68 Best Sights in East Iceland and the Eastfjords, Iceland

You might have already tried the Beljandi pale ale during your travels in the east, but at the bar and microbrewery where it’s made you can sample even more craft beers from the collection, incluiding the Skuggi (Shadow) porter, Spaði (Spade) IPA, or Sauður (Sheep) brown ale. Group tours of the brewery are available even when the bar is closed; call ahead for a reservation.

The striking row of crimson-painted gables topped with green turf set this traditional dwelling apart from others in Iceland. It's now a museum offering unique insight into farming practices and domestic life from the beginning of the 18th century through the mid-20th century, and visitors can marvel at a collection of artifacts, including handmade chess pieces and baby booties knitted with human hair. Homebaked goodies and coffee are available at the on-site café. It's open daily from June to September, and by request at other times.

At the southern end of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a powerful outlet stream carries an endless parade of icebergs under a bridge and into the mouth of the sea, where they are tossed and tumbled in the waves before reaching the black sand shoreline where they dazzle like giant polished diamonds. It's the perfect spot to walk around and just appreciate the stunning scenery.

South of Snæfell is the spectacular Eyjabakkajökull, the northeasternmost glacial outlet of Vatnajökull glacier. It’s a bumpy 50-minute ride from the Snæfell mountain hut all the way down to the edge of the glacier, but well worth traveling the few extra miles. The F909 mountain route is only suitable for vehicles with 4WDs. At the end of the road, there’s a car park and a visitors’ trail (marked out annually depending on changes to the glacier).

For some easy romantic walks, head to Neskaupstaður public park, a peat-rich nature reserve on the far east of town on the north side of the fjord with superb vistas. There are several trails (a bit boggy in places), one of which leads to Páskahellir (Easter Cave).

A superb spot for bird-watching, at Hafnarhólmi, you can climb a the staircase leading up to a viewing platform to see puffins up close without risking life and limb on the cliffs. You'll also see other seabirds such as kittiwakes and fulmars. About 10,000 pairs of puffins nest here from mid-April through mid-August, then spend the winter at sea.

Iceland’s first national forest was established in 1905 and now provides 740 hectares of leafy respite along the eastern banks of Lagarfljót. Home to 85 tree species, 40 km (25 miles) of marked trail paths, an arboretum, hotel, campsites, and children's play areas, Hallormsstaður is a delightful destination where you can even forage for wild berries and edible mushrooms, including the tasty larch bolete.

Nature makes its own music at Heinabergslón, one of several 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 crashing as they calve from the serrated edge of the glacier. IceGuide offers kayaking tours on the lagoon, but you can drive there on your own (note this is a gravel road) and follow walking trails in the area. Look for the sign about 3 km (2 miles) west of Flatey Farm.

This waterfall plunges 128 meters (420 feet) over a sheer drop into a glorious gorge with an unusual striped appearance, thanks to its red clay and black basalt. The 2½ km (1½ miles) path from the car park (off Route 931) leads to the falls and takes around 40 to 60 minutes, with some relatively steep sections. The superb Litlanesfoss waterfall can be found halfway up the trail.

The road from Reyðarfjörður leads around the Hólmanes peninsula, which is overlooked by the towering 985-meter (3,232-foot-high) Hólmatindur peak. There’s a parking area with benches and viewing platform if you want to pull over and take a photo. The hike to the top of Hólmatindur is challenging, but the views are incredible. There’s also a popular and easy two-hour trail that loops around the nature reserve. Look out for eider ducks, geese, and other birdlife, which make their home there during the summer.

Literally translated as "Glacier River Lagoon", Jökulsárlón is where you can see large chunks of the glacier tumble and float around in a spectacular ice show. The scenery is so magnificent, it has been used as a location for scenes in some James Bond movies (A View to a Kill and Die Another Day), as well as Lara Croft Tomb Raider. West of the lagoon, on the Breiðamerkur sands, you'll find the largest North Atlantic colony of skua, sizable predatory seabirds that dive-bomb intruders during nesting season. Boat and zodiac rides on the lagoon are hugely popular, but you can spend hours just walking the area and admiring the spectacle.

One of the highlights of Mjóifjörður, Klifbrekkufossar waterfall impressively cascades 90 meters (295 feet) over a series of ledges into a delightful dell carpeted with a springy growth of blueberry scrub. Klifbrekkufossar is accessed just off the right-hand side of the main Mjóafjarðarvegur road (Route 953) descending into the fjord; it’s 16 km (10 miles) from the turn-off from the Ring Road. Keep in mind that Route 953 is closed in the winter, from October to late May (weather dependent).

The legendary Lagarfljót river-lake is famous for its elusive Loch Ness–like resident “Lagarfljótsormurinn," part of local lore since the annals of 1345. The 140 km (87-mile) stretch of water, known as Lögurinn lake at its widest point, is fed by the glacial waters of Jökulsá í Fljótsdal river originating in Vatnajökull glacier; the glacier's sediment gives the water its milky appearance. With a bridge across the water on Route 931, it's possible to drive around the lake 70 km (44 miles), stopping at several impressive natural sites such as Hallormsstaður forest and Hengifoss waterfall, and cultural hot spots like Skriðuklaustur and the Wilderness Center, which is a few additional miles down the valley.

Time and effort are rewarded with extraordinary views of epic scenery at Morsárdalur, 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 also home to Morsárfoss falls, which, at 787 feet, snatched the highest waterfall crown from Glýmur when it was discovered to be at least 100 feet taller. Morsárfoss only became visible in 2007 when Morsárjökull started melting.

A highlight of the region, Petra Sveinsdóttir's stone collection was borne of her lifelong fascination with rocks, stones, and minerals. Installed in her family home and expanded throughout the garden, the exhibition was 80 years in the making and features obsidian (volcanic glass), colorful jasper fusions, amethyst, agate, and solid quartz. 

Located on the banks of the shimmering, salmon-rich Selá river, 12 km (7½ miles) north of Vopnafjörður, the Selárdalslaug swimming pool has a geothermally heated lap pool and hot tub.

One of the more popular spots to visit in Skaftafell is the Sjónarnípa viewpoint, which is a 4- to 5-mile hike with several challenging sections. It offers glorious views of Skaftafellsjökull glacier. You can either head straight to Sjónarnípa from the visitor center via Austurbrekkur or take a turn-off on the trail up to Svartifoss heading east over the heath.

The 2.3-mile round-rip walk to the Skaftafell outlet glacier is one of the more comfortable options for seeing a glacier, with the trail to the edge of the glacier paved half the way there. Starting from the visitor center, the trip to Skaftafellsjökull takes around 30 minutes each way. The color of the glacier occasionally dazzles in brilliant shades of blue.

This striking two-story mansion with its distinctive basalt stone walls and turf top was the former home of beloved Icelandic author Gunnar Gunnarsson. Designed by German architect Fritz Höger, the house was an ambitious and expensive project taking 64 construction workers 33,000 working hours to complete. When Gunnar moved to Reykjavík in 1948, he donated the building to the nation "to be forever owned by the Icelandic people." It is now run as an educational museum featuring exhibitions on the 16th-century ruins of the old monastery found on the property, as well as the life and works of Gunnar Gunnarson, along with rotating art exhibitions. Home to the fabulous Klausturkaffi restaurant, it’s also the best lunch option you will find for miles around.

Dubbed the king of all mountains in Iceland, Snæfell, which translates as “snow mountain,” is Iceland's highest peak not sitting under a glacier, with a summit reaching 1,833 meters (6,014 feet). While its status as a “probably extinct” volcano is still a topic for debate, no one disputes its beauty. Those visiting Snæfell, which is part of Vatnajökull National Park, may encounter wild reindeer who have made the deserted expanses around the mountain their primary habitat. The route to the rangers' hut at the base of the mountain is accessible only by vehicles with 4WD.

Featured in marketing images, advertisements, TV shows, and countless wedding shots, the view of Vestrahorn mountain on the Stokknes peninsula, east of Höfn, is one of the most iconic in Iceland. The best place to frame a snapshot is by the gate of the old U.S. radar station. The peninsula is also home to the Viking Cafe and a remarkable, never-used film set of a Viking village.

Set aside five to seven hours for the round-trip hike to Stórurð, where giant moss-topped boulders form islands within pools of vibrant green water. To reach Stórurð, which translates to “giant boulders,” take the trail from the Vatnsskarð pass: it takes around 2½ hours. A round-trip is approximately 9 miles with an elevation of between 1,640 to 1,968 feet. For guided tours with transport from Egilsstaðir, contact the tour company Wildboys.

Once a hidden gem of the east, this is an incredible narrow canyon whose main feature is basalt rock columns. The Jökla river runs through the gorge, with its water colored bright blue-green in the right conditions, making for a truly memorable sight. 

A newly built observation platform offers the most accessible views of the canyon. The platform is accessed about 19 km (12 miles) from the Ring Road on Route 923, on the farm known as Grund. You will find parking spaces, toilets, and stairs to the platform. There is an excellent view down into the gorge and over the basalt columns, but you cannot get down into the canyon from this side. To hike to the canyon's east side, drive south of the Ring Road on Route 923 about 14 km (9 miles) to the farm known as Klaustursel. From the second parking area, not far from Stuðlafoss waterfall, it’s a 2½ km (1½ mile) hike to reach the access point for entering the canyon. It’s not too challenging a hike: there is a clear tractor trail to follow and the ground is uneven but not very steep (but it may be muddy). When you reach the area to go into the gorge, it gets rocky and uneven, so go slow and keep in mind that the rocks can be wet and slippery. This is a very popular spot for visitors, so you’ll likely be sharing the space with others. You can explore the columns at the water’s edge before retracing your steps to the car park.

Note that there are two parking lots at Klaustursel. The first is by a bridge and walking from there to the canyon is about 5 km (3 miles) one way. The second car park is 2½ km further along a rough road that isn’t kind to small 2WD vehicles (so 4WD is advised to reach it).

Prepare to have your breath taken away twice by Svartifoss (literally, 'Black Falls'): once by the trail, which is rather steep, and again by the waterfall itself, a wonder of natural architecture. The falls feature a single torrent of water plunging over a wall of symmetrical basalt columns that look like a pipe organ. The mile-long, rubber-lined trail starts from the campsite at Skaftafell. Do not be tempted to drive up the access road—this is for staff only and strictly prohibited.

This farm is home to Iceland’s premium organic brand “Móðir Jörð” (Mother Earth), which specializes in growing barley, fresh vegetables, and herbs. They also produce a range of preserves, chutneys, and fermented vegetables. On-site there’s a shop and a stylishly rustic café, generally open from May to September. They also offer accommodations in a private apartment or cottage.

At Vök Baths, cool design meets warm natural inspiration. Designed by the award-winning Basalt Architects, this sublime soaking spot has two infinity pools that float atop Urriðavatn lake, drawing on the pure, warm water flowing from the ground. On the lakeshore, you'll find more warm pools, a steam bath and sauna, and a bistro that showcases local ingredients.

A year-round haven on the edge of the eastern Highlands, complete with a hot spring spa and a restored barn dedicated to night-sky viewing, the Wilderness Center is a destination for the more determined explorer looking for an old-fashioned, authentic Icelandic experience. Services include unique accommodation and bespoke horseback riding and hiking tours, plus mountain bike rentals. The main draw of the center, however, is the award-winning exhibition on forces of nature and Iceland’s fascinating folklore.

A wooded cove on the shores of Lagarfljót, Atlavík is a popular picnic spot and summer destination, especially for young weekend revelers and those on the lookout for the legendary lake monster (the famous “Lagarfljótsormurinn," Iceland's version of the Loch Ness Monster). There’s a camping area on-site and pedal boats for hire during the summer months.

You don’t have to be a guest at the Lake Hotel to enjoy the lovely Baðhúsið Spa. Located on the ground floor with a view of the lake, Baðhúsið has an indoor hot tub, sauna, and cold pool, plus relaxation areas indoors and outside.