Dusk over the sleepy Icelandic town of Seydisfjordur, reflected in the lake
Iceland

Evening in Seyðisfjörður

Following a river down a hundred rapids, we arrived at the fairytale town of Seyðisfjörður…

The road into Seyðisfjörður curves around a series or 25 waterfalls, the largest of which is Gufufoss. These waterfalls are created as the Fjarðará river makes its way down into the Norweigian Sea. The Fjarðarheiði plateau that stands between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður is perpetually shrouded in fog, and it is from this wet atmosphere the waterfalls ultimately derive their water.

Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, fjord panorama with overcast stormy clouds
A panoramic view over Eastern Iceland and the town of Egilsstaðir, as seen from the road that eventually leads to Seyðisfjörður

I marvelled at the rushing water crashing and and spraying into the bedrock of the fjord as we drove into the little town of Seyðisfjörður. It was an amazing sight, for the falls were created by deep steps set into the rock face and seemed like a stairway whose purpose was to welcome visitors into town.

One of the myriad of cascading waterfalls that surround Seyðisfjörður, literally on the town’s edge

The town of Seyðisfjörður is absolutely magical in the summer, like something out of a storybook, complete with a rainbow road leading to a little blue church. We entered a time warp when we stepped out of our car. Here, the wooden architecture has been perfectly preserved and it felt like a summer’s day that could have been set many years past. Apart from the architecture, I’m not sure what made it feel that way. Maybe it was the types of activities that went on – people dining at the restaurant, drinking at the pub, some children fishing (even though I could have sworn I saw a sign that explicitly forbade fishing), a sprinkling of folks walking about simply enjoying the sunshine. Nothing being done today that could not have been done a hundred years past.

If not for the several parked vehicles in front of the church, this perfect reflection of one part of Seyðisfjörður could have been made at any time in the last 100 years

The food on the menu of the restaurant – smoked herring, raindeer sausage – nothing that wasn’t around way back when. Perahaps it was these things that made me feel this way.

Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, cute Scandinavian village with snowy mountain in the background, epic clouds
One is never far from the imposing nature and the elements in Iceland, Seyðisfjörður is not an exception to this rule

We checked into Hotel Aldan – I think that was the only hotel within the town. Our rooms were in a converted schoolhouse, and my bed was inset into a closet. It was very cosy and comfortable.

Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, little blue church
Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, shapes, viking manhole cover
Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, weird blue wall, red tin roof, yellow boat, little white house

We spent the evening wandering about the town. There was a design studio and we could see some of the works within. So there was a little more going on in this town, I thought to myself. I suppose it must be great place to be an artist – surrounded by such a beautiful nature every day. Not to mention the vast changes in the landscape as the seasons went by, how inspiring it must be. It looked very cosy inside the studio and I thought to myself that this little town seemed like a place I could spend some months working in, distraction free.

Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, panorama of a quaint Scandinavian town
Panorama of Seyðisfjörður at the nordic summer sunset, the town is only a few houses deep around its centrepiece “lake”

We walked the rainbow road to the church. There was quite a gathering there, folks of all ages dressed in black, some in heavy leather jackets. On closer look, a heavy metal band was performing that night. It seemed a little out of place, you don’t usually expect heavy metal bands in little blue churches in small towns that look right out of a fairytale, but how cool! I suppose no one in these parts really goes to church for mass anymore, so repurposing the beautiful building for other entertainment is perfect.

Here is Isabella on the Icelandic equivalent of the yellow brick road – a rainbow path to the cute blue church of Seyðisfjörður

We walked by the river a little but it was getting dark and storm clouds were looming ahead, although if I recall, they never broke. Also, there were quite a lot of tiny little flies by the river, so we turned back in favour of a dram of whiskey in the schoolhouse. We sat on little rickety chairs and stools – not the most comfortable, but it nevertheless felt wonderfully cosy.

One of the beautiful, fairytale houses that we encountered on our little walk on the outskirts of Seyðisfjörður

Soon it was dinner time. Raindeer meat and Arctic char it was, I think. The ingredients were probably the same as they had been a hundred years ago, although I suppose the preparation might have been a little different. It was delicious, I remember.

Part of the quirky, cute decor at the Hotel Aldan in Seyðisfjörður, a rather timeless scene

We left the next day. I don’t recall being so sad to leave a place. I wanted to return the moment we left. It was like walking out of a little scene in a snow globe, leaving the magic behind.

We stopped by the Gutufoss waterfall on our way out, you may spot Seyðisfjörður at the bottom of the fjord in the centre of the image