Egilsstadir is a small town in the far east of Iceland. It stands at the point that the roads of eastern Iceland all meet to cross a bridge over the River Lagarfljot. Visitors that rent a car in Egilsstadir can tour the area, including highlights like Hallormsstaðarskógur, Iceland's largest forest, and the landmark longwave radio transmitter aerial that stands over 725 ft high. The Lagarfljot's wide valley includes lakes and waterfalls, including the dramatic 42ft high Hengifoss cascade. The lakes have legends of mysterious monsters similar to Loch Ness. Car drivers can also enjoy the 'Oxi' mountain road down to the remote village of Djúpivogur, a famously scenic route.
If you hire a car in Egilsstadir, the largest settlement in eastern Iceland, you'll be able to tour all the sights of the town and its immediate area. The island's main highway, Road Number One, runs through the middle of the town. It's a modern, leafy and low-rise community whose oldest house was built in 1944 and still stands, having been converted to a hotel. Minjasafn Austurlands is the town's museum of cultural history, showing how former households in east Iceland had to be self-sufficient in every way. Egilsstadir Airport is just to the north of the town.
