Getting from Reykjavik to Isafjordur

Ísafjörður is the largest town in the Westfjords, and it makes an excellent home base for exploring the area. It's small, with around 2,700 people, and Icelandair says fewer than one in ten international visitors to Iceland make it to this corner of the country. That's a big part of the appeal.

From Reykjavik you have three options for getting there: fly, drive, or combine the road with the Baldur ferry across Breiðafjörður. The bus is only a real option in summer.

By plane

The flight from Reykjavik to Ísafjörður takes about 40 minutes. It's run by Icelandair, which absorbed the old Air Iceland in 2021, and it leaves from Reykjavik Airport in the city, not from Keflavík. There are usually two flights a day; the Ísafjörður Airport page shows the day's arrivals and departures.

The landing is part of the experience: the airport sits at the end of a narrow fjord with mountains on both sides. That also means flights can be delayed or cancelled when the weather closes in, so leave some slack in your plans, especially in winter.

Fares vary a lot, so check icelandair.com for your dates. Once you're in Ísafjörður you can walk the town easily, but to get out into the fjords you'll want a rental car or a tour, so sort one out before you arrive.

By car

The drive from Reykjavik to Ísafjörður is a long one, and it's best spread over a couple of days. Icelandair puts it at around 454 km and roughly six hours, and that's without stops. You'll stop.

The northern route (Route 61)

This is the route I described in the first version of this page. Head north on Route 1 (the Ring Road) past Borgarnes, turn onto Route 60 (Vestfjarðavegur), then pick up Route 61 (Djúpvegur). It crosses to Hólmavík on the east side of the Westfjords, cuts inland over the mountains, then drops down to follow the long fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp through Súðavík to Ísafjörður. It's a beautiful drive, and it's slow: the road goes in and out of one fjord after another.

The southern route (Route 60)

The other way in is to stay on Route 60 through the southern Westfjords, over the Dynjandisheiði plateau past Dynjandi waterfall. This route got much better in 2020 when the Dýrafjarðargöng tunnel opened. It's 5.6 km long, cut 27.4 km off the road, and replaced the Hrafnseyrarheiði mountain pass, which was usually impassable in winter. As of September 2026, the road authority still lists roadwork and lower speed limits on Dynjandisheiði, so expect some slow stretches.

When to drive

Both routes are at their best from late spring to early fall. In winter the mountain passes can close in storms, daylight is short, and some of the fjord roads have long stretches with nothing on them. If you do drive in winter, check road conditions and the forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan with Safetravel. Our driving in Iceland page covers the basics.

By car and ferry, via Snæfellsnes

If you want to break up the drive, go via the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Drive to Stykkishólmur on the north side of the peninsula (see getting to Snæfellsnes), stay the night, then take the Baldur car ferry across Breiðafjörður to Brjánslækur in the Westfjords. From the ferry landing, take Route 62 and then Route 60 north to Ísafjörður.

The crossing takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes, and some sailings stop at the small island of Flatey. If you want to get off there, you have to book the stop in advance.

Baldur prices (winter season 2026-27)

These are the one-way prices for the winter season, 1 September 2026 to 31 May 2027:

• Adults: 6,300 ISK
• Seniors (67+): 5,020 ISK
• Teens (12 to 17): 3,150 ISK
• Children under 12 traveling with their parents: free
• A regular car up to 5 m long: 6,300 ISK, not including the driver

Baldur schedule (autumn 2026)

From 1 September to 31 December 2026, the sailing schedule has departures from Stykkishólmur every day except Saturday, when there's no sailing at all. Monday and Wednesday have one sailing each way; Tuesday and Thursday have two. The Flatey stop only happens three days a week in winter (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday). The ferry doesn't sail on 24, 25 and 31 December or 1 January.

The summer season runs from 1 June to 31 August, when Baldur sails every day and stops at Flatey. As of September 2026, the ferry company hadn't yet posted summer 2027 departure times or summer fares, so check the price list and schedule again in spring.

Book ahead, especially if you're bringing a car. Changes are free up to 24 hours before departure, but cancelling inside 24 hours costs you half the fare or more, according to Baldur's booking terms.

By bus

The bus isn't the ideal way to get to Ísafjörður, and outside summer it doesn't really work at all. In summer, if you have time and want to see a few towns along the way, it's a nice way to see the countryside. Here's how the connection works:

1. Take Strætó from Reykjavik to Borgarnes (route 57 or 50), then route 58 to Stykkishólmur. As of September 2026, route 58 leaves Borgarnes at 09:15 and 17:05 and doesn't run on Tuesdays or Thursdays. The adult fare from Reykjavik (Mjódd) to Stykkishólmur is 5,400 ISK.
2. Take the Baldur ferry to Brjánslækur.
3. From Brjánslækur, route 62 runs to Ísafjörður via Dynjandi. In 2026 it ran at 13:45 from Brjánslækur, reaching Ísafjörður at 16:05, for 8,400 ISK.

The catch: route 62 is a summer-only route, and Strætó says the 2026 service stopped on 1 September. Outside summer, there's no bus between the ferry and Ísafjörður, so you'll need to fly or drive. Check the countryside timetables in spring to see when it starts again.

Once you're there

For ideas, read four things to do in the Westfjords and where to stay in the Westfjords. Ísafjörður is also the jumping-off point for the Hornstrandir nature reserve; see how to get to Hornstrandir.

FAQ

What's the fastest way to get to Ísafjörður?

Flying. The flight is about 40 minutes, against roughly six hours of driving before stops.

Can I take a rental car on the Baldur ferry?

Yes, Baldur carries cars, and a regular car up to 5 m costs 6,300 ISK one way in the 2026-27 winter season, plus a ticket for each person. Book the car space ahead.

Is it worth driving to the Westfjords in winter?

Only if you're comfortable driving on snow and ice and you have some flexibility. Otherwise fly in and use Ísafjörður as your base.

Photo by towniep