Seyðisfjörður Cruise Port: What to Do in East Iceland

East Iceland runs at a slower pace than the rest of the country, and the port reflects it. Seyðisfjörður holds about 650 people at the head of a seventeen-kilometre fjord, below a mountain road most passengers photograph before they reach the bottom. Seyðisfjörður shore excursions favour scenery and wildlife over adrenaline, which is what most ships calling here are looking for.

Key Takeaways

• Seyðisfjörður is a small fjord town with a blue church, a painted rainbow street and Norwegian timber houses.
• Puffins nest at Borgarfjörður Eystri from May to September, viewed from a built platform.
• Stuðlagil canyon pairs hexagonal basalt columns with unusually clear glacial water.
• Both headline excursions run about five hours, with short and optional walking at most stops.

The blue church and the rainbow street

Start with what you can reach on foot. The pale blue church at the head of the fjord is the most photographed building in East Iceland, and the street leading to it is painted in rainbow stripes across the asphalt.

Around it stand timber houses shipped from Norway in the nineteenth century, when herring made this the busiest harbour on the east coast. An hour covers the centre, leaving the rest of your call for the country beyond the pass.

Within a short walk of the pier you will find:

• The pale blue church at the head of the fjord.
• The rainbow street painted across the asphalt leading up to it.
• Nineteenth-century Norwegian timber houses around the old centre.
• Small galleries, a bakery, and the harbour front.

Everything else needs wheels. The excursions that cover it sit on the shore excursions from Seyðisfjörður port page.

Puffins at Borgarfjörður Eystri

Iceland hosts a large share of the world’s Atlantic puffins, and the colony at Hafnarhólmi is among the easiest anywhere to visit. A wooden staircase and viewing platform bring you level with the burrows, so the birds land a few meters away with no scrambling over rocks.

The puffin tour with Gufufoss waterfall runs May to September across about five hours, adding the turf house at Lindarbakki. Puffins leave Icelandic cliffs by late August, so a September call is a gamble on the calendar as much as the weather. Seabird trips elsewhere sit under puffin and whale watching tours.

Stuðlagil canyon and its basalt columns

Stuðlagil lay hidden under a glacial river until a hydroelectric scheme lowered the water and revealed the walls beneath. What emerged is a canyon of hexagonal basalt columns above water that runs an unusually clear blue-green in summer.

The Stuðlagil canyon tour reaches it in about five hours, stopping at Rjúkandi waterfall on the way. The viewpoint above the canyon needs only a short walk from the parking area, which suits anyone who would rather not descend to the riverbed.

Gufufoss and the road over the pass

Both headline excursions pass Gufufoss, the largest waterfall on the river running down into the fjord. Its name means steam waterfall, after the mist hanging above the plunge pool, and the stop takes a few minutes from the road.

The pass above the town climbs to around 620 meters and holds snow well into summer. The descent into the fjord is the best view of the day for many passengers, and it happens before the first stop.

Fitting Seyðisfjörður shore excursions around your ship

Departures are timed against the ships in dock rather than a public timetable, and each carries a guaranteed return. Aim to finish at least 30 minutes before your scheduled sailing, which both headline excursions allow for.

The two headline excursions compared:

Cancellation terms sit in the frequently asked questions, and passengers with limited mobility or a folding wheelchair should say so when booking, as the guests with disabilities page explains. Ships continuing down the coast will find comparable routes on the Djúpivogur port page and across the shore excursions network.

Choose between puffins and basalt columns on the Seyðisfjörður port page, book before you sail, and let East Iceland unfold at the pace it prefers.

Frequently asked questions

When can I see puffins from Seyðisfjörður?

The colony at Hafnarhólmi is active from roughly May until late August, and the birds return to the open ocean once the chicks fledge. Excursions run May to September, so check the date of your call.

How long does it take to reach Stuðlagil canyon from the port?

The full excursion runs about five hours, including the drive over the pass and the stops at Rjúkandi and Gufufoss. The canyon viewpoint is a short walk from the parking area.

Is there enough to do in Seyðisfjörður without taking a tour?

The town centre, the blue church and a few galleries fill about an hour on foot, but Gufufoss lies a short drive out. Most passengers use an excursion for the country beyond the fjord and keep the town for whatever time is left.

About the author

Neil

Neil works in sales and marketing at BusTravel Iceland. He writes content and also creates private and custom tour itineraries. A native of Ireland, Neil has lived and worked in Iceland for more than 10 years. He enjoys multi-day hikes such as Horstrandir and of course Laugavegurinn.