Port of Seyðisfjörður cruise port guide

Port of Seyðisfjörður — Seyðisfjörður, Iceland.

Seyðisfjörður is a village of fewer than 700 people at the end of a long, narrow fjord in east Iceland — and it is, by considerable margin, the most photogenic small settlement in the country. A rainbow-painted street leads through the village to a pale blue Norwegian-style wooden church reflected in still fjord water; the surrounding mountains plunge directly into the fjord from steep walls rising nearly 1,000 metres; and waterfalls thread down every gully within sight of the quayside. The village has a strong artistic identity — the Skaftfell Center for Visual Art occupies a restored waterfront building, and Seyðisfjörður hosted the LungA Art Festival each July from 2000 until its final edition in 2024. It is, by Iceland standards, a warm and creative community in an overwhelmingly dramatic natural setting.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Seyðisfjörður?

Ships dock directly at the Seyðisfjörður quay in the heart of the village — the ferry terminal dock used by the Smyril Line service to Denmark accommodates most cruise vessels with no tender required. The entire village is immediately walkable from the gangway: the rainbow street (Norðurgata), the Blue Church, the Skaftfell art centre and all cafés are within 10 minutes on foot of the dock. The village has no formal taxi fleet, but a small number of local drivers can be arranged through the tourist information centre at the ferry terminal (Ferjuleiru 1) for excursions to Egilsstaðir.

Getting around

Seyðisfjörður village is entirely walkable — everything of note is within a 15-minute stroll of the dock. The rainbow street, Blue Church, the Tvísöngur sound sculpture (a 20-minute walk up the valley), the local swimming pool and the Skaftfell art centre are all on foot. For the mountain pass drive to Egilsstaðir (35km over the Fjarðarheiði pass), organised ship excursions or local car hire (available through the tourist office) are required. The mountain road is scenic but can be affected by weather — check conditions before departing.

Don't miss

• Rainbow street and Blue Church — The village's defining image: a street of colourfully painted 19th-century Norwegian-style timber houses, with the rainbow painted on the road surface itself (Norðurgata), leading to the pale blue Seyðisfjörður church (Seyðisfjarðarkirkja) at the end. The church, built in 1922 in a classic Icelandic wooden vernacular style, sits at the head of the fjord with the mountain wall behind it — a composition of startling beauty. The walk from the dock to the church takes 10 minutes and should be the first stop of the day, in the soft morning light before the village fills.
• Skaftfell Center for Visual Art — A contemporary art space in a beautifully restored 1907 merchant warehouse on the waterfront, hosting changing exhibitions by Icelandic and international artists. The building itself — white-painted timber, corrugated iron roof — is an exemplar of Icelandic industrial heritage architecture. The Skaftfell Bistro in the same building opens in the evenings. The gallery is open Tuesday–Friday 10am–5pm and Saturday noon–5pm (closed Sunday and Monday).
• Tvísöngur sound sculpture — A concrete installation by German artist Lukas Kühne set into the hillside above the village, comprising five domed chambers tuned to the five notes of the Icelandic traditional singing tradition (tvisöngur). Walking up through the birch scrub and wildflower meadow from the village takes approximately 20 minutes; the view back down to the fjord from the sculpture is one of the finest panoramas available on foot from any Icelandic cruise port. Each dome resonates with a different pure tone when hummed into it.
• Fjord waterfall walk — Several waterfalls are visible from the village, and at least two are accessible on a short walk from the dock: Búðarárfoss tumbles down the hillside just above the east side of the village, reached by a short, easy path. The valley floor north of the village offers a flat walk through birch woodland along the river, with the mountain walls closing in on either side — an easy 45-minute return walk for anyone wanting to move beyond the village centre.
• Egilsstaðir and the Lagarfljót excursion — A 35km drive over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass (spectacular, with views of the fjord below and the Snæfell glacier on the horizon) reaches Egilsstaðir, the administrative centre of eastern Iceland, on the shores of Lagarfljót lake. The lake is associated with Iceland's own Loch Ness-style serpent legend (the Lagarfljótsormurinn). The East Iceland Heritage Museum in Egilsstaðir and the lakeside woodland walks are the main interests. Allow 3–4 hours for the round trip including time in Egilsstaðir.

Planning your day

Seyðisfjörður is a village to be walked slowly rather than ticked off quickly. The correct approach is to start with the rainbow street and Blue Church in the soft morning light before other passengers arrive, then spend time in the Skaftfell art gallery and have coffee or lunch at Kaffi Lára. The Tvísöngur sound sculpture walk takes about 90 minutes including the climb and return, and the views it provides of the fjord from above are the best available on foot. The fjord valley walk is a quiet alternative for those who prefer flat terrain. If the ship has a late all-aboard and the weather is clear, the Egilsstaðir mountain pass drive is the most rewarding excursion — the views of the fjord from the pass road are spectacular and the glacier horizon beyond Egilsstaðir adds a further dimension. Seyðisfjörður rewards passengers who bring a camera, slow down, and resist the impulse to cover ground.

Food & drink

Seyðisfjörður is a village, not a food destination — dining choices are limited to the Skaftfell Bistro, one or two small cafés and the ship. What is available tends to be genuinely good: local lamb, skyr-based dishes, fresh fish from the fjord, and excellent Icelandic bread. Kaffi Lára is the main daytime option; the Skaftfell Bistro opens only in the evening.

Where to eat

• Skaftfell Bistro — The restaurant in the Skaftfell art centre building, serving Nordic-style bistro dishes, small plates and pizzas, with works by the artist Dieter Roth on the walls. Dinner only (from 5pm, kitchen 6–9pm; days vary by season), so best on late or overnight calls.
• Kaffi Lára – El Grillo Bar — A family-run café, restaurant and bar by the lagoon at the start of the rainbow street (Norðurgata), serving coffee and home-baked cakes, Icelandic grilled dishes and its own El Grillo lager. Open daily from midday, so it is the best bet for a sit-down lunch on a daytime call.

Must try

• Skyr — Iceland's native dairy product — technically a strained fresh cheese but eaten like a thick, tangy yogurt. Rich in protein, low in fat, slightly sour, and available in plain or berry-flavoured versions. The Icelandic version is entirely different from the imported supermarket imitations — creamier, thicker and more complex.
• Icelandic lamb soup (kjötsúpa) — Slowly simmered Icelandic lamb (raised on wild highland pasture and highly regarded throughout Scandinavia for its flavour) with turnip, potato, carrot and onion in a clean, clear broth — the warming staple of Icelandic home cooking. On a cold or misty fjord morning, there is nothing more appropriate.
• Rúgbrauð (Icelandic rye bread) with smoked lamb or butter — Dense, dark, slightly sweet Icelandic rye bread — traditionally cooked in the ground near geothermal vents, though now baked conventionally. The texture is close and moist; the flavour is earthy and complex, somewhere between German pumpernickel and a dark molasses bread. Served with salted Icelandic butter or thin-sliced smoked lamb (hangikjöt). A defining Icelandic food experience.

Know before you go

• 🗣️Language — Icelandic — one of the most conservative and unchanged of all the Nordic languages, largely unintelligible to other Scandinavians. English is universally spoken, particularly by younger residents and all those working in tourism. No language barrier whatsoever for English-speaking visitors.
• 📋Documents — Iceland is not an EU member but is part of the Schengen Area and the EEA. EU, US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens do not require a visa for stays under 90 days. A valid passport is required. Follow ship immigration procedures.
• 🛍️Shopping & hours — Seyðisfjörður has minimal retail: a small general store, the Skaftfell art centre shop (local art, prints, jewellery), and a few craft sellers who set up stalls on cruise days. The best purchases are original artwork and prints from the Skaftfell gallery, handmade ceramics from local artists, and Icelandic wool products. Card payment is accepted everywhere; Icelandic króna (ISK) is rarely needed as cards are used for even tiny transactions throughout Iceland.
• 🌤️Weather — The fjord creates its own microclimate — Seyðisfjörður is noticeably rainier and mistier than the surrounding region, as clouds funnel in from the sea and bank against the mountain walls. Cruise season (June–August) offers temperatures of 8–16°C (46–61°F) with long daylight hours — near-24-hour daylight at midsummer. June and July calls typically enjoy light until midnight. A waterproof windproof outer layer is essential regardless of the morning forecast. The mountains can disappear into cloud by midday.
• 📶Connectivity — Reasonable 4G coverage from Síminn and Nova in the village itself, though signal can be intermittent due to the mountain walls. Most village cafés have Wi-Fi. Signal disappears almost entirely on the mountain pass road to Egilsstaðir — download offline maps before the excursion.
• ♿Accessibility — The dock is at village level and the main street is flat and accessible. The rainbow street and the Blue Church are manageable on foot for most visitors. The Tvísöngur sound sculpture involves a 20-minute uphill walk on an uneven gravel path and is not accessible by wheelchair. The fjord valley walk is flat and manageable on firm ground.
• ⏱️Getting back — The dock is in the heart of the village — returning from the Blue Church or Skaftfell is a 5–10 minute walk. From the Tvísöngur sound sculpture, allow 25 minutes back down to the dock. From Egilsstaðir, allow 45–50 minutes by road including the mountain pass. Build at least 60 minutes of buffer before all-aboard for any Egilsstaðir excursion — the mountain road can be slower than expected in poor visibility or if there is any traffic.

Sources: visitseydisfjordur.is; east.is (Visit East Iceland); skaftfell.is; visiticeland.com