Getting There

By Car -- Seyðisfjörður is at the end of Route 93, only 26km (16 miles) from Egilsstaðir. From the Ring Road, take Route 92 through central Egilsstaðir, then turn left on Route 93.

Route 93 to Seyðisfjörður is often foggy, which could reduce your breathtakingly scenic drive to a blind, harrowing crawl. Viewing conditions can be checked on three live webcams run by the Icelandic Road Administration; visit www.nat.is, click "travel guide," navigate to Seyðisfjörður, and click "Web Camera Fjarðarheidi."

About 7km (4 1/3 miles) before reaching Seyðisfjörður, a gravel road branches off to the left. This road enabled construction crews to build avalanche barricades, which can be seen from Route 93 further downhill. In 1885, Seyðisfjörður suffered the most deadly avalanche in Icelandic history. Twenty-four people were killed, many more were injured, and several houses were knocked right into the fjord. In 1996 another avalanche leveled a factory, but no one died. A memorial sculpture made from the factory's twisted girders stands near the town center, at the intersection of Ránargata and Fjarðargata.

By Bus -- From June through August, Ferðaþjónusta Austurlands (tel. 472-1515; www.sfk.is/gamli/ferdamal/fas.htm) connects Seyðisfjörður and Egilsstaðir with three buses daily on weekdays, and one bus on Sunday. From June 29 to August 8, they add a Saturday bus and a second Sunday bus. Tickets are 800kr ($13/£6) for adults, 500kr ($8/£4) for seniors, and 400kr ($6/£3) for children.

By Ferry -- In summer, the Norröna car and passenger ferry arrives from Europe on Thursday mornings, departing later the same day.

Visitor Information

The tourist information center (tel. 472-1551; www.sfk.is; mid-May to mid-Sept Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, July-Aug also Sat 1-3pm) is inside the ferry terminal building by the harbor. From mid-September to mid-May, if the ferry is running, the information center should be open on arrival days and possibly the day before. The staff sells bus passes and can help book accommodations.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.