After exploring Iceland's south coast — Skógafoss, Svartifoss and the extraordinary Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon — we started our drive up towards Iceland's Eastern Fjords. This was day 4 and 5 of our Iceland road trip, and we were planning to camp around Seyðisfjörður.
The Eastern Fjords are one of the least visited sections of the Ring Road. Most tourists either rush through or skip them entirely in favour of the South Coast and North. This means you have some of the most dramatic landscape in Iceland almost entirely to yourself.
Driving to the Eastern Fjords
Höfn and the Coastal Drive
It was a three hour drive from Jökulsárlón to Seyðisfjörður through Iceland's eastern fjords. Absolutely stunning — mountains dropping straight into the sea, black sand beaches, small fishing villages with barely a handful of houses.
Our first stop was Höfn where we refuelled and grabbed groceries. Höfn is known for its langoustine — if you are passing through at lunchtime the lobster soup at one of the harbour restaurants is worth stopping for.
From Höfn it was a long drive through the fjords and very small towns with views like this.
Iceland's Eastern Fjords — driving through rain
Honestly, there were a lot of sheep and farms and long stretches of nothing but it was beautiful. The scale of the mountains coming down to the sea is extraordinary. We spotted reindeer on the hillside — they can only be found in Iceland's eastern fjords, brought from Norway in the 18th century and now wild here.
Road 939 — The Shortcut
Google Maps suggested road 939 as a shortcut across the mountains. We turned onto it and found a hidden viewpoint with remarkable views down to the fjords below.
A hidden waterfall along road 939
Road 939 Warning
Only take road 939 in good visibility. Continuing up this road we drove in complete cloud with almost zero visibility. It was a slow and slightly nerve-wracking experience. If the weather is bad, take the main road around.
The cloud slowed us down so much that it was almost dark when we reached Egilsstaðir. This campsite turned out to be our favourite of the entire trip — hot showers, proper toilets, a good camp kitchen. We had excellent hot showers, made a proper dinner and slept soundly.
Seyðisfjörður
The next morning Seyðisfjörður was a must-do. We woke early and drove 40 minutes out to check it out.
The blue church at Seyðisfjörður, Eastern Iceland
Seyðisfjörður is genuinely one of the most photogenic spots in Iceland. The town sits at the end of a long narrow fjord surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. A rainbow painted road leads into town. The blue painted church at the far end is iconic. It is one of those places that looks exactly like the photographs, which is not always the case in Iceland.
Give it a morning. Walk around, have a coffee, sit by the water.
The Drive North to Mývatn
From Seyðisfjörður we headed north to the Mývatn area — a two and a half hour drive.
This drive through the interior of eastern Iceland felt completely different from everything we had seen before. A weird kind of desert with what looked like volcanic craters and lava fields everywhere — an unearthly landscape that stayed that way until we reached Mývatn.
The drive to Mývatn — like landing on the moon
The Mývatn area is one of the most geothermally active in Iceland — volcanic craters, boiling mud pots, lava formations and the extraordinary Mývatn Nature Baths where we ended the day. If you are choosing between the Blue Lagoon and Mývatn Nature Baths, choose Mývatn. Far fewer crowds, better setting and a fraction of the price.
From Mývatn the next day was North Iceland — Dettifoss, Goðafoss and the whale watching capital of Iceland at Húsavík.
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Practical Tips for the Eastern Fjords
When to visit: The Eastern Fjords are beautiful in any season. Summer gives you the best visibility and longest days. The roads through the mountains can be treacherous in winter.
How long to spend: Two days is ideal — one day driving through the fjords and into Egilsstaðir, one morning for Seyðisfjörður before heading north.
Fuel: Fill up in Höfn and again in Egilsstaðir. There are long stretches without stations in the fjords.
Reindeer spotting: Keep your eyes on the hillsides throughout the fjords. Early morning and evening are best.
All Iceland Posts
- Epic Iceland Road Trip Itinerary — 12 Days
- Iceland Day 1 — The Golden Circle
- Iceland's South Coast — Waterfalls and Glaciers
- North Iceland — Volcanoes and Waterfalls
- Iceland's Westfjords — Hot Spring Hunting
- From Snæfellsnes to Reykjavik
- Is Iceland's Blue Lagoon Overrated?
- The Best Hikes in Iceland
- The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. They are one of the least visited sections of the Ring Road and genuinely stunning — deep fjords, small fishing villages, mountain passes with extraordinary views. Because most tourists skip them or drive through quickly, you have this section largely to yourself. The reindeer are only found here too.
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