68 Best Sights in East Iceland and the Eastfjords, Iceland

On the way to Eyjabakkajökull, take the right turn at the Bjálfafell signpost for spectacular views over the pristine wilderness west of Snæfell known as Vesturöræfi. Here you can see the broad edge of the Brúarjökull glacier tongue to the west, and Eyjabakkajökull to the east.

One of several places in Iceland claiming to be the country's smallest village, Brekkuþorp (Hill Village) is home to only 11 year-round residents, and the road in and out of the fjord is closed during winter. Among the few amenities, the tiny settlement has a church as well as a summertime guesthouse, campsite, and café in the old school building. There’s also a small dock for boats. A boat service operates twice-weekly trips from Brekkuþorp to Neskaupstaður in winter.

Lush, leafy heaven can be found at Bæjarstaðarskógur, over 50 acres of vibrant woodland, where the native Icelandic birch trees grow thick and tall between a carpet of wood cranesbill, stone brambles, and meadow buttercups. There's an easy and well-marked 9½-mile circular trail from Skaftafell Visitor Centre that leads to Jökulfell and the ravines at Bæjarstaður. From there it is ideal to walk the path through the forest and across the valley, and then follow the path along the Morsá river back to the visitor center. It should take around four to five hours; it's also possible to mountain-bike the trail.

As far east as you can go in Iceland by car, Dalatangi is located at the very end of the road through Mjóifjörður with sensational views over the sea-licked cliffs out toward the North Atlantic. At Dalatangi there are two lighthouses, both some of the oldest in Iceland. The small, older building was constructed of basalt in 1895, while the larger, bright orange house, which is still in use, was built in 1908. Amazingly, people do live here year-round. The road is rough out here, so a vehicle with 4WD is recommended.

While en route to Borgarfjörður Eystri, look out for the magnificent mountain range Dyrfjöll, featuring a remarkable gap in the middle; the name translates to "Door Mountain," with the gap being viewed as a door. Reaching heights of up to 1,136 meters (3,727 feet), it’s an ambitious setting even for experienced hikers, but the views from the top are extraordinary.

South of Snæfell is the spectacular Eyjabakkajökull, the northeasternmost glacial outlet of Vatnajökull ice cap. It’s a bumpy 50-minute ride from the Snæfell mountain hut all the way down to the edge of the glacier, but worth traveling the few extra miles. The F909 mountain route is only suitable for vehicles with 4WD. At the end of the road, there’s a car park and a visitors’ trail (marked out annually depending on changes to the glacier). North of the outlet, Eyjabakkar is a wetlands landscape of marshes, ponds, and glacial streams where thousands of pink-footed geese nest each summer.

A pretty waterfall with a history that includes tales of hidden gold, trolls, and secret tunnels, Fardagafoss is a tempting detour for travelers on Route 93 to Seyðisfjörður. Located approximately 5 km (3 miles) from Egilsstaðir, just off the main road, the hike up to the falls takes around 30 minutes. Though it's relatively easy, it can get steep in places. From the top you can enjoy extensive views over Egilsstaðir, Lagarfljót, and the snowcapped Snæfell peak.

Smaller and somewhat colder than Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón offers an alternative perspective of iceberg calving activity, and with the snout of the glacier being much closer to the shore, you don't need a long lens to see the action. Services at the lagoon include boat tours, a modern visitor center, and a casual restaurant. There are also walking trails in the area to take you to great icy vantage points.

The fascinating installations at Frakkar á Íslandsmiðum (aka the French Museum) are based on the history of the French fishermen in Fáskrúðsfjörður. They're located in the old Doctor’s House and French Hospital, which are now incorporated into the town's primary hotel. The main showpiece, a captivating replica of the sailors’ quarters, is located in the underground passage connecting the two buildings.

One of the hidden treasures of Vopnafjörður, Gljúfursárfoss is a striking waterfall off Route 917. A path from the stop at the Gljúfursá river leads to an observation deck where you can witness a single torrent plunging 150 feet (46 meters) down a ravine lined with vibrant moss.

Nature makes its own music at Heinabergslón, one of several smaller glacier lagoons between Skaftafell and Höfn. A pleasant symphony of chiming candle ice is interrupted now and then by the air-fracturing sound of icebergs as they calve from the serrated edge of the glacier tongue. IceGuide offers kayaking tours on the lagoon—which even include a short glacier walk—but you can also drive to the site on your own and follow walking trails in the area (not on the ice!). Look for the sign about 3 km (2 miles) west of Flatey farm. The lagoon is reached 8 km (5 miles) north along a gravel road (four-wheel drive is recommended).

Follow the coastal road past Mjóeyri, and continue southeast (around 7 km [4½ miles]) to reach Helgustaðanáma, an old Iceland spar mine. These types of "spars" in Iceland are actually crystallized calcium carbonate, called silfurberg in Icelandic. A short trail from an information board leads up to the opening. Iceland spar's unusual light-polarizing properties and the Nicol prisms made from it were crucial components for microscopes and instruments measuring optical activity, and the site was mined from the 16th until the 21st century. It's a popular belief that Iceland spar was used by Vikings as "sunstones" to help them navigate. Small pieces of Iceland spar lie around the entrance, but it is strictly forbidden to take it.

The mountain road (Route 917) between Vopnafjörður and Egilsstaðir crosses over Hellisheiði plateau leading to ear-popping and vertigo-inducing heights before descending down the other side. From here you can see superb panoramic views of Héraðsflói Bay and the black sands of Héraðssandur. Route 917 is closed during the winter; you can check its status before setting off on the website  www.road.is.

Stop at the bridge on the way to Dalatangi to view the terrific torrent of water known as the Heljarfoss waterfalls thundering down through Hofsárgljúfur canyon. The stop is about 3 km (2 miles) past the Brekkuþorp village.

Not to be confused with the sea stack of the same name on the Vatnsnes Peninsula in northwest Iceland, the Hvítserkur of the east is a distinctive mountain. Dark streaks (basaltic dykes) run across its bright surface, making it look like a work of art.

The sight of several restored army trucks parked by some old Nissen barracks might look out of place in the small town of Reyðarfjörður, but they serve as a reminder of Iceland’s history with the allied forces during World War II, when 4,000 soldiers descended on the small town, outnumbering locals by more than three to one. The vintage trucks and buildings are now part of Íslenska Stríðsárasafnið (War Museum), an exhibition featuring images and other memorabilia from the wartime period.

Some say you haven't truly experienced Skaftafell until you've conquered the twin peaks of Kristínartindar. Standing at 979 and 1,126 meters (3,212 and 3,694 feet), the views from the vertigo-inducing summits, which are connected by a narrow path along a jagged ridge, are the best in the region, taking in the vast expanse of Skaftafellsjökull, Morsárdalur, and Skeiðarársandur. The trail to Kristínartindar is a challenging six- to eight-hour round-trip (approximately 18 km [11 miles]) from the visitor center, and only for experienced hikers. Access is usually closed from mid-September and over the winter because of snow, ice, and windy weather. Due to meltwater in the spring, the trail often stays closed until June, depending on conditions.

This eye-catching hairy house has red gables and a matching chimney poking out of its well-groomed turf top. It was a beloved summer residence for decades, until it was gifted to the municipality.

Located on the trail to Hengifoss waterfall, Litlanesfoss waterfall plunges 30 meters (100 feet) over a wall of symmetrical basalt columns. It’s a perfect prelude to the area's star attraction, Hengifoss.

Two permanent exhibitions detail the history of reindeer and rural life in East Iceland at Minjasafn Austurlands, the sweet East Iceland Heritage Museum. There are also rotating exhibitions throughout the year.

Time and effort are rewarded with extraordinary views of epic scenery at Morsárdalur valley, where the silence is frequently interrupted by the formidable, air-fracturing sound of the Morsárjökull glacier cracking and churning in the distance. The valley is home to Morsárfoss falls, which, at 240 meters (787 feet), snatched the highest waterfall crown from Glýmur when it was discovered to be at least 30 meters (100 feet) taller. Morsárfoss only became visible in 2007 when Morsárjökull started melting.

Designed to look like a giant shelf of books, the Þórbergssetur museum is a fitting tribute to the author Þórbergur Þórðarson (1888–1974), whose life and works have been curated into an interesting exhibition. There's a good restaurant here, too, specializing in farm-raised arctic char.

An easy trail leads through the Fólkvangur Neskaupstaðar nature reserve to reach Páskahellir (Easter Cave in English), where, according to legend, the sun can be seen dancing on Easter morning. Remarkable holes in the cave are impressions left by trees covered with lava in an ancient volcanic episode that occurred around 12 million years ago. The views east toward Barðsneshorn with the red rhyolite glow of Rauðaberg are worth stopping to take in. Be cautious when descending the steps to the cave; they can get slippery with sea spray.

Look out for the landmark known as Prestagil (which translates as “the priests' ravine”) while descending the winding road into Mjóifjörður. According to an old folk tale, a gruesome ogress once lived here; she would lure men of the cloth into the ravine and make a meal of their holy flesh.

A roadside waterfall off Route 1, Rjúkandi is a great place to stop and stretch your legs. A short trail from the parking lot leads to the delightful falls with views of the Jökuldalur valley.

You'll find three museums under one roof at Safnahúsið. Tryggvasafn features an impressive collection of exotic-looking paintings by local artist Tryggvi Ólafsson, who was born in the town in 1940. Sjóminja og Smiðjumunasafn is a collection of historical maritime artifacts while Náttúrugripasafnið is the museum of natural history with an eclectic exhibition of taxidermy birds, fish, and other life-forms.

A distinctive rhyolite mountain on the south side of the fjord, Sandfell beckons experienced hikers. It's a steep round-trip hike to the 1,157-meter (3,796-foot) summit that can be done in around five hours.

A stop on the popular Svartifoss trail, Sel is a lovely old traditional turf-topped house built by Þorsteinn Guðmundsson in 1912 and occupied until 1946, when it was abandoned. The restored property is now maintained by the National Museum and makes for a nice photo op.

Follow the rainbow-brick road to this striking pale-blue church, a landmark attraction built in the town center in 1920. The church is open during the summer months for regular concerts and events. An unusual white sculpture next to the church was made from the girders of a factory that was flattened in an avalanche in 1996.

Sjónarsker (sjón means view) is a vantage point on the popular Svartifoss–Sel loop trail around 304.8 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level. Take the western route up from Svartifoss. From here you are rewarded with superb panoramic views, and with the help of the compass-style locator disk installed there, you can quickly identify the surrounding landmarks.