Iceland’s northernmost town, Siglufjörður, now part of Fjallabyggð along with Ólafsfjörður, is a historic fishing town whose fortunes have always been tied to the fishing industry. In 1900, it was a tiny shark fishing village, but it soon grew into one of Iceland’s largest towns and became the undisputed capital of herring fishing in the Atlantic. Although the herring have long since disappeared, the town still bears the distinct imprint of the Herring Era.

Siglufjörður’s harbor has been considered one of the best in Iceland for centuries. As far back as the Middle Ages, English and Dutch fishing and merchant ships favored Siglufjörður as a convenient and sheltered base of operations.

In the 20th century, Siglufjörður became the center of Iceland’s booming herring fishing industry, with its harbor becoming one of the largest and most important in the country. During the herring fishery’s heyday, Siglufjörður was a bustling boomtown, often referred to as the Klondike of the Atlantic, Fishermen’s Eldorado, and Iceland’s Sodom. By mid-century, 500 boats were active in the local herring fishery. In times of bad weather, hundreds of fishing boats would seek refuge, tying to the docks or anchoring in the fjord to wait out the storm. The harbor was so extensive that traveling from the first to the last dock covered 1.5 kilometers, and laid end-to-end, the docks stretched over six kilometers!

With the disappearance of herring from Icelandic waters by 1970, the old wooden docks were replaced by permanent concrete structures. Though the harbor is smaller today, it remains just as protected and as close to the fishing grounds as ever. It is now frequented by large shrimp trawlers and small cod-fishing boats delivering their catch to local processors.

Since 2002, Siglufjörður has welcomed cruise ship passengers to explore this small town at the edge of North Iceland, rich in well-preserved history.

By walking through the Herring Era Museums three buildings one can easily sense the atmosphere of the old times, in the herring girls’ lodgings one can for example find a ball dress, red lipstick, love letter or a knife for gutting the herring. When visiting the Folk Music Centre guests get a good idea about Icelandic folk music when hearing local people singing traditional rhymes and folk songs. Finally, a walk down by the harbour and around town offers guests to visit art galleries, restaurants and cafés, our local church and on a good summer day guests can watch local fishermen at work.

The Herring Era Museum
Awarded maritime and industrial museum - where the ‘glory days’ of Iceland’s herring fisheries and industry are brought back to life in three different buildings.
Róaldsbrakki, a 1907 salting station and bunkhouse.
Grána, a 1930s-era fishmeal and oil factory.
The Boathouse, recreating an example of the town’s thriving harbour of the 1950s with twelve old fishing boats at the dock.
The Herring Era Museum was the winner of the Icelandic Museum Award in 2000 and won the European Museum Award in 2004, as Europe´s best industry and technology museum.
This fascinating museum brings history to live for cruise passengers – offering the company of local herring girls as they gut and pack herring into barrels while shouting, gossiping, singing and flirting to recreate the long gone atmosphere of the herring years.
They sing, dance and offer visitors to join in on a dockside ball where the accordion player attracts the right mood.
Visitors can taste different types of herring on rye bread while washing it down with a shot of Icelandic Brennivín.

Hiking trails & birdwatching
Siglufjörður is an area of spectacular natural beauty.
The mountains and the fjords are awe-inspiring and the opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation are almost inexhaustible.
There are hiking trails for all levels of experience in the mountains and valleys surrounding Siglufjörður.
The most popular trails lead into neighbouring Héðinsfjörður, an uninhabited fjord of pristine and natural beauty.

The Folk Music Centre
The Folk Music Centre is located in Siglufjörður’s oldest house, the Madame House.
The Centre presents Icelandic folk music in an accessible and entertaining manner through video recordings of people old and young, from all parts of Iceland, singing, chanting and playing traditional instruments.
Visitors can take a crack at playing reproductions of an Icelandic fiddle and a langspil (a kind of bowed dulcimer), or just listen to the music while having coffee.

Segull 67
Segull 67 is a small family owned craft brewery.
The brewhouse is located in an old fish factory that has been designed and adapted to it‘s new role.
Segull 67 brewhouse is located within 300 meters from Siglufjörður‘s port.
Up to 100 pax can go on brewing tours where visitors learn about this small family-run brewery as they get to explore the brewery itself „behind the scenes“ and taste their products.