Distance from Reykjavik: 679 km / 422 mi

The Town

Seydisfjordur is regarded by many as one of Iceland’s most picturesque towns, not only due to its impressive environment, but also because nowhere in Iceland has a community of old wooden buildings been preserved so well as here.

Poet Matthias Johannessen called Seydisfjordur a “pearl enclosed in a shell”.

The town of Seyðisfjörður is well known for its old wooden buildings and has remnants of urban street configurations within its urban fabric. There is a camping ground, facilities for campers, hotels, an old and charismatic swimming pool, a library, hospital, post office, liquor store, and other retail activity. Seyðisfjörður also has a vibrant cultural scene with an arts centre, the Technical Museum of East Iceland and the only two cinemas in the east of Iceland. The LungA Art Festival takes place in Seyðisfjörður in July, the  prominent light festival List í ljósi is held in February and artist Dieter Roth had a residence and art studio in Seyðisfjörður. The Dieter Roth Academy is centered in the Skaftfell cultural center.

Story

Icelandic herring fishery by Norwegians in 1870–1900. The Norwegians built up a number of herring fishing facilities, and in a matter of years the little community grew into a booming town. It received its municipal charter in 1895.

The local economy has long been based on the fisheries, while light industry also flourishes. Tourism is playing a growing role, as the picturesque town in its spectacular surroundings attracts more and more visitors. The car/passenger ferry Norrona, which plies between continental Europe and Iceland every week, all year round.

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