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Visiting Egilsstaðir
Only a 60-minute flight from Reykjavík City Airport (RKV) takes you to Egilsstaðir Airport (EGS). Depending on visibility you can enjoy scenic bird’s-eye views of the Icelandic landscape as you fly across the country.
Egilsstaðir (also written as Egilsstadir, if those Icelandic letters cause headaches) is the largest town in East Iceland. This is the home of the mysterious monster that inhabits the depths of the local Lagarfljót lake, and also the largest forest in Iceland. A slower pace and easy access to the eastern region's unique nature make Egilsstaðir a perfect destination for those looking for a memorable holiday escape.
Icelandair passengers from Europe and North America land at Keflavík International Airport (KEF). To travel to Egilsstaðir by air, passengers need to first transfer from Keflavík to the city airport in Reykjavík – a distance of 50 km (31 miles).
The capital of the east
Egilsstaðir is the capital of the eastern region and a gateway to the beautiful and numerous Eastfjords. Egilsstaðir's most unique characteristic is its location inland, beside the narrow Lagarfljót lake, which begins its life as a glacial river in the eastern highlands.
Primarily a connection between the northern, eastern and southern parts of the country, Egilsstaðir evokes a sense of freedom for road-trippers: from here, Mývatn in the north, Seyðisfjörður in the Eastfjords, and Djúpivogur to the south can all be reached within a super-scenic two-hour drive.
Designer bathing and floating pools
With the recent opening of Vök Baths, not far outside Egilsstaðir, East Iceland scored its own designer geothermal spot to rival hot-water bathing destinations in other parts of the country.
The natural hot springs bubbling away deep under the lake Urriðavatn fill the two floating pools set in the lake waters, reached by a short walkway from the main complex.
The complex’s prize location is celebrated inside the smart facilities: an infusion bar allows visitors to make their own herbal tea, selecting herbs grown at nearby Vallanes farm and brewed using the certified drinkable hot-spring water of the lake.
Natural pearls
In the east you can find wonderfully photogenic examples of Iceland’s diverse nature, including magnificent Hengifoss (one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland), walking paths through Hallormsstaðaskógur (the largest forest in Iceland), summer puffin colonies at Borgarfjörður Eystri, and the blue-green waters and striking basalt columns of Stuðlagil canyon.
Dramatic fjords, first-class hiking trails, and picturesque fishing villages are waiting to be explored.