Matkaopas: Eskifjörður

Eskifjordur is a fishing town of roughly 1100 people in East Iceland. Along with Neskaupsstadur and Reydarfjordur it forms the municipality of Fjardabyggd.

Explore this fishing town while on a self drive tour in Iceland.

Eskifjordur has a good harbour and its main economy is the fishing industry. One of Iceland's largest fishing companies, Esja Hf is located there. A key police office for East Iceland is also located in Eskifjordur. The town offers all basic services for travellers, i.e. guesthouses, a camping ground, an outdoor swimming pool, coffeehouses, health service, a pharmacy, shops and diners etc. A golf course is situated right outside of the town.

The 985 m high Holmatindur is a highly impressive mountain, towering over the town. Climbing it is demanding, but those that reach it will have an excellent view and can record their feat in a guestbook. Skiing is further popular in the area, particularly at the Gerpisssvaedi. The ness between Eskifjordur and Reydarfjordur, Holmanes is protected and features rich birdlife and interesting rock formations.  

The seafaring museum is worth a visit, located in an old trade house, built in 1816. There you can see artefacts of seafaring and fish working in the Eastern Fjords, bearing witness to the lives of the people in former times.

The spar mine at Eskifjordur is one of the best-known of its kind in the world. Spar was mined there from the 17th century up until the 20th and the mine has been designated as a natural heritage.

By the road of Holmahals, the volva, or seeress, is said to be buried. It is claimed that she watches over Reydarfjordur and Eskifjordur.