The Coastal Experience - Summer

An idyllic summertime travel route, The Coastal Experience draws road-trippers to explore the winding coast and stunning mountain roads. When the sunlight hits the water and weather is calm, few places can beat a beautiful fjord. The views from the mountain roads are icing on the cake.

Did you know that Austurland boasts some of the warmest summer temperatures in Iceland, and plentiful sunshine? Not surprisingly, this brings sun-seeking Icelanders to the region, keen for golf, fishing, hiking, and long nights under the midnight sun.

Each of the towns here buzzes with visitors and events, as locals and tourists explore some offbeat attractions and hike-friendly coastal and mountain landscapes. The towns of Reyðarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Stöðvarfjörður, Breiðdalsvík and Djúpivogur each have a different character and lovely scenery, together with creative communities and cultural attractions.

There’s enough to fill a few sunny days here, and seasonal activities and tours are usually in full swing in summer. Explore black beach seascapes, lighthouses, waterfalls and mountain trails. Take a boat trip, check the output from microbreweries, or meet up with crafty locals. Rainy days can be spent uncovering fascinating local stories of wartime, geology and fishing history.

To return to your starting point from Breiðdalsvík, you can follow Rte 95 through the scenic valley west of here, called Breiðdalur, and over the mountain pass. A second option is to continue on the Ring Road to reach the Öxi pass (Rte 939), a renowned mountain drive. In summer, both routes are generally open to regular cars (check road conditions online). Back in Egilsstaðir you can select another travel route (a lake circuit, maybe more fjords?) for continuing your Austurland exploration.

You may not have time to see everything we include on this travel route. We recommend you plan your trip using the 'Add to favorites' tool on our page. By bookmarking your favorite attractions and experiences in this way, you can tailor a route through Austurland that's perfect for you!

For great information on the areas visited in The Coastal Experience, check out the Visit Fjarðabyggð website (Fjarðabyggð is the name of the municipality covering this area).