Westfjords

The Westfjords are the claw-shaped peninsula in Iceland's northwest corner, off the Ring Road and so off most people's route. They're remote and steep, cut by long fjords, and snowbound for much of the year. Even in July you can drive for an hour without passing another car. If you want to see a wilder side of an already wild country, this is where to go.

When to go

Summer, from late June through August, is the easy time. The roads twist around every fjord and over high passes, and in winter they can be slow, icy or closed, which is no fun in a small rental car. You can fly in during winter, but storms often delay or cancel flights, and you'll find fewer places open once you arrive. If you do come in the colder months, check umferdin.is for road conditions every morning and read our guide to Iceland in winter.

How to get there

Driving

The drive is shorter than it used to be. When this page was first written, Reykjavik to Ísafjörður took the better part of a day. Since then the Dýrafjarðargöng tunnel opened in October 2020, replacing the Hrafnseyrarheiði mountain pass, which was usually impassable in winter, and cutting 27.4 km off the southern route.

Visit Westfjords now puts it at about 410 km via Dynjandi, or about 455 km via Hólmavík, and around five to six hours to Ísafjörður in good conditions. The main routes are paved, though side trips often aren't. I'd still split it over two days, because you'll want to stop constantly.

The Baldur ferry

The other way in is to drive out to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and take the Baldur car ferry from Stykkishólmur across Breiðafjörður to Brjánslækur, stopping at Flatey. It's a good way to see the south Westfjords and Látrabjarg. Book your car ahead, and check the sailing schedule, which changes with the season. In summer (1 June to 31 August) it sails every day with a stop at Flatey; from September to May there's no Saturday sailing and Flatey is served three days a week. In the 2026-27 winter season a one-way adult ticket is 6,300 ISK, and a regular car is another 6,300 ISK.

Flying

Icelandair flies from Reykjavik's domestic airport to Ísafjörður in under an hour. The old Air Iceland name is gone; it merged into Icelandair. Norlandair flies from Reykjavik to Bíldudalur in the south Westfjords and Gjögur in the Strandir region. Fares move a lot, so check the airlines directly. The landing into Ísafjörður, down a narrow fjord between mountains, is a show in itself.

Buses

Public transport here is thin. Visit Westfjords lists local operators in Ísafjörður and a summer bus between Patreksfjörður, Brjánslækur and Ísafjörður, but you'll need to plan around limited schedules. Most visitors rent a car, either from Reykjavik or in Ísafjörður after flying in.

>> Read more about getting from Reykjavik to Isafjordur

Things to do

There aren't many museums, no big shopping, and few fancy restaurants. You come to the Westfjords for the land and the sea.

• Dynjandi. The region's best-known waterfall, a wide staircase of falls in Arnarfjörður, right on the southern route to Ísafjörður.
• Látrabjarg. Bird cliffs that run for 14 km at the western tip of Iceland. In summer you can watch puffins at close range. Stay back from the edge, which is loose.
• Hornstrandir. The roadless nature reserve at the northern tip, reached only by boat from Ísafjörður or Norðurfjörður. Come for a day trip to Hesteyri or several days of hiking. See how to get to Hornstrandir.
• Kayaking and boat trips. Ísafjörður is the base for paddling in the fjords, and several companies run boat trips from its harbour.
• Hiking and horseback riding. Almost any valley has a trail up to a viewpoint over the fjord.

West Tours in Ísafjörður has been running guided trips in the area for years and sells tickets for the Hornstrandir boats.

>> Read more on things to do in the Westfjords

Where to stay

Ísafjörður is the main town, with 2,807 residents at the start of 2026, a handful of restaurants, and most of the region's proper hotels. Outside town you'll mostly find guesthouses, hostels, huts and farmstays, which vary a lot in price and comfort. In summer the good ones fill up, partly because cruise ships call at Ísafjörður, so book ahead.

>> Read more on where to stay in the Westfjords

Before you go

• Gas stations are far apart. Fill up whenever you pass one.
• Many side roads are gravel. Check what your rental contract allows, and see our tips on driving in Iceland.
• Weather changes fast. Check vedur.is and, if you're hiking, leave a travel plan with Safetravel.

Photo by Bernard McManus