JD554, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Seydisfjordur

Colorful Fjord Village of the East

Seydisfjordur sits on a narrow inlet surrounded by steep mountains and brightly colored houses. The town is known for its creative community, with many artists choosing to live or work here. Fishing boats rest in the harbor while hiking trails lead into green valleys nearby. Local cafes serve fresh seafood and homemade bread. In winter, snow covers rooftops and creates quiet streets perfect for walking. Summer brings long daylight hours and festivals celebrating music and culture. The area feels peaceful yet inspiring, with nature close at hand.

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Town in Iceland

$$$+

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.6

General Safety:	10
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	10

Read details

5/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist services. Locals are friendly and used to international visitors, so communication is easy for English speakers.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Seydisfjordur Summary

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Great for fjord scenery and artistic village life. Walk colorful streets, hike nearby waterfalls, enjoy kayaking in calm fjord waters and visit local galleries.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Spotless

Natural sites

Cosy towns

Walkable

Van travel

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

👩 9

Solo

❤️ 9

Couples

Iceland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type F Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Icelandic Króna (ISK) £1 ≈ ISK 163
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are highly common in Iceland, especially in cities. Most businesses accept credit and debit cards, including smaller establishments. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are popular. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not common in Iceland and not expected in restaurants. A service charge is usually included in the bill. Tipping taxi drivers or hotel staff is appreciated but not necessary.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed, especially in designated areas during festivals or outdoor events. Alcohol is also available at licensed venues.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces and on public transport. Designated smoking areas are available outside of many restaurants and public buildings.

Icelandic National Day (June)	Expect parades and celebrations throughout the country. Hotels and tourist spots can get busy.
Christmas (December)	Christmas is widely celebrated, and it’s a great time to visit for festive markets, but accommodation can be more expensive.
Þorrablót Festival (January)	A festival celebrating Icelandic cuisine, it’s a popular time to visit, though some businesses may have reduced hours.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Hreyfill, Reykjavik Taxi
Other:	Iceland's weather can be unpredictable, so it’s important to prepare for sudden changes in climate. Always check weather forecasts before venturing into nature.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Seydisfjordur, Iceland

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

❄️

Mar

❄️

Apr

☁️

May

☁️

Jun

☁️

Jul

☁️

Aug

☁️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

❄️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many guesthouses, cafes and galleries close October to April, main season June to August

The Fjarðarheiði mountain road to Egilsstaðir often closes in snow and wind from October to April

Smyril Line car ferry from Denmark via the Faroe Islands arrives weekly year-round

Don't miss

⛪ Take a photo at the iconic Blue Church and Rainbow Street
🎵 Hike to Tvísöngur, the interactive sound sculpture
🌊 Visit Gufufoss waterfall, easily accessible by road
🖼️ Explore local art at Skaftfell Center for Visual Art
🥾 Walk scenic trails around the fjord and mountains

You've been here?

Why travel to Seydisfjordur?

Seydisfjordur is a dream for anyone who loves quirky culture, outdoor adventure and jaw-dropping scenery. The town’s colorful wooden houses, lively art scene and iconic Rainbow Street make it a favorite with photographers and creatives. Hiking trails lead to wild waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and even an acoustic sculpture in the hills. In summer, the village buzzes with festivals and ferry arrivals; in winter, it’s peaceful and magical under snow. Just be aware: the mountain pass road can be closed in bad weather, avalanches are a real risk in winter and spring and the town feels remote – services are good but limited and it gets busy in peak season.

🎡Places for activities

1 Hagavöllur
2 Kaffi Lara El Grillo Bar

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Gufufoss
2 Fjarðará

🎈Events

LungA Arts Festival
Summer and Winter Art Festivals
Local Food Fairs
Photography Exhibitions
Music Performances at Blue Church
Christmas Market
National Day Celebrations
Guided Hiking Weeks
Winter Sports Events
Community Market Days

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Walk Rainbow Street to Blue Church for iconic photo spots.
Drive Route 93 carefully; windy mountain pass with waterfalls can close in winter weather.
Hike 20 minutes up to Tvísöngur sound sculpture for interactive art and fjord views.
Spot Gufufoss Waterfall on arrival; it's the largest nearby and best at sunrise for photos.

How to travel to Seydisfjordur

Seydisfjordur is reached by driving over the scenic Fjarðarheiði mountain pass from Egilsstadir (about 30 minutes), which connects to Iceland’s Ring Road. In summer, the Smyril Line ferry arrives weekly from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Egilsstadir has the nearest airport with flights to Reykjavik.

Access summary

From Egilsstaðir Airport: Drive or taxi over Route 93, about 30–40 minutes.
From Egilsstaðir town: Bus or car on scenic mountain pass, roughly 30–40 minutes.
By Smyril Line ferry from Denmark/Faroe Islands directly into Seydisfjordur, 2–3 days.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Seydisfjordur

There’s a good range of accommodation for such a small town: guesthouses, boutique hotels, hostels and a well-equipped campground. Book early in summer, especially during festivals or ferry arrivals. Some places close or reduce hours in winter.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hafaldan HI hostel, old hospital building

Dulluhus - Apartments by Aldan

9.9

Media Luna Guesthouse

8.6

Seyðisfjörður Apartment

Bankinn - Hotel by Aldan

8.8

Snæfell - Hotel by Aldan

8.5

Seydisfjördur Guesthouse

9.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Seydisfjordur

The village is compact and walkable, with most sights close together. Hiking and biking are popular for exploring the surrounding valleys and waterfalls. Local buses connect Seydisfjordur to Egilsstadir, but schedules are limited. Driving is the best way to reach nearby nature spots, but always check road conditions, especially in winter.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+59 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 59% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+6 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to ISK) is 6% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Akureyri, Iceland - 195 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£87	£204	£547
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£75	£165
🍝 Food per day	£47	£114	£336
🚕 Transportation per day	£14	£15	£46

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£49
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£19
🍟 Fast food combo	£15
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£16
☕ Cappuccino	£3.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£8.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£26
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£2

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£70
🤧 Cold medication	£9.50
💇 Basic haircut	£34

Safety information overview

General safety

Seydisfjordur is very safe, with low crime. The main risks are natural: slippery trails, sudden weather changes and avalanche danger in winter/spring. Always check local conditions before hiking or driving the mountain pass.

Health & Medical

There is a local health clinic and hospital in town, but for serious issues, Egilsstadir has more facilities. Bring any prescription meds. Tap water is safe. Weather and remoteness can delay emergency services.

Accessibility

The town center is accessible, but some hiking trails and older buildings have uneven ground or steps. The mountain pass road can close in winter or bad weather, so check conditions before traveling.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, fresh and delicious. Public fountains are rare, but you can refill your bottle at cafés, hotels or guesthouses.