Egilsstaðir

Egilsstaðir is not the prettiest town in Iceland, and locals will tell you so before you ask. It's a crossroads with a supermarket, fuel stations and a lake. But drive 30 minutes in any direction and you'll understand why people who know East Iceland keep coming back.

Egilsstaðir (Egilsstadir) is the largest town in East Iceland and the region's hub, sitting on the Ring Road beside Lagarfljót, a long glacial lake that is supposed to have its own monster, the Lagarfljót Wyrm. It's the obvious base for exploring the Eastfjords, and it's where you land if you fly east.

What to see near Egilsstaðir

Hengifoss is the big one: a waterfall of around 128 metres dropping between layers of red clay and dark basalt, one of the tallest in Iceland. The uphill walk from the car park passes Litlanesfoss, a smaller waterfall framed by basalt columns. Seyðisfjörður, the colourful fjord town where the ferry from Denmark docks, is about half an hour away over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass. And Vök Baths, floating geothermal pools on Lake Urriðavatn, is just outside town.

Reindeer in East Iceland

East Iceland is also the only part of the country with wild reindeer. They were brought over in the 18th century and now roam the highlands and, in winter, come down close to the roads. Drive slowly at dusk, and if you see one, there are probably twenty more just over the rise.

Pro tip: for puffins, drive to Hafnarhólmi at Borgarfjörður eystri, about an hour and a half away. The birds nest right beside a viewing platform by the harbour, roughly from mid-April to mid-August, and it's one of the easiest places in Iceland to see them up close.

How to get to Egilsstaðir from Reykjavík

The flight from Reykjavík takes about an hour. By road it's a long trip: eight hours or more in either direction around the Ring Road, and mountain passes such as Fjarðarheiði and Möðrudalsöræfi can close in winter storms. Check road.is and safetravel.is before driving between October and April.

Tours available from Egilsstaðir are listed below. Most visitors explore the east by car, so treat the town as a base and plan your own days around it.