Stepping Back in Time in Siglufjörður, Iceland

Did you know that the most northern town in Iceland is called Siglufjörður? Home to a thousand people on a good day, it’s one of Iceland's most interesting and striking places. A small fishing town tucked in around a narrow fjord, the history and culture here reflects the importance of the sea. A delightful surprise to most who visit, Siglufjörður tends to charm, its allure lingering with visitors long after they depart.

The fjord here is incredibly beautiful as you take it in from the decks of the expedition ship. Surrounded by enormous mountains, the views couldn’t be more picturesque. Home to thousands of birds and many unique species, summertime is the best time of year to visit. It’s also home to a beautiful little harbour with many bright and colourful buildings—almost as if it was made for photographers!

Circumnavigating Iceland by expedition ship allows you to visit small, remote towns that are easily overlooked by more traditional road trips. Siglufjörður is definitely one of them. Arriving with zero expectations, Siglufjörður was undergoing the sunniest, most beautiful weather when we arrived by ship. The colourful, charming fishing town surrounded by mountains couldn’t have been more picturesque. With a fascinating story and super friendly locals, Siglufjörður blew everyone away! It was even the filming site of a famous Icelandic TV series.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Siglufjörður was the herring capital of the North Atlantic; it was like a gold rush with fish. At one point, the harbour here accounted for more than 20% of all of Iceland’s exports. While the industry has since declined, Siglufjörður is now home to one of the coolest museums in Europe. The interactive Herring Era Museum shares the history of the place and culture in a fun and engaging way. Herring and fishing have long been an enormous part of Iceland’s economy. It also gives visitors the chance to connect and spend time with Icelandic locals.

Winning the European Museum Award in 2004, the Herring Era Museum opened in 1994 after many diligent locals spent years restoring the old herring salting stations and other buildings, converting them into the huge open-air museum you see today. There are historic boats and ships dotted around Siglufjörður, too. To preserve the history and culture here, you can now walk between the old sites, explore the renovated buildings as they once were, and even see some of the live-action salting and processing of herring exactly how it was once. There is even an annual herring festival every summer.

It’s hard to imagine now that Siglufjörður once was one of the largest towns in Iceland. Nowadays, it exudes a small-town local vibe that doesn’t feel particularly touristy. If you’re after an authentic Icelandic experience, Siglufjörður is the place for you. It’s also home to an iconic folk festival where the reverend Bjarni Þorsteinsson, aka The Father of Siglufjörður, is from. There is a Folk Music Centre here where you can learn more about the folklore, music, and rhymes iconic to Iceland.

There are quite a few charming cafes and restaurants beckoning visitors to perch outside in the sunshine. Home to an amazing chocolate shop, bakery, and a local brewery, Siglufjörður caters to every type of visitor.