The Road East: From Höfn to enchanting Seyðisfjörður

We were half-way on our nine-day adventure in Iceland. Day Five and we’d settled into a comfortable rhythm.

Each morning began the same way: check the weather, check the road conditions, pack the car, and see what Iceland had planned for us.

After two spectacular days exploring waterfalls, glaciers and black sand beaches, we pointed the Dacia north-east, leaving Höfn behind and entering one of the country’s least visited—but most rewarding—regions.

The Eastfjords.

Unlike southern Iceland, where famous attractions appear every few kilometres, the Eastfjords encourage you to slow down.

The Ring Road hugs the coastline instead of cutting straight across it, winding around one magnificent fjord after another. Every headland reveals another fishing village tucked beneath snow-covered mountains.

Although today’s drive wasn’t the longest of our trip, it certainly wasn’t a day to rush.

Every curve seemed to reveal another photograph waiting to be taken.

Fjords, Fjords… and More Fjords

Maps can be deceptive.

Looking at today’s route before leaving Höfn, it didn’t appear especially demanding.

Reality was very different.

The road constantly wrapped itself around deep inlets, climbed gently over rocky headlands and descended again to sea level before repeating the process all over again.

Progress was slower than expected.

This wasn’t a road to conquer.

It was one to savour.

Snow-capped peaks reflected in calm water.

Tiny farms stood alone beneath towering mountains.

Fishing boats drifted quietly in sheltered harbours.

The Eastfjords felt like a completely different country from the volcanic landscapes we’d left behind that morning.

Djúpivogur – Iceland’s Quiet Coastal Village

Our first stop was the picturesque fishing village of Djúpivogur.

It’s the sort of place that invites you to wander without any particular agenda.

The harbour was almost perfectly still.

There was no traffic.

No crowds.

Along the shoreline sits one of the town’s best-known attractions: Eggin í Gleðivík, a collection of thirty-four granite egg sculptures representing the bird species that nest throughout the region.

It was quirky.

Unexpected.

Entirely Icelandic.

The Joy of Small Discoveries

One of the pleasures of driving the Ring Road is discovering places that never appear on anyone’s “Top 10 Iceland” list.

As we continued north, we stopped in the tiny village of Breiðdalsvík.

There wasn’t much shopping to speak of—and we quickly learned that retail opportunities become much less frequent once you leave the larger towns—but we did discover the Old General Store.

Sometimes travel memories aren’t grand adventures.

Sometimes they’re simply sitting inside a warm café with an excellent hot chocolate.

This was one of those moments.

Reyðarfjörður – Reflections for Miles

Further north, the road followed Reyðarfjörður, the longest fjord in East Iceland.

Mountains reflected perfectly across the fjord until it became difficult to tell where reality ended and the reflection began.

We found ourselves stopping again.

And again.

One of the unexpected pleasures of Iceland is that the drive itself becomes the attraction.

The destinations are almost secondary.

Crossing the Mountains

Eventually the coastline disappeared behind us as we reached Egilsstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland.

After refuelling the car, grabbing a coffee and stocking up on snacks, we turned onto Route 93.

Almost immediately, the road began climbing.

Higher. Steeper. More winding.

The landscape changed dramatically.

The green fjords gave way to snowfields.

Frozen lakes appeared beside the road.

The temperature dropped.

This mountain crossing—Fjarðarheiði—is famous for its spectacular descent into Seyðisfjörður.

Snow lined both sides of the highway.

Cloud drifted across the mountains.

Another Change of Plans

One stop we’d been particularly looking forward to was Gufufoss.

The waterfall sits conveniently beside Route 93 and requires only a short walk from the car park.

Or at least, that’s usually the case.

Unfortunately, Iceland had other ideas.

The access road was closed.

By now we were becoming philosophical about these disappointments.

Earlier in the trip we might have been frustrated.

Instead, we simply accepted it.

There was no point arguing with Iceland.

We’d already learned that flexibility always wins.

Besides, the mountain scenery surrounding us more than compensated for one missed waterfall.

Seyðisfjörður – Iceland’s Picture-Perfect Town

Then, quite suddenly, the road crested the mountain pass.

The descent into Seyðisfjörður is unforgettable.

Hairpin bends wound steadily downhill towards one of Iceland’s most beautiful fjords.

Colourful timber houses clustered around the harbour.

Waterfalls spilled down the surrounding mountainsides.

Snow-covered peaks rose dramatically behind the town.

If someone asked me to imagine the perfect Icelandic village, this would probably be it.

After checking into our accommodation, we headed straight for the attraction every visitor photographs.

The famous Rainbow Street.

Painted in bright colours leading directly to the beautiful blue church, it has become one of Iceland’s most recognisable images.

I’ll admit something, though.

After seeing countless vibrant photographs online, I was slightly underwhelmed.

The colours had faded considerably.

Perhaps winter had taken its toll.

The church itself was lovely.

The street simply wasn’t quite as vivid as we’d expected.

Sometimes Instagram isn’t entirely truthful.

A Child Again

One thing hadn’t faded.

The snow.

Coming from Queensland, opportunities to throw yourself into fresh snow don’t come along very often.

So naturally, I did what any sensible Australian would do.

I lay down in it.

Within moments I was happily making snow angels like an excited child.

It probably looked ridiculous.

I didn’t care.

Some travel experiences deserve to be embraced completely, regardless of your age.

A Cruise Ship Surprise

As evening settled over Seyðisfjörður, we learned something else about this tiny town.

It’s actually a cruise port.

Smaller cruise ships dock directly beside the town, while larger vessels anchor in the fjord and tender passengers ashore.

It suddenly made sense why such a small community had such beautifully maintained streets and colourful waterfront buildings.

Even without cruise visitors, Seyðisfjörður possesses an unmistakable charm.

The harbour was peaceful.

The mountains glowed beneath the evening light.

It was the perfect place for an unhurried stroll before dinner.

After several days of constant driving, it felt wonderful simply to wander.

Top spot for a drink and an opportunity to mingle with the locals: Hotel Aldan. The perfect way to finish your day before heading back to your accommodation for a final glass of red.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow would take us away from the coast once again.

The volcanic landscapes of North Iceland awaited.

Geothermal fields.

Boiling mud pools.

Volcanic craters.

And if luck finally smiled on us…

Perhaps even the Northern Lights.

Highlights

Driving one of Iceland’s most scenic coastal roads through the Eastfjords.

Visiting the peaceful fishing village of Djúpivogur

Seeing the Eggin í Gleðivík stone egg sculptures.

Warming up with hot chocolate at the Old General Store in Breiðdalsvík.

Enjoying mirror-like reflections across Reyðarfjörður.

Crossing the snow-covered Fjarðarheiði mountain pass.

Descending into picturesque Seyðisfjörður.

Making snow angels for the first time in Iceland.

Practical Travel Tips

Allow far longer than your GPS suggests—the Eastfjords are made for frequent photo stops.

Refuel and stock up on groceries in Egilsstaðir before continuing into more remote regions.

Expect changing conditions on Route 93, especially during spring when snow can still affect the mountain pass.

Don’t assume every planned stop will be accessible. Temporary road closures are common in Iceland.

Even famous attractions can differ from the polished images you see online. Appreciate them for what they are, not what social media promises.

Driving

Route:

Höfn → Djúpivogur → Berufjörður → Breiðdalsvík → Reyðarfjörður → Egilsstaðir → Fjarðarheiði Pass → Seyðisfjörður

Distance: Approximately 260 km

Driving Time (without stops): Around 4 hours 20 minutes. Allow a full day to enjoy the many viewpoints.

Worth Knowing

The Eastfjords Reward Slow Travellers

Unlike the South Coast’s famous attractions, the Eastfjords are all about the journey. Resist the temptation to race through this region. Pull over often, enjoy the tiny villages, and embrace the winding roads. Some of Iceland’s most memorable scenery isn’t found at a destination—it unfolds between them.

Coming Next: Day 6 — Fire, Steam and Dancing Lights

North Iceland revealed yet another side of the country. We drove through volcanic deserts, wandered among bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles, explored lava caves made famous by film and television, made an impromptu pilgrimage to Húsavík, and ended the day looking skyward as Iceland delivered the magical finale we’d been hoping for—the Northern Lights.

Disclaimer:

This blog post is based entirely on our own experiences during our trip to Iceland in April 2026. Everything we share reflects what we personally saw, did, learned and experienced during our holiday.

We have done our best to make sure the information is correct. However, things can change, including prices, road conditions, weather etc. If you are considering travelling to Iceland, we recommend you check current information with official Icelandic sources before making bookings.

Any opinions, recommendations and suggestions shared on Monty&Me are our own.