Seyðisfjörður is the most historically and architecturally interesting town in east Iceland. Located at the innermost point of longest fjord in the country, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides and is home to one of the best natural harbours in Iceland.
The harbour can be reached by ferry from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. This part of the country can also be reached by air from Reykjavík and the domestic airport is located 26 kilometres (16 miles) from Seyðisfjörður. A 27 kilometre (16.7 mile) long road over Fjarðarheiði mountain that leads to Route 1 (Iceland’s main national road), connects the town to the rest of Iceland by land.
Known as one of Iceland’s most picturesque towns, Seyðisfjörður is full of character, thanks to the colourful wooden houses, which were shipped to Iceland from Norway in ready-made kit form in the 1930s. It also has a reputation for being a particularly friendly place with a community of artists, musicians and craftspeople.
The community owes its origins to foreign merchants, mainly Danes, who started trading in the fjord in the mid 19th century. Between 1870 and 1900 the Norwegians established an Icelandic herring fishery in the area and within a matter of years the small community grew into the largest and wealthiest town in the east of Iceland. There are now over 650 inhabitants and almost all are involved in the fishing industry in some way.
SOURCES:
- Information provided by Cruise and Maritime Cruises
- Insight Guides Iceland
