Westfjords (Ísafjörður)

Iceland's oldest and most remote region, with the fjord-ringed town of Ísafjörður as its gateway, the cascading tiers of Dynjandi waterfall, and the Hornstrandir wilderness, home of the Arctic fox.

The Westfjords are a vast peninsula in northwest Iceland jutting into the North Atlantic. Made of ancient basalt around 16 million years old, it is Iceland's geologically oldest and most sparsely populated region. Long, deep fjords cut the coast into finger-like peninsulas, and the roads wind around each fjord—spectacular scenery, but long drives. The regional capital, Ísafjörður, is the hub for visitors, with old wooden houses, the Westfjords Heritage Museum and a harbour for boat trips. To the north, Bolungarvík has the Bolafjall viewpoint and the Ósvör fishing station; to the west are the fjord villages of Flateyri, Suðureyri and Þingeyri; heading east along Ísafjarðardjúp you reach the Arctic Fox Centre and the Litlibær turf house, and by boat you can visit Vigur island for puffins or enter the roadless Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. About 1.5 hours to the south is Dynjandi waterfall, and further southwest the Látrabjarg bird cliffs and Rauðasandur's red beach usually require an overnight stay in Patreksfjörður. The best season is June–August: roads are open, boats are running, puffins and Arctic foxes are active, and around the summer solstice there is almost no darkness. September has few visitors but the weather worsens; in winter mountain roads often close, and flying in and out is advisable. Getting there: fly from Reykjavík to Ísafjörður (about 40 minutes) or drive about 5.5 hours; public transport is very limited, so renting a car is recommended. Plan to stay 3–5 days; there are many gravel roads and petrol stations are far apart, so keep an eye on your fuel and the weather forecast.

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Itineraries