Family-Friendly Stays in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
Seyðisfjörður is a small town at the head of a long fjord in East Iceland, reached over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass from Egilsstaðir, and it is where the Smyril Line ferry from Denmark docks. Families like it because everything is compact: colourful wooden houses, the Blue Church at the end of the rainbow-painted street, and waterfalls such as Gufufoss on the road in. The family-tagged stays include Hafaldan HI hostel in the old hospital, with a playground, a sauna and the town pool 30 metres away, as well as Langahlid Cottages, three-bedroom units with hot tubs, and Lónsleira Apartments, 50 metres from the ferry terminal.
Seyðisfjörður is a fjord town of brightly painted timber houses, many of them shipped from Norway in the late 19th century, set below steep mountains with waterfalls running down their sides. It has a strong arts scene and a harbour that welcomes the weekly ferry from Denmark. In winter the high walls of the fjord block the sun for weeks, and in summer the town fills with travellers walking between the Blue Church, cafés and the lagoon.
Where to stay
Fjord Homes and Hostels for Families
I would base a family in Seyðisfjörður when arriving on the ferry or touring the East Fjords, because the town is walkable and the stays are roomy. Several listings have three bedrooms, most have a kitchen or kitchenette, and a few add a hot tub or sauna. Ratings are high: Langahlid Cottages and Seydisfjördur Apartment both reach 9.7, Botnahlid Villa 9.6, and Lónsleira Apartments and Dúlluhús 9.1.
The best value for many families is Hafaldan HI hostel, in the town's old hospital building. It has rooms with fjord views, a fully equipped kitchen, a lounge and a barbecue area, plus a sauna, a spa, a children's playground and a fishing lake on site, and the Seyðisfjörður swimming pool is just 30 metres away. With more than 1,500 Booking reviews and an 8.6 rating, it is the most reviewed stay in town. Its sister property, Hafaldan HI Hostel - Harbour Building, offers family rooms with private entrances and parquet floors, shared bathrooms, a lounge and a shared kitchen. Both suit families who want to keep costs down without giving up space.
Families who want their own house have excellent options. Langahlid Cottages & Hot Tubs, less than 3 km from town and rated 9.7, rents three-bedroom cottages with panoramic fjord views, a large terrace, an outdoor hot tub and barbecue facilities. Botnahlid Villa, at 9.6, is a three-bedroom villa with mountain and town views, an outdoor sauna, a sun terrace, a full kitchen and a fireplace. Seydisfjördur Apartment, also rated 9.7, is a ground-floor three-bedroom home with a private entrance, a garden and a terrace looking at the sea and mountains. A ground floor and a garden make life easier with toddlers after a long ferry crossing or mountain drive.
For shorter stays in the centre, apartments work well. Lónsleira Apartments, rated 9.1 and 50 metres from the Smyril Line ferry terminal, has modern apartments with a fully equipped kitchen and a furnished terrace, practical if you arrive or leave by sea. Dúlluhús - Apartments by Aldan, also 9.1, offers family apartments with kitchenettes, private bathrooms and sea, lake and mountain views. Undiraldan - Steinholt, in the old music school, is a spacious one-bedroom apartment with a living room and full kitchen that accepts pets. Studio Apartments, 3.7 km from Gufufoss, has family rooms with kitchenettes and hypoallergenic bedding, with more than 800 reviews.
Hotels and guesthouses round out the list. Bankinn - Hotel by Aldan, 28 km from Egilsstaðir, has rooms with private bathrooms, a seating area, a minibar and on-site parking, rated 8.7. Snæfell - Hotel by Aldan, 500 metres from the ferry terminal, has a shared terrace with fjord views and an à la carte restaurant. Seydisfjördur Guesthouse offers fjord-view rooms, a communal kitchen, a garden and a laundry room, and Media Luna Guesthouse has family rooms with private bathrooms, walk-in showers and a shared kitchen. From any of them, the Blue Church, the harbour and the lagoon walk are a few minutes on foot.
A traveler's takeI recommend Seyðisfjörður to families arriving on the ferry or exploring the East Fjords who want a walkable town with real space. My first choice would be Langahlid Cottages for its three bedrooms and hot tub with a fjord view, and Hafaldan HI hostel for families watching their budget, since its playground and the swimming pool next door keep children busy. Our advice is to stop at Gufufoss on the way down from the Fjarðarheiði pass, and to check the road conditions in winter.
FamilyLangahlid Cottages & Hot Tubs
Fjord-side cottages with private hot tubs and panoramic views
Why guests love itLangahlid Cottages & Hot Tubs are three-bedroom cottages less than 3 km from Seyðisfjörður town, with panoramic fjord views. Each has a large terrace with an outdoor hot tub and BBQ facilities, plus a well-equipped kitchen and dining area. Hiking trails start directly from the property. Guests rate them 9.7, though across only 97 reviews, so I would pick them for families or groups wanting space and a private hot tub.
FamilySeydisfjördur Apartment
Spacious apartment with sea and mountain views and a private garden
Why guests love itThis ground-floor apartment in Seyðisfjörður gives families and small groups three bedrooms, a private entrance and a fully equipped kitchen, with a washing machine and a work desk for longer stays. The private garden and the terrace, with outdoor furniture and a dining area, look over the sea and the mountains. I would pick it for the space and the quiet, backed by a 9.7 rating from 54 reviews, and not if you want hotel services.
FamilyBotnahlid Villa, Mountain and Town views and outdoor Sauna
A three-bedroom villa with sauna, fireplace, and mountain views
Why guests love itI would choose Botnahlid Villa for a family or small group who want a private house with an outdoor sauna in Seyðisfjörður. The three-bedroom villa has mountain and town views, a sun terrace, a fully equipped kitchen, a fireplace and free Wi-Fi, with on-site private parking. It is 4.1 km from Gufufoss and 29 km from Egilsstaðir Airport. Guests rate it 9.6 across 56 reviews. It sits a little outside the town centre, so I would pick it for people with a car.
FamilyDúlluhús - 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.
FamilyLónsleira 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.
FamilyBankinn - Hotel by Aldan
Historic village hotel with a restaurant, café, and easy access to activities
Why guests love itSeyðisfjörður lies at the head of its fjord in East Iceland, 28 km from Egilsstaðir over the Fjarðarheiði pass on Route 93, and Bankinn sits in the village centre. Rooms come with a minibar and tea and coffee, and the hotel runs both a restaurant and a café. Our editorial advice for families: walk the colourful village and its harbour, eat at the restaurant, and check the pass forecast before driving back out.
FamilyUndiraldan - 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.
FamilySeydisfjördur 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.
FamilyHafaldan 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.
FamilySnæfell - 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.
FamilyHafaldan 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.
FamilyMedia 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.
FamilyStudio 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 Langahlid Cottages, Botnahlid Villa or Seydisfjördur Apartment early if you need three bedrooms, as these homes are few.
- 2Choose Lónsleira Apartments or Snæfell - Hotel by Aldan if you arrive or depart on the Smyril Line ferry, both close to the terminal.
- 3Use the Seyðisfjörður swimming pool, 30 metres from Hafaldan HI hostel, for a warm break on a rainy day.
- 4Stop at Gufufoss on the road from Egilsstaðir, an easy waterfall to see with children.
- 5Check road conditions on the Fjarðarheiði pass before driving in winter, as it is the only road into town.
- 6Walk the rainbow-painted street to the Blue Church in the evening, when day visitors have left.