Discover Eskifjorður: maritime history and nature

Eskifjorður brings together several different themes for a stay: maritime history, minerals, swimming, golf, and natural attractions in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus more on culture, leisure activities in town, or the surrounding landscapes. The East Iceland Maritime Museum, the outdoor swimming pool, and Byggðarholtsvöllur are in Eskifjorður; Bleiksárfoss, Hólmatindur, and Hólmanes are nearby. Mjóeyri is outside the town of Eskifjorður.

Maritime history at Gamla búð

The East Iceland Maritime Museum in Eskifjorður opened to the public on June 4, 1983. It is housed in the old trading house Gamla búð, built in 1816. The collection includes items relating to seafaring and the processing of catches from the sea, as well as trade artifacts and objects from earlier industry and medicine. The building itself is much older than the museum’s opening; the collection’s themes range from seafaring and catch processing to trade, industry, and medicine.

Iceland spar, swimming, and golf

Another side of Eskifjorður leads to Helgustaðanáma. The mine has been protected as a natural monument since 1975 and is one of the world’s best-known deposits of Iceland spar. Its focus is therefore on a single mineral and a protected natural monument, while the museum covers several areas of maritime and earlier economic history. This makes for a clear distinction between minerals and cultural history when choosing an excursion.

The outdoor swimming pool in Eskifjorður is heated by a geothermal spring. Its facilities include two hot tubs, a sauna, three water slides, and a children’s pool. If opening hours are important for your visit, it is best to check them in advance. Another leisure option in town is the nine-hole golf course Byggðarholtsvöllur, which has been there since 1979.

Natural attractions nearby

Mjóeyri is outside the town of Eskifjorður and has a lighthouse and a beach. Bleiksárfoss is nearby. It is the tallest waterfall in the series along the Bleiksá and catches the eye at the turnoff from the main road to Eskifjorður. It is illuminated on dark winter evenings and is an impressive sight when it flows down the slope or is covered in ice. The landscape features are quite distinct: Mjóeyri offers a lighthouse and beach, while Bleiksárfoss changes in appearance between flowing water and ice.

Hólmanes and Hólmatindur also offer different hiking destinations. The Hólmanes nature reserve lies in the area between Eskifjorður and Reyðarfjörður; its trails wind between rock formations. Hólmatindur stands on the eastern side of the fjord opposite Eskifjorður and is 985 meters high. A challenging hiking trail leads to the summit, where hikers can leave an entry in the summit guestbook. Trail conditions and access at Hólmatindur may change; check both before setting out.

Practical planning

To drive to Vöðlavík, the rough Route 954 runs east of Eskifjorður; a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. Check road conditions before setting out. This lets you take this specific road requirement into account in your planning without applying it to other destinations or routes in the area.

Discover more destinations

Vopnafjörður, Reydarfjördur, Seyðisfjörður, Eiðar, Breiðdalsvík, Stöðvarfjörður, þÓrshöfn, Brekka

For the main travel overview: Austurland.