Siglufjörður — The Herring Paradise

Iceland's Most Charming Fishing Village

Siglufjörður (population: 1,300) is located in a secluded fjord at the northern tip of the Tröllaskagi Peninsula and is one of Iceland's most charming and historically significant villages. In the 1940s and 1950s, Siglufjörður was the herring capital of the North Atlantic — up to 10,000 seasonal workers flocked to the tiny place to process the "silver of the sea."

Herring Museum (Síldarminjasafnið)

The award-winning Herring Museum (European Museum of the Year Award 2015) tells the fascinating story of the Icelandic herring boom in three historic buildings at the harbor:

• Róaldsbrakki: An originally restored girls' dormitory where the young women who salted the herring by hand were housed (the "herring girls" — síldarkerlingar). The work was brutal: 14-hour shifts in cold and wet conditions, hands cracked from salt and fish blood
• Grjóteyri: A restored herring factory with functioning machines, salt vats, and the authentic smell of fish and salt
• Boathouse: Original ships and fishing equipment

The museum is remarkably lively — former herring workers sometimes personally share their stories. The Herring Evening (summer, Wednesdays) with music, dance, and tasting of pickled herring is a special experience.

The Tröllaskagi Peninsula

The drive from Akureyri to Siglufjörður over the Tröllaskagi Peninsula (Route 76/82) is one of the most beautiful routes in Iceland: Dramatic mountains, deep fjords, narrow tunnels, and untouched nature. Stops in Dalvík (hiking and skiing destination) and Ólafsfjörður (tiny fishing village with natural beauty) are worthwhile along the way.