Eskifjordur

This charming seaside village, named after the adjacent fjord, lies centrally in the region known as Iceland’s East Fjords. In past centuries, Eskifjörður was a great commercial centre, becoming the municipality’s first community to be granted a town charter in 1786.
Since village culture and industry have been shaped by the sea for a long time, simply walking around town is enjoyable, noting the historical buildings and piers or visiting the Maritime Museum. The attractive building Randulffssjóhús dates from 1890 and shows how fisher folk used to work; you can even try tasting the shark and dried fish still produced there.

Iceland Travel’s Shore Excursions from the port of Eskifjordur include:

• Eskifjörður town:  Walking and bus tours around this pleasant fishing village, including the world famous spar mines of Helgustaðir, where the largest spar crystals have been found.
• Fáskrúðsfjörður fjord and village: A town known for its French connections, including various buildings, artifacts and a 49-grave cemetery from the days when the French fished regularly in Icelandic waters.
  Petra´s Stone collection: Visit a magnificent rock collection gathered locally by one diligent woman, Petra.  
• Neskaupstaður: Explore the largest fishing village in East Iceland, overwhelming avalanche defence structures and the Museum of Natural History.
• Mjóifjörður: Boat tours to Mjóifjörður fjord, one of East Iceland’s most isolated treasures. 
• Icelandic Wartime Museum: Visit this fascinating museum and get a glimpse into Icelandic life during the World War II era when the occupation of foreign troops, first British and then American, raised the village population tenfold, from 300 people to over 3000.