This small fjord town of 700 people has Iceland's oldest power station and a distinctive blue church. Artists live in colorful Norwegian-style wooden houses from the 1900s.
Seydisfjordur, a town of 668 people in East Iceland, sits between mountains Bjólfur and Strandartindur. Walk down the rainbow-painted street to reach the blue wooden church, or climb to the Tvísöngur sculpture where five concrete domes create echoing chambers. The 19th-century Norwegian-style wooden houses line the streets, and 25 waterfalls cascade down the Fjarðará river valley. In July, the LungA arts festival fills the town with concerts, exhibitions, and workshops.
Getting to Seydisfjordur
Drive 27 kilometers from Egilsstadir to Seydisfjordur through a mountain pass with hairpin bends and small waterfalls. You can rent a car at Egilsstadir airport after the 60-minute flight from Reykjavik, or take the twice-daily regional bus between the towns. The MS Norröna ferry connects Seydisfjordur to Denmark and the Faroe Islands weekly, making it Iceland's only international ferry port.
Art Scene and Cultural Life
More than 40 working artists live in Seydisfjordur, creating in studios converted from old fish warehouses. The Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, housed in a 1907 merchant's home, runs exhibitions year-round and includes a bistro serving local food. Each July, the LungA festival brings 500+ young artists for workshops, exhibitions, and concerts. In February, the List í ljósi festival illuminates the dark winter streets with light installations created by local and international artists.
Walking Through Town
Norwegian merchants built the wooden houses in the 1800s during the herring fishing boom - some arrived in numbered pieces from Norway. The blue church (Seyðisfjarðarkirkja) opens daily and holds classical concerts on Wednesday evenings in summer (June-August). The rainbow-tiled street, painted in 2014 as a symbol of LGBTQI+ acceptance, leads to the church steps.
Mountain and River Trails
Follow the marked east bank trail along Fjarðará river to see 25 waterfalls in 7 kilometers. You'll find Gufufoss waterfall 4 kilometers from town, with parking and a 5-minute walk to two viewing platforms. A 30-minute uphill walk takes you to Tvísöngur sound sculpture, where five connected concrete domes each resonate at different frequencies. At Skálanes nature reserve, 17 kilometers from town, you can spot 47 bird species and join guided research walks (book at the visitor center).
Museums and Venues
The Technical Museum displays Iceland's first telephone exchange and power station equipment. Open May-September, 10:00-17:00 (4,000 ISK). Geirahús museum shows paintings by local artist Ásgeir Jón Emilsson - visit by appointment. Watch films at Herðubíó cinema, East Iceland's only movie theater, with screenings Friday-Sunday.
Where to Eat and Stay
Kaffi Lára (open 11:00-22:00) serves local beers and grilled lamb by the lagoon. The Food Coop opens at 8:00 for organic breakfast and fresh-pressed juices. Sleep at the Hafaldan Hostel in a converted hospital (from 6,000 ISK), camp at the municipal grounds (2,000 ISK per tent), or stay at Hotel Aldan in a restored 1900s building (from 25,000 ISK).
