At a distance of over 700 kilometers from Reykjavík, the town of Seydisfjordur, tucked in the East Fjords, seems a world away. Its natural beauty, tight-knit community and vibrant art scene attract creative souls from all corners. Seydisfjordur is a small town situated at the innermost point of a fjord of the same name. It is one of the most beautiful places in East Iceland, surrounded by mountains on all sides.
The town has only 700 inhabitants, and it is well known for its old wooden buildings and remnants of urban street configurations.The unique architecture and lively spirit of this remote and hard-to-reach settlement make Seydisfjordur a really special place.
Town settlement in the Seydisfjordur area started in 1848. The town was settled by Norwegian fishermen. These settlers also built some of the existing wooden buildings in the village. Another settlement nearby in the fjord, Vestddalseyri, is now deserted. Both primarily served as fishing and trading posts.
The first telephone cables connecting Iceland to Europe were connected through Seydisfjordur in 1906, making it a hub for telecommunications well past the middle of last century. An electric dam was built in the main river in 1913, the first of its kind in Iceland. Seydisfjordur was used as a base for British/American forces during World War II and remnants of this activity is visible through the fjord, including a landing strip no longer in use and an oil ship El Grillo that was bombed and sunk. It remains a divers wreck at the bottom of the fjord. For such a small town there is much to see in Seydisfjordur town. First and foremost it has the most wonderful collection of old wooden houses in Iceland. Its origins relates to foreign merchants, mainly Danes, who started trading in the fjord in the mid19th century. But the crucial factor in the evolution of the village was the establishment of the Icelandic herring fishery by Norwegians in 1870-1900. In the early 19th century a new method of construction was developing in Norway. Sawmills started to produce ready-made houses in kit form for export. Businessmen in Seydisfjordur, who had roots in Norway, started importing these splendid excellent-quality buildings - both as homes, business premises and public buildings.
Many of these buildings have survived to the present day, giving Seydisfjordur a wonderful early 20th century ambience. With the recent demise of the local fish-processing plant the village has shifted its economy to tourism but visitors should not expect to find streets bristling with shops and galleries. It still remains a significant fishing port on the east coast of Iceland with harbors, and ship construction facilities. This town is a rather artsy community, although the population is very small. It is a frequently-visited destination.There is a telecommunications museum, a swimming pool, quality restaurants (the East Fjords is renowned for its good food), hotels, a camping ground, facilities for campers, and several exhilarating hiking trails that wind through the nearby mountains. It also has a vibrant cultural scene with an arts center, the only two cinemas in the east of Iceland and a cultural festival, a Seyoi, held from June to July but Seydisfjordur's main role is as a ferry port, connecting Iceland to the Faroe Islands and mainland Europe.