Northwest Iceland · Iceland
Iceland's remotest, least-visited corner — towering bird cliffs, a red sand beach and fjord roads that barely see a tour bus.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Westfjords are Iceland's least-visited major region, a mountainous arm of fjords in the far northwest that most Ring Road itineraries skip entirely — which is exactly why the travellers who do make the detour tend to talk about it as their favourite part of the country.
The scenery here is on the same scale as the rest of Iceland — towering bird cliffs, a tiered waterfall that rivals anything on the south coast, a red sand beach — but with a fraction of the traffic, since reaching it means either a long, winding fjord drive or a short domestic flight.
It's not a place to rush: distances between sights look short on a map but take far longer on narrow, curving fjord roads, so most visitors give the Westfjords three or four unhurried days rather than a single loop.
Why visit
The Westfjords' case rests on genuine remoteness and scenery that rivals anywhere else in Iceland.
Iceland's westernmost point, home to hundreds of thousands of nesting puffins and other seabirds in summer.
A dramatic tiered cascade widening as it drops, with almost none of Skógafoss's crowds.
The same dramatic fjord and mountain scenery as elsewhere, without the tour buses.
A striking colour shift from Iceland's usual black sand, backed by dramatic mountains.
Colourful old wooden buildings and real local life at the head of a dramatic fjord.
Main attractions
The Westfjords' sights are spread far apart, so most visitors pick a loop rather than trying to cover everything.
The Westfjords' signature sight, a series of cascades widening as they drop nearly 100 metres, often called the region's Gullfoss.
Tip The short but steep trail to the top tier is well worth the climb for the view back down.
Iceland's genuine westernmost point and one of Europe's largest bird cliffs, home to huge numbers of nesting puffins from May to August.
Tip Approach the unfenced cliff edge slowly and stay well back — puffins are surprisingly unbothered by quiet visitors.
A striking red-golden sand beach, the longest in the Westfjords, in sharp contrast to Iceland's usual black sand coastline.
Tip The colour shifts with the light and tide — late afternoon light is especially good.
The Westfjords' genuine capital, a charming, colourful old fishing town squeezed onto a sandy spit at the head of a dramatic fjord.
Tip The well-preserved old harbour district has some of the town's oldest wooden buildings.
A roadless wilderness reachable only by boat or on foot, home to Iceland's healthiest population of curious, unafraid Arctic foxes.
Tip Multi-day hikers need to be fully self-sufficient — there are no shops or roads inside the reserve.
A tiny, car-free farming island in Ísafjarðardjúp fjord, home to Iceland's last working windmill and dense seabird colonies.
Tip Guided boat tours include a walk around the whole island and its farm.
A small fishing town home to the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft, telling the region's dark 17th-century witch-trial history.
Tip The infamous necropants exhibit is stranger than any description does justice to.
Things to do
The Westfjords reward slow travel — long drives between a handful of unhurried, uncrowded stops.
A serious multi-day wilderness hike, or a shorter guided day trip by boat for a taste of Iceland's remotest terrain.
Tip Book a reliable boat transfer in advance — services are limited and weather-dependent.
One of the best, easiest puffin-watching spots in Iceland, with birds often just metres from the cliff-top path in summer.
Tip Visit in June or July for the highest concentration of nesting birds.
A photogenic climb past several smaller falls before reaching the main cascade at the top.
Tip Midday light works well here, unlike many waterfalls that favour early or late light.
A relaxed half-day trip from Ísafjörður, mixing farm life, seabird colonies and Iceland's last standing windmill.
Tip Tours run only in summer and need booking ahead.
A fascinating, slightly macabre look at 17th-century Icelandic witch trials and folk magic, including infamous necropants.
Tip Allow about an hour, and read the English translations for the full context.
A relaxed wander among some of Iceland's oldest wooden buildings, with good cafés and a lively small-town feel.
Tip The small maritime museum here gives useful context on the region's fishing history.
Local food
The Westfjords are one of Iceland's great fishing regions, and the seafood here reflects it.
As fresh as it gets — the Westfjords remain one of Iceland's most important fishing regions.
Where to try it Harbourside restaurants in Ísafjörður.
A defining regional product — the Westfjords' cold, windy climate is ideal for traditional fish drying.
Where to try it Fish shops and markets in Ísafjörður and Bíldudalur.
Common at guesthouses across the region, often raised on the same fjordside slopes you've been driving past.
Where to try it Guesthouses and restaurants in Ísafjörður.
A reliable breakfast option at guesthouses throughout the Westfjords.
Where to try it Guesthouses and the few supermarkets in Ísafjörður.
A dense, traditional dark rye bread, often served alongside dried or smoked fish.
Where to try it Cafés and guesthouses in Ísafjörður.
Iceland's famous caraway schnapps, a fitting way to end a long day of fjord driving in Ísafjörður.
Where to try it Bars and restaurants in Ísafjörður.
Accommodation
Most visitors base themselves in Ísafjörður, with a guesthouse night further south near Látrabjarg.
Transport
The Westfjords are reached either by a long fjord-road drive or a short domestic flight to Ísafjörður.
The Westfjords demand a car — public transport barely reaches this far.
When to go
The Westfjords are a summer destination for most visitors, since several key roads and the Hornstrandir boats only run from June to August.
All roads open, puffins nesting at Látrabjarg, and Hornstrandir accessible by boat.
Still accessible with fewer visitors, though some services start winding down.
Challenging — many roads close, and daylight is very short this far north.
Quiet, with roads reopening but before the puffins fully arrive.
Worth planning around: Avoid relying on a self-drive winter visit — several key mountain roads close for the season.
Itinerary
Built around a loop from the south of the region up to Ísafjörður.
The drive in, via the region's signature waterfall.
Puffin cliffs and a red sand beach.
The region's main town and a farming island.
Travel tips
The Westfjords reward extra planning — services and roads here are far sparser than elsewhere in Iceland.
FAQ
Yes, for travellers with the extra time — it's Iceland's least-crowded major region, with scenery to match anywhere else in the country.
Either a long fjord-road drive from Reykjavik, a short domestic flight to Ísafjörður, or the Baldur ferry from Snæfellsnes.
Yes, widely considered so — its cliff-top paths bring you remarkably close to huge nesting colonies in summer.
Not always, but it's recommended — several roads are gravel and conditions change quickly.
Three to four days lets you cover the main sights without rushing the long fjord drives.
Several mountain passes close from around October to May, making summer the most reliable season to visit.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with the Westfjords, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Western Iceland, Iceland
A compact peninsula holding glaciers, lava fields, black churches and dramatic coastline within a single day's loop, often called 'Iceland in miniature.'
Don't miss Kirkjufell's near-perfect cone reflected in its own waterfall's pool, one of the most photographed views in Iceland.
Explore Destination — Snæfellsnes PeninsulaNorth Iceland, Iceland
A geothermal lake region in North Iceland, ringed by lava formations, mudpots and waterfalls, with Akureyri and Húsavík's whale watching close by.
Don't miss Standing on the boardwalk at Hverir as sulphurous steam roars out of the ground around you, the air thick with the smell of a living volcano.
Explore Destination — Lake Mývatn & North IcelandCapital Region, Iceland
Iceland's small, walkable capital, its colourful rooftops, geothermal pools and harbourfront concert hall anchoring almost every trip to the country.
Don't miss Standing at the foot of Hallgrímskirkja's 74-metre tower, the whole colourful, low-rise city spread out below toward the bay and the mountains beyond.
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