Travel Blog

From reindeer to seasonal beer, and greedy trolls to sweet traditional tales, East Iceland has a wealth of Christmas cheer. Read on to discover the unique ways we mark the season, and keep in mind that this is the darkest time of the year in Iceland. Here in Austurland, we have only about 3.5 hours of daylight over the Christmas period – which explains the abundance of twinkling lights strung up everywhere!

Our previous blog covered the seven fabulous fjord communities that make up the Austurland municipality of Fjarðabyggð. This blog covers the communities of the neighboring municipality known as Múlaþing. On a map, it stretches over a wide ‘n’ shape that’s overflowing with notable and next-level natural treats. Múlaþing includes the four communities of Egilsstaðir, Seyðisfjörður, Borgarfjörður eystri, and Djúpivogur, plus the Fljótsdalur countryside that encompasses lakeshore, waterfalls and forest, and the highland area up to the edge of Vatnajökull glacier.

In the mid-Eastfjords of Iceland you’ll find seven waterfront towns, generally named after the fjord or bay on which they’re located (but not always!). They’re renowned for their closeknit communities, fishing folklore, and stunning scenery. They offer plenty to discover – walking trails and magnificent viewpoints, of course, and fresh local seafood, naturally. But there are some surprises, too, if you have the time to dig deeper. Is it a coincidence that there are seven fjords? Could this be the making of a magnificent week-long adventure, checking off our list of highlights? We’re sure that if you ask the locals, they’ll add plenty more highlights to fill your days. Maybe you need to spend even more time here…?

Some people keep their favorite destinations a well-guarded secret. They fear a place might lose its magic if word gets out, and if too many people start to visit. Not us! And not when it comes to sharing one of Austurland’s gems: Vopnafjörður. In the beautiful, near-empty northeast of our region, there’s plenty of nature to go around.

You might already know this: in Iceland, we get pretty excited about summer!

Head inland to discover some of Austurland’s incredible natural highlights: the scenic valley that surrounds a mythical lake, and the eastern territory of the magnificent Vatnajökull National Park.

We know that many visitors come to Austurland (East Iceland) to see and experience the wild and wonderful nature of the region. We understand! We’ve got an abundance of mountains, trails, fjords, lakes, waterfalls, forests, black beaches, and more…

The sun is shining, and barely setting. Do you feel the need to put all that daylight to good use? Austurland has you covered.

Puffins are among the biggest crowd-pleasers in Iceland each spring and summer. In Austurland, the very best place to see them is in Borgarfjörður eystri.

It might not be an activity you associate with Iceland, but did you know that rock climbing is gaining in popularity and accessibility here, especially in Austurland?

Austurland’s Stuðlagil canyon recently gained a big moment in the spotlight, thanks to visitors (domestic and foreign) blown away by its beauty. You can see why, can’t you? There’s simply no bad angle to this gorgeous gorge in East Iceland.

If you harbor a dream to experience all the magic of an Icelandic winter, few places rival Austurland.