Fjarðabyggð - Communities

Tiny Breiðdalsvík is a relatively young fishing village with some surprises and plenty of small-town hospitality. It lies on the coast with great seascapes and black sand beaches, making fishing and boat tours popular from its old harbor.

Eskifjörður and its surrounds are a fabulous microcosm of the east, with attractions that neatly sum up the region’s appeal. History and nature work their magic here, and you can investigate towering mountains, nature reserves, deserted black beaches, time-stands-still history, and surprising geology.

Fáskrúðsfjörður dishes up a Gallic surprise in the middle of the Eastfjords: a strong historical connection to France that today is showcased and celebrated. The village road signs are even in French!

In a country that specializes in unspoiled and out-of-the-way places, Mjóifjörður might just take the title of ‘most remote’.

Norðfjörður is about as far east as you can go in Iceland, and soaring mountains provide a scenic backdrop to the town of Neskaupstaður. The fjord and those surrounding mountains provide plentiful recreational opportunities, from hiking to horse-riding trails.

At over 30km long, Reyðarfjörður is the longest and widest of Iceland's Eastfjords. Norwegians once operated whaling stations along the fjord, and fishing was naturally a part of the area’s history. These days the Alcoa aluminum smelter is the main employer, making this the most industrial pocket of the east. But industry doesn’t mean a lack of beauty – in fact, you may recognize some of Reyðarfjörður’s dramatic natural features if you’ve seen the British TV series Fortitude, which was largely filmed here.

Stöðvarfjörður er eina þorpið á Austfjörðum sem Hringvegurinn liggur í gegnum og þar er margt áhugavert að skoða. Heimamenn stunda fiskveiðar, ferðaþjónustu og listi en mikill sköpunarkraftur kraumar í Stöðvarfirði sem líklegast er innblásinn, allavegana að hluta til, af stórbrotinni náttúru svæðisins.