Fall in East Iceland: A Season to Explore, Unwind & Reconnect
Fall transforms Austurland (East Iceland) into a completely different landscape. Mountains take on deeper colours, vegetation turns golden and the forests become particularly beautiful. It is the perfect time to put on your hiking boots and experience the region on foot.
Hallormsstaðaskógur, Iceland’s largest forest, is especially magical at this time of year. Walking and cycling trails wind through colourful woodland, and the forest offers plenty of opportunities to slow down and simply enjoy the surroundings. Fall is also the season for berries and mushrooms, adding another dimension to a walk through the forest.
Nearby, Hengifoss offers one of East Iceland’s most memorable hikes. The trail leads towards one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls, surrounded by dramatic layers of colourful rock and an impressive landscape that becomes even more striking in the changing autumn light.
And these are only a few possibilities. Across Austurland, you will find everything from short scenic walks to longer hikes through valleys, mountains, along fjords and beside waterfalls.
Cold Air and Warm Water
There’s something special about sinking into warm geothermal water after a day of exploring in the cool autumn air.
Fall is the perfect season to combine outdoor adventures with a little relaxation. Feel the cool air on your face while your body stays warm in the water, watch steam rise into the autumn air and allow yourself to simply stop for a while.
Vök Baths, located on the beautiful Lake Urriðavatn near Egilsstaðir, offers a unique geothermal bathing experience surrounded by nature. The floating pools extend into the lake, creating a peaceful setting where the landscape becomes part of the experience.
Whether you have spent the day hiking, exploring waterfalls or driving between the fjords, a warm soak is a wonderful way to end an autumn day. Sometimes travelling is not about seeing more, it is about stopping long enough to enjoy where you already are.
Taste the Season
Fall is a season of flavour in East Iceland. The region has a strong connection to local food and local producers, and this time of year is perfect for slowing down over a memorable meal.
Discover restaurants and cafés serving dishes inspired by the surrounding landscape and made with ingredients from the region. Local lamb, fresh seafood, vegetables, berries, mushrooms and other seasonal ingredients bring the flavours of East Iceland to the table. East Iceland is also home to local breweries, adding another flavour to the region’s food scene. Locally brewed beers and other drinks can be found at many restaurants, bars and cafés across the region, making it easy to enjoy a taste of East Iceland alongside your meal.
After a day outside in the cool autumn air, there is something particularly satisfying about stepping into a warm restaurant, ordering something delicious and taking your time.
Food is also one of the best ways to connect with a destination. From cosy cafés to memorable dinners and locally brewed drinks, food and drink add another layer to the East Iceland experience.
Adventure Without the Crowds
A quieter season does not mean there is less to do, quite the opposite.
Fall in Austurland (East Iceland) offers plenty of opportunities for adventure, but often in a more peaceful and open environment. Go hiking through colourful landscapes, explore waterfalls, walk through forests, discover the coastline, visit small fishing villages or take a scenic drive through the fjords.
As the seasons change, East Iceland’s landscapes take on a completely different character. Colourful valleys, mountains, forests, waterfalls and quiet coastlines create endless opportunities to explore, while scenic trails and viewpoints invite you to slow down, step outside and experience the region at your own pace.
Depending on weather and trail conditions, early fall can also be a wonderful time to experience some of East Iceland’s longer hiking routes.
The difference is the atmosphere. There is more room to breathe, more space to explore and more freedom to experience each place at your own pace. Fall in East Iceland is about slowing down, not standing still.
Photographer: Þráinn Kolbeinsson
Find Space to Breathe
Not every memorable travel experience needs to be planned. Sometimes it is the unexpected stop beside a fjord, a quiet walk along the coast, a cup of coffee in a small town.
Watching clouds move across the mountains or simply driving without feeling the need to rush to the next place.
Fall brings a quieter rhythm to East Iceland. The roads are calmer, popular places feel more peaceful and there is often more space on the trails. It creates an opportunity to travel differently, take the scenic road, stay somewhere for an extra night, talk to locals, walk without checking the time and sit beside the water and listen.
East Iceland's wide open landscapes and small communities make it easy to disconnect from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with the world around you. Sometimes, having less around you allows you to experience more.
Photographer: Þráinn Kolbeinsson
Discover Local Life & Culture
Nature may dominate the landscape, but East Iceland is also shaped by the people who live here. Throughout the region, small towns and communities have their own stories, traditions and creative character.
Take time between outdoor adventures to discover museums, exhibitions, local design, art and cultural experiences. Visit small shops and cafés, learn about the history of the region and discover how life in East Iceland has been shaped by the mountains, fjords and sea.
Fall is particularly well suited to this slower style of travel. Instead of simply passing through, spend time getting to know the places along the way.
You may arrive because of the landscape, but often it is the people, food and unexpected local experiences that stay with you afterwards.
Cosy Evenings & Darker Skies
As fall progresses, the days become shorter and the evenings darker and that is part of the magic.
After spending the day outdoors, return to your accommodation, warm up and enjoy a slower evening. Find a cosy restaurant, relax with a drink, or simply watch the changing weather from somewhere warm.
The return of darker nights also marks the beginning of the Northern Lights season in East Iceland. From September onwards, there is a chance to see the aurora dancing across the sky when conditions are right. With wide-open landscapes, small communities and plenty of space away from bright city lights, East Iceland offers beautiful surroundings for experiencing this natural phenomenon.
Imagine ending a day of hiking through colourful autumn landscapes or relaxing in geothermal water, then stepping outside into the crisp evening air to see the Northern Lights above the mountains and fjords.
Of course, nature never comes with guarantees. Clear skies and the right aurora activity are needed and perhaps that unpredictability is part of what makes the experience so special.
Sometimes the most memorable evenings are the ones where you simply step outside, look up and see what happens.
Photographer: Dusky Mercak
From Golden Fall to an East Iceland Winter
One of the most fascinating things about travelling in fall is watching the seasons change. Golden hills slowly give way to snow covered mountains. Temperatures drop, waterfalls begin to freeze around the edges and the landscape becomes quieter and more dramatic.
East Iceland in winter is an experience of its own. Snow, mountains, dark skies and small communities create an atmosphere that feels wonderfully remote. Outdoor adventures continue, but the experience changes with the landscape.
For visitors looking for something beyond the traditional summer journey around Iceland, the transition from fall into winter offers the chance to see a completely different side of the country. It is peaceful, dramatic and unmistakably East Iceland.
Photographer: Ragnhildur Aðalsteinsdóttir
Come for the Colours. Stay for the Feeling.
Fall in East Iceland is not about ticking as many places as possible off a list. It is about taking your time.
Hike beneath golden hills. Wander through colourful forests. Feel the cold air before slipping into warm geothermal water. Discover local flavours, explore small communities and follow roads that make you curious about what lies around the next corner. Be active when you want adventure and slow down when you need space.
There is room for both here. Come for the colours, stay for the warmth, and discover East Iceland at a different pace.
Ready to experience fall in East Iceland?
Start planning your journey and discover hiking, geothermal baths, local food, culture and unforgettable experiences across the region.
You can also get some inspiration from our travel routes, The Fjord Way & The Highland Circle.