Siglufjörður — Herring Capital

About Siglufjörður — Herring Capital

Siglufjörður sits at the end of a narrow fjord on the Tröllaskagi peninsula in North Iceland, surrounded by steep mountains that hold snow well into spring and summer. The town's dramatic setting — accessible via tunnels through the mountains — adds to its sense of remoteness. The Herring Era Museum is spread across three restored warehouse buildings from the peak of the herring industry and offers one of the best historical museum experiences in Iceland. Exhibits cover salting processes, daily life of the herring girls, boat technology, and the economic transformation the boom brought to Iceland. Beyond the museum, Siglufjörður has a well-developed ski area at Héðinsfjörður, a charming town square with colourful buildings, and several excellent restaurants and cafés. The surrounding mountain terrain is excellent for hiking in summer and ski touring in winter.

📖 Story

In the early 20th century, Siglufjörður became Iceland's wealthiest town almost overnight. The herring boom brought thousands of workers — many of them young women from all over Iceland — to process the catch. At its peak in the 1940s and 50s, the town hummed with the smell of fish meal and the sound of industry. When the herring suddenly disappeared from Icelandic waters in 1969, the boom ended as abruptly as it had begun. The Herring Era Museum, which won the European Museum of the Year award, preserves this remarkable history.

Key Facts