Romantic Stays for Couples in Seyðisfjörður
Seyðisfjörður sits at the end of a narrow fjord in East Iceland, reached over the Fjarðarheiði pass from Egilsstaðir, and its painted wooden houses, the Blue Church and the rainbow street make it one of the most photogenic small towns in the country. For couples, the appeal is a walkable place with character. Við Lónið Guesthouse, rated 9.2, occupies a characteristic wooden building with Scandinavian minimalist rooms looking over the fjord and town. Bankinn - Hotel by Aldan has a restaurant serving Icelandic à la carte dishes, and Curry House Apartment, at 9.7, offers a spacious one-bedroom flat with a full kitchen.
Seyðisfjörður is a fjord town of colourful timber houses set below steep slopes streaked with waterfalls. Its small centre gathers around a lagoon, the harbour and the pale blue church at the end of the rainbow-painted street, with galleries and cafés in between. It feels creative and slow, busiest when the ferry from Denmark arrives and very quiet in the dark months, when the mountains hide the sun.
Where to stay
Wooden Guesthouses and Fjord Views for Two
I would choose Seyðisfjörður as a couple for a night or two at the end of the East Fjords road, or before boarding the ferry to Denmark. The town is small enough to walk everywhere, and its best-rated couple stays are characterful rather than large. Scores are high: Curry House Apartment reaches 9.7, Við Lónið Guesthouse and Curry house rooms 9.2, and Lónsleira Apartments and Dúlluhús 9.1.
The guesthouse I would book first is Við Lónið Guesthouse. It is housed in a characteristic wooden building by the lagoon, with rooms in a Scandinavian minimalist style and original wood furnishings, each with a private bathroom, a walk-in shower, a coffee machine and views of the fjord and town. Its 9.2 over more than 400 reviews makes it the best-rated room-based stay for couples in town. Curry house rooms, also rated 9.2, offers guest rooms with private bathrooms, a terrace and free parking, 3.9 km from Gufufoss. Both keep you a short walk from the Blue Church and the harbour, which is the point of staying in town.
Couples who want their own space should look at the apartments. Curry House Apartment, rated 9.7, is a spacious one-bedroom flat with a fully equipped kitchen, a comfortable living room and free parking. Lónsleira Apartments, 50 metres from the Smyril Line ferry terminal, has modern apartments with a full kitchen and a furnished terrace, rated 9.1. Dúlluhús - Apartments by Aldan, also 9.1, offers units with kitchenettes and views of the sea, the lake and the mountains. Undiraldan - Steinholt, in the old music school, is a large one-bedroom apartment with a living room. Cooking at home suits a town where restaurants are few and some close outside summer.
For a hotel stay, the Aldan group has two addresses in town. Bankinn - Hotel by Aldan, 28 km from Egilsstaðir and rated 8.7, has rooms with a seating area, a minibar and a private bathroom with a bathtub or shower, plus a restaurant serving Icelandic à la carte dishes and a café with light meals and Italian coffee. Snæfell - Hotel by Aldan, 500 metres from the ferry terminal, has a shared terrace with fjord views and an à la carte restaurant. Dinner served on site is welcome after the drive over the Fjarðarheiði pass, especially in winter, when the road can close for a while in bad weather.
Budget-minded couples have simple options too. Hafaldan HI hostel, in the old hospital, has rooms with fjord views, a sauna, a spa and a fully equipped kitchen, and the town swimming pool is 30 metres away; with more than 1,500 reviews and an 8.6 rating, it is the most reviewed stay in town. Seydisfjördur Guesthouse offers fjord-view rooms, a garden and a communal kitchen. Media Luna Guesthouse has rooms with private bathrooms, walk-in showers and a shared kitchen, 4 km from Gufufoss. My advice is to keep a car-free evening in town, walking from the lagoon to the Blue Church and back along the harbour.
A traveler's takeI recommend Seyðisfjörður to couples who want a characterful small town rather than a resort in East Iceland. My first choice would be Við Lónið Guesthouse for its wooden building and fjord views, with Curry House Apartment if you prefer to cook. Our advice is to stop at Gufufoss on the way down from the Fjarðarheiði pass, and to check the road conditions before driving in winter.
CouplesCurry House Apartment
Spacious apartment in Seyðisfjörður with kitchen and free parking
Why guests love itI would choose Curry House Apartment for a couple or small group who want space and a proper kitchen in Seyðisfjörður. The one-bedroom apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a comfortable living room and a private bathroom with a shower. Free Wi-Fi and free on-site private parking are included. Gufufoss waterfall is 3.9 km away, and Egilsstaðir Airport is 29 km. Guests rate it 9.7 across 61 reviews. With one bedroom, I would pick it for two to three people who like to cook.
CouplesCurry house rooms
Comfortable guest house with private bathrooms and free parking in Seyðisfjörður
Why guests love itI would choose Curry House Rooms for a plain, comfortable night in Seyðisfjörður. The guest house rooms have private bathrooms with showers and free toiletries, and there is a terrace, free Wi-Fi and free private parking on site. Gufufoss waterfall is 3.9 km away. Guests rate it 9.2 across 109 reviews. It focuses on a good night's rest rather than extras, so I would pick it for couples and budget-minded travellers who want the basics done well.
CouplesVið Lónið Guesthouse
Fjord-view rooms in a historic wooden house with minimalist design
Why guests love itVið Lónið Guesthouse occupies a characteristic wooden building in Seyðisfjörður, with Scandinavian minimalist design and original wood furnishings. Each room has a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a coffee machine and views of the fjord and the town, and parking is available on site. Guests rate it 9.2 across 449 reviews. I would choose it for couples and design-minded travellers who want a calm base.
CouplesLónsleira Apartments
Modern apartments with a kitchen and terrace, steps from the ferry
Why guests love itLónsleira Apartments are in the centre of Seyðisfjörður, 50 metres from the Smyrill Line ferry terminal. Each modern apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a living area, a flat-screen TV with a DVD player, a private bathroom and a furnished terrace, and Wi-Fi and parking are free. The public swimming pool is five minutes on foot. Guests rate them 9.1 across 281 reviews, and I would pick them for ferry arrivals and departures.
CouplesDúlluhús - Apartments by Aldan
Family apartments with kitchenettes, ski-to-door access, and scenic views
Why guests love itI recommend Dúlluhús - Apartments by Aldan to families who want their own apartment in Seyðisfjörður. The family apartments have kitchenettes and private bathrooms, with sea, lake and mountain views, and there is a fitness room on site. A family-friendly restaurant serves Japanese and local dishes, which is unusual for a small fjord town. Guests rate it 9.1 across more than 270 reviews, a strong score for an apartment stay.
CouplesUndiraldan - Steinholt, old music school
Spacious apartment with sea views, a terrace, and EV charging in Seyðisfjörður
Why guests love itUndiraldan - Steinholt, in the old music school, is a spacious one-bedroom apartment in Seyðisfjörður, 3.8 km from Gufufoss and 29 km from Egilsstaðir Airport. It has a separate living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with sea views, plus a balcony and a patio. Pets are welcome, and free private parking and an EV charging station are on site. Guests rate it 8.7 across 99 reviews.
CouplesBankinn - Hotel by Aldan
Nine rooms in an 1898 bank building on Seyðisfjörður's rainbow street
Why guests love itBankinn is one of the few places in East Iceland where a family of six can share one room, and the triple and quadruple rooms cover smaller families, with extra beds possible in most rooms. Every room has its own shower room, which avoids corridor trips at night. Seyðisfjörður is small enough for children to walk everywhere, from the rainbow street to the Blue Church, and Aldan Restaurant is in the same group of buildings. The drawbacks: no lift, so carrying luggage and sleeping children upstairs, and a mountain pass on the only road in, which can close in winter storms and leave you a day behind schedule. Dogs are accepted, useful on a Ring Road trip with a pet.
CouplesHafaldan HI hostel, old hospital building
Fjord-view rooms in a historic building with a sauna and spa
Why guests love itHafaldan HI hostel, old hospital building sits in Seyðisfjörður village with fjord views and free Wi-Fi. Guests share a fully equipped kitchen, a lounge and a BBQ area, and there is a sauna, a spa, a children's playground and a fishing lake on site. The Seyðisfjörður Swimming Pool is 30 metres away and parking is free. Guests rate it 8.6 across 1,583 reviews, and I would pick it for families and groups.
CouplesSeydisfjördur Guesthouse
Fjord-view rooms with a communal kitchen and easy access to town spa facilities
Why guests love itSeydisfjördur Guesthouse is 25 minutes from Egilsstaðir Airport, with fjord-view rooms, free Wi-Fi and a garden. Guests share a fully equipped communal kitchen and a laundry room, and the town's swimming pool, sauna and hot tub are a five-minute walk away. Private and shared bathrooms are both offered. Guests rate it 8.6 across 546 reviews, and I would pick it for travellers who want a self-catering base in Seyðisfjörður.
CouplesSnæfell - Hotel by Aldan
Fjord-view rooms with a shared terrace and an à la carte restaurant
Why guests love itSnæfell sits in Seyðisfjörður, 500 metres from the Smyril Line ferry terminal at the head of the fjord in East Iceland, reached over a mountain pass on Route 93 from Egilsstaðir. Rooms have private bathrooms, and the shared terrace looks over the water. Our editorial advice for families: eat at the à la carte restaurant, walk the colourful village and the harbour, and check the pass forecast before driving back out.
CouplesMedia Luna Guesthouse
Family rooms with private bathrooms and a shared kitchen near Gufufoss
Why guests love itMedia Luna Guesthouse in Seyðisfjörður is 4 km from Gufufoss and offers family rooms with private bathrooms, walk-in showers and free Wi-Fi. Guests share a kitchen and an outdoor seating area, and private parking on site is free. Guests rate it 8.1 across 374 reviews. I would choose it for families and couples who cook for themselves and want a practical, quiet base rather than hotel service.
CouplesHafaldan HI Hostel - Harbour Building
Family rooms with private entrances and mountain-sea views in Seyðisfjörður
Why guests love itHafaldan HI Hostel - Harbour Building in Seyðisfjörður has family rooms with private entrances and parquet floors. Bathrooms are shared, and guests use a lounge and a shared kitchen. Wi-Fi is free, the street is quiet, and the views take in mountains and sea. Gufufoss is 4.1 km away. Guests rate it 8.1 across 368 reviews. I would pick it for no-frills stays and families happy with shared bathrooms.
CouplesStudio Apartments
Self-catering apartments with kitchenettes near Gufufoss waterfall
Why guests love itStudio Apartments in Seyðisfjörður has family rooms with free Wi-Fi, 3.7 km from Gufufoss. Each apartment has a kitchenette, a private bathroom and hypoallergenic bedding, and the rooms are soundproofed. Guests rate it 7.8 across 834 reviews, a modest score, so I would read recent reviews and choose it for self-catering families and groups who value a kitchenette over extras.
Local tips
- 1Book Við Lónið Guesthouse or Curry House Apartment early in summer, as they are the best-rated couple stays in town and have few rooms.
- 2Choose Lónsleira Apartments or Snæfell - Hotel by Aldan if you are catching the Smyril Line ferry, both close to the terminal.
- 3Reserve dinner at Bankinn - Hotel by Aldan, whose restaurant serves Icelandic à la carte dishes.
- 4Walk the rainbow street to the Blue Church in the evening, once the day visitors have left town.
- 5Stop at Gufufoss on the drive from Egilsstaðir, a waterfall right beside the road down to the fjord.
- 6Check the Fjarðarheiði pass before driving in winter, since it is the only road into Seyðisfjörður.