A village of roughly 700 souls tucked at the head of a 17 km fjord, Seydisfjordur is where Norwegian heritage meets Icelandic art — rainbow-painted streets, a sky-blue church, and waterfalls tumbling down every mountain flank.
Most ships dock directly at the pier, a flat 5-minute stroll from the town center — no shuttle needed.
💡 Pro move: No local currency needed — every shop, café, and museum accepts credit/debit cards, including contactless.
One main pier handles most calls; the Smyril Line ferry also uses this terminal, so arrival logistics can shift on Thursdays.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines | Strandarbakki Pier, 500 m from town center📍 | Docked |
| Large ships / ferry-conflict days | Fjord anchorage — tender to Strandarbakki landing📍 | Tendered |
From a self-guided stroll to the Blue Church to off-road 4×4 adventures at the fjord mouth, Seydisfjordur punches well above its size.
The rainbow-painted path leading to Seyðisfjarðarkirkja (the pastel-blue wooden church) is Iceland's most photographed village scene. Free to walk, free to enter the church. Summer brings concerts inside.
Explore Seydisfjordur walking tours →Five interconnected concrete domes on the hillside above town, each resonating with a different tone of the Icelandic five-tone harmony. A 15–20 min steep hike rewards with fjord views and an acoustic experience like no other.
Find Seydisfjordur hiking tours →A scenic 45-minute uphill walk along the Fjarðará River leads to Gufufoss ('Steam Falls'), a 19 m curtain waterfall that mists the air year-round. Alternatively, it's a 5-minute drive on Route 93.
Find waterfall day tours →Seydisfjordur was Iceland's first link to the outside world via submarine telegraph cable and the island's first electrified town. This museum tells that story through original equipment and exhibits. Admission ~1,500 ISK.
Find Seydisfjordur tours →Housed in a beautiful 1907 wooden building, Skaftfell runs rotating contemporary art exhibitions and a residency program. The ground-floor bistro serves stone-baked pizza and local craft beer.
Explore Seydisfjordur art experiences →Guided kayak tours launch right from the harbor, paddling the sheltered fjord beneath sheer 1,000 m mountains. One of the most dramatic kayak settings in Iceland.
Book kayak tours in Seydisfjordur →The town is small and flat — almost everything worth seeing is within a 20-minute walk of the pier.
Walk the harbor road from the pier, turn onto Rainbow Street, and follow the painted path straight to the Blue Church. Poke into craft shops and galleries along the way.
From the town center, follow signs past the fish factory and up the hillside trail to the five concrete domes. The payoff: sweeping fjord views and an otherworldly acoustic experience.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The cruise pier sits right in the heart of town. The Blue Church, Rainbow Street, and most shops are a 5–10 minute walk from the ship.
A scheduled bus connects Seydisfjordur to Egilsstadir (27 km), the main service hub of East Iceland. Check schedules carefully against ship departure time.
Local taxis are available but scarce on busy cruise days. Fares are unmetered and negotiated directly with the driver — unnecessary for the town center given the walkable dock.
Best option for reaching Stuðlagil Canyon, Gufufoss waterfall, or other Eastfjords highlights. Book well in advance as inventory is limited in this remote area.
Operators like BusTravel Iceland and Venture Ashore offer cruise-timed tours to Stuðlagil Canyon, puffin colonies, and Eastfjords scenery — guaranteed return before sail-away.
Upcoming cruises that call at Seydisfjordur, East Iceland, Iceland. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.