3 Best Sights in East Iceland and the Eastfjords, Iceland

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.

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.

In July and August, Sænautasel—a restored lakeside turf farm with pleasant green surroundings dating back to 1843—serves excellent coffee, homebaked lummur (oatmeal pancakes), and a welcoming splash of color in the otherwise desolate landscapes of the area. Apart from the evacuation period caused by the eruption of Askja in 1885, it was inhabited until 1943. Sænautasel is said to be the inspiration for the main character’s home in the novel Independent People, written by Nobel Prize–winning Icelandic writer Halldór Laxness.