Egilsstaðir: East Iceland's Main Town

Egilsstaðir (population approximately 2,500) is the largest town in East Iceland and the regional hub for the East Fjords. It’s a practical stop rather than a destination in itself — the town has the supermarkets, petrol stations, hospital, and airport that the surrounding region lacks. The real reasons to stay here are the day trips it enables: Seyðisfjörður to the east, the East Fjord villages to the south, and the highland routes toward Snæfell and the Askja caldera to the west.

Getting There

By car: Approximately 700km from Reykjavík via the Ring Road (Route 1). Allow 8–9 hours. From Akureyri it’s approximately 265km — 3 hours.

By air: Eagle Air (eagleair.is) flies Reykjavík Domestic Airport to Egilsstaðir Airport (EGS) in approximately 1 hour. Several flights weekly. Fares from approximately ISK 9,000–18,000 one way.

By ferry: The Smyril Line ferry from Denmark/Faroe Islands arrives at Seyðisfjörður, 27km east of Egilsstaðir — the natural entry point for European travellers arriving by sea.

Lagarfljót Lake

A 53km-long lake immediately west of Egilsstaðir, through which the river Lagarfljót flows before emptying into the sea. The water has a distinctive brown-green tint from glacial runoff. Route 931 runs along the eastern shore; the western shore is accessible via a bridge at Egilsstaðir.

The lake has a resident legendary creature (see FAQ above) and is surrounded by the best examples of Icelandic forest in the country.

Hallormsstaðaskógur

Iceland’s largest forest, on the eastern shore of Lagarfljót. The planted birch and conifer forest (largely planted since 1903) covers approximately 740 hectares and contains over 80 tree species, many in trial plots to assess what can survive Iceland’s conditions. For a country that was almost entirely deforested in the Viking Age, this is a significant landscape feature.

Forest trails of varying lengths (2–10km). Free entry. A campsite and forest service hut operate in summer. Access via Route 931.

Skriðuklaustur

A monastery site on the southern shore of Lagarfljót, excavated in the 1990s. The ruins of a 16th-century Catholic monastery (dissolved during the Reformation) are now beneath the floor of a cultural centre. The building also contains an exhibition on writer Gunnar Gunnarsson (a major early 20th-century Icelandic novelist) and a café. Entry approximately ISK 1,500 adult.

Snæfell (1,833m)

The highest mountain in Iceland outside the main glacier zones, rising from the eastern highlands approximately 75km southwest of Egilsstaðir. A challenging day hike from the road end at Snæfellsskáli mountain hut (Route 910 or F910 depending on season). Not to be confused with Snæfellsnes Peninsula’s Snæfellsjökull glacier.

Access to the mountain requires a 4WD — the F910 highland road is not passable in normal cars. Season: July–September. The hike to the summit takes approximately 4–6 hours return.

Day Trips from Egilsstaðir

• Seyðisfjörður (27km east) — the most visually distinctive town in Iceland, with painted rainbow street and fjord scenery. Allow half a day.
• Borgarfjörður Eystri (70km north) — accessible puffin colony (June–August) and dramatic pink rhyolite mountain scenery. Allow a full day.
• East Fjord villages (south on Ring Road) — Fáskrúðsfjörður (French fishing history), Stöðvarfjörður (Petra’s stone collection), Djúpivogur. Allow a full day for the circuit.

Where to Stay

Gistihúsið Lake Hotel Egilsstaðir — The main hotel, on the lake shore. Doubles from approximately ISK 28,000–40,000.

Icelandair Hotel Hérað — Reliable chain hotel in Egilsstaðir town. Doubles from approximately ISK 30,000–44,000.

Hildarendi Cottages — Self-catering cottages on the lake shore. Approx ISK 25,000–35,000 per cottage per night.

Where to Eat

Við Lónið Restaurant — At the lake hotel. Lamb, fish, and burgers. Mains approximately ISK 2,800–4,500.

Nielsen Restaurant — In Egilsstaðir town. A longer-running local restaurant with reliable Icelandic dishes. Mains approximately ISK 2,600–4,200.

Eldhúsið — A café and bakery in the town centre. Coffee, sandwiches, cakes, and daily specials. Good for a quick lunch. Mains approximately ISK 1,800–3,200.

Borgarfjörður Eystri in Detail

The small village of Borgarfjörður Eystri (also called Bakkagerði), 70km north of Egilsstaðir via Route 94, is one of Iceland’s most rewarding half-day trips. The puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi — a set of wooden viewing platforms built directly above the nesting area — is the most accessible and close-up puffin viewing in Iceland. Atlantic puffins nest June–August; the platforms put you within 3–5 metres of active burrows. Free.

The surrounding mountains are composed of pink and mauve rhyolite — completely different from the black basalt that dominates most of Iceland. The hike to Stórurð (‘Giant Boulders’), a collection of enormous house-sized boulders dumped by a prehistoric landslide, is approximately 3–4 hours return and ranked among Iceland’s best short hikes.

Practical Information

Petrol and services: Egilsstaðir has the full range of services for the East — N1 petrol station, Krónan supermarket, hardware store, car hire, health clinic, and bank with ATM. It’s the last proper service town before Höfn (250km southwest) or Akureyri (265km northwest).

Egilsstaðir Swimming Pool: An outdoor heated pool with hot tubs. Entry approximately ISK 1,000–1,100 adult as of 2026.

East Fjords circuit: The drive south from Egilsstaðir through the East Fjords — via Breiðdalsvík, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Djúpivogur — is approximately 200km (3–4 hours driving) and one of the most scenic sections of the Ring Road. Allow a full day. Petra’s Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður (entry approximately ISK 1,000 adult) is a quirky highlight — a private collection of minerals and crystals filling an entire garden and house.

Prices listed are approximate as of 2026. Verify current rates before booking.

Browse Iceland tours — day trips, activity bookings, and multi-day packages across the country in one place.

Pre-book Keflavík airport transfers — Flybus and private options for the 45-minute route to Reykjavík.

Compare car hire in Iceland — a 4WD or campervan gives the flexibility to explore at your own pace.

Explore Egilsstaðir Further

• Things to Do in Egilsstaðir — Borgarfjörður Eystri puffins, Stórurð hike, East Fjords circuit, and Lagarfljót
• Where to Stay in Egilsstaðir — Hotels and guesthouses in the East Iceland hub
• Puffin watching in Iceland — Borgarfjörður Eystri, 70km north, has the most accessible puffin colony in Iceland
• Ring Road Iceland — Egilsstaðir as a key stop on the Ring Road circuit
• 10 days in Iceland — How the East Fjords and Egilsstaðir fit into a full Ring Road trip