Are you planning a trip to Iceland and want to explore East Iceland, especially the less-touristy bits? In this guide, I’ll tell you all about East Iceland and how to find East Iceland hidden gems.
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East Iceland doesn’t get nearly as much tourism as the other parts of Iceland. The main reasons are because East Iceland is colder, less developed, and quite a drive from the capital city, Reykjavík.
After seeing almost all of Iceland (excluding the West Fjords), I would highly recommend you make the time to explore East Iceland during your trip. It’s definitely worth the drive! The landscape is so serene and it’s so much less touristy than other parts of the country.
If you don’t already have your trip booked, I’m sure I’m convincing you to visit. Check out these resources and tools to help book and plan your trip!
- Booking.com – offers accommodation and unique places
- Vrbo – world’s leading marketplace for vacation rentals
- Hostelworld – global hostel-focused online booking platform
- Wayaway – flight aggregator to find the best rates on airline tickets
- Rentalcars.com – the world’s largest car rental service
- GetYourGuide – find top-rated tours and activities in your destination
My favorite place we saw in East Iceland is the Eastfjords — a collection of fjords (narrow inlets of the ocean between cliffs) and accompanying fishing villages. Later in this post I will tell you more about the village we stopped in, Seyðisfjörður.
Due to East Iceland’s remoteness, this means it has a ton of hidden gems and few tourists. We only saw a handful of tourists among all of the places we visited. Let me tell you about the best hidden gems in East Iceland.
HOW TO GET THERE
To get to East Iceland you will need to drive, which is the most common way to get around Iceland. The main options are to rent a car or van, or join a group trip. Personally, I’m glad we rented a car because we had flexibility to spend as much or little time as we wanted in each area we visited. Otherwise I’m not sure we would have had to discover the hidden gems of East Iceland that I am going to be telling you about.
Rentalcars.com is the world’s largest online car rental service. They make eight million bookings a year (and counting) in over 60,000 locations across 160 countries. Rentalcars.com offers 24/7 customer service and their website is available in 43 languages.
The main road for tourists is the Ring Road, but you aren’t going to want to rely on that road entirely because some of the best parts of East Iceland take you off this road. For this reason, you are going to want to make sure of these two things to stay safe and avoid running into trouble on your journey around East Iceland:
- Fill up your gas tank every time you pass a station
- Download the Færð & Veður app for live road condition updates
For more things to know before going to Iceland, check out my recent blog post.
WHERE TO STAY
As I mentioned, East Iceland is quite remote so you will find few hotels. The best option for accommodation, if you are not sleeping in a van, is to stay in guesthouses. Guesthouses are typically a private home that has been converted into an accommodation for the purpose of lodging. Other times, they are more family-owned like hotels.
Guesthouses usually have multiple private rooms with a shared kitchen and living space, and sometimes a shared bathroom. Here are the two guesthouses we stayed in East Iceland, both which I definitely recommend – and yes, both have private bathrooms!
Brunnholl Country Guesthouse
Hótel Eyvindará
EAST ICELAND HIDDEN GEMS
When you visit East Iceland, you definitely need to make a stop at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, but these are both quite touristy. I know you’re here to find East Iceland hidden gems, so let’s jump in!
Stokksnes Peninsula
A beautiful peninsula consisting of a huge black sand beach, a looming mountain (Vestrahorn), a viking village film set, and more, Stokksnes Peninsula is a really unique spot in East Iceland.
For me, the black sand beach was the highlight. We were the only people on the entire beach, the waves were crashing, the weather was overcast… It was a bit scary, but in a cool way! You should know that it costs 900 ISK ($6.50) to visit the Stokksnes Peninsula.
Hvalnes Nature Reserve Beach
Another secluded and peaceful black sand beach, you would never guess the Hvalnes Nature Reserve Beach is only a few minutes off the Ring Road. This is a rugged and authentic beach with the sea on one side and a lagoon on the other. It is perfect for a stroll, especially if the weather is decent. This place is also known for its rich flora and fauna!
Sveinsstekksfoss Waterfall
This waterfall goes by many names: Sveinsstekksfoss, Nykurhylsfoss, or Fossárdafoss. Iceland, of course, is known for its incredible waterfalls all across the country. However Sveinsstekksfoss is one that most other tourists don’t see during their trip! This is because it’s located in a remote part of East Iceland, however it is just off the Ring Road. Park your car and head down to the viewpoint, and soak in the beauty of this rugged waterfall before heading into the Eastfjords!
Gufufoss Waterfall
This waterfall is located in the Eastfjords, which means you will have to leave the Ring Road to see it. It is right at the entrance to Seyðisfjörður, a unique little fjord town. This waterfall got its name, Gufufoss (meaning “steam waterfall”), because of its heavy mist that makes it look quite mystical and magical. You may even get the chance to see a rainbow within the mist!
Seyðisfjörður
This small fjord town is the best hidden gem in Iceland. Seyðisfjörður is located in the Eastfjords and has a population of less than 700 residents. People had been living in this area since the 11th century, and the current town settlement was established in 1848 by Norwegian fishermen.
Today the town is best known for its old, colorful wooden buildings and urban street configurations. It’s quite self-sustaining with numerous restaurants, a library, a hospital, a post office, a cinema, a liquor store, and even an arts center. It’s a must-visit in East Iceland, even as a quick stop to take a few photos!
Stuðlafoss Waterfall
Yes, another waterfall. But in my opinion, the stunning waterfalls are one of the best parts of Iceland. The Stuðlafoss Waterfall is unique, however, because of its basalt salt columns made naturally by solidifying lava This was also one of the only waterfalls we saw that still had a significant amount of snow, because it was a bit colder in East Iceland when we were there in April.
Stuðlagil Canyon
To see another beautiful natural wonder involving salt columns, you will want to visit Stuðlagil Canyon. This canyon is a true hidden gem especially because it was only discovered in 2009 when water levels lowered. Hundreds of dark basalt columns contrasting the Jökla River that flows through the Stuðlagil Canyon is definitely a sight you have to see in your lifetime. All you have to do to get the perfect view is walk down some stairs to the viewing platform! We also saw people down in the canyon, so if you’re an experienced hiker that may be something you want to try.
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All in all, don’t skip East Iceland on your Iceland trip. Take the road less traveled and experience the wonderful hidden gems East Iceland has to offer!