The Westfjords are the dangling left hand of Iceland on the map: a peninsula of fjords, cliffs, and tiny fishing villages connected by some of the country's most spectacular and most punishing roads. Of the ~2 million tourists who visit Iceland each year, fewer than 10% set foot up here. That's their loss.
How long do you actually need?
Minimum: 3 days from Reykjavík and back. Comfortable: 5 days. The driving distances are shorter than the Ring Road but the roads are slower — gravel sections, single-lane mountain passes, and constant fjord-circling that turns 50 km on the map into 90 minutes of actual driving.
Highlights, in rough order
- Látrabjarg — Europe's largest seabird cliff. Puffins are within arm's reach in summer (May–August). The road there is rough; rental insurance often excludes it.
- Rauðasandur — a red-sand beach in a country famous for black ones. Quiet, surreal, photogenic.
- Dynjandi — the Westfjords' answer to Skógafoss. A 100-metre tiered waterfall, often visited alone.
- Ísafjörður — the regional capital. Cafés, a maritime museum, fjord views. Use it as your base for 1–2 nights.
- Hornstrandir Nature Reserve — uninhabited, hike-only, accessible by boat from Ísafjörður. Day trips are possible; multi-day hikes require serious planning.
Roads to know about
Route 60 is the main artery and is mostly paved as of 2024. Route 612 to Látrabjarg, Route 643 around the Strandir coast, and the road over the Hrafnseyrarheiði pass are gravel and slow. None require a 4x4 in summer; all become 4x4-only in winter.
Mountain passes here close fast in bad weather. Check road.is every morning. Don't trust your phone's ETA; it doesn't account for elevation, gravel, or the inevitable sheep.
Fuel and charging — read this carefully
The Westfjords have the lowest fuel and charging density in Iceland. Petrol stations exist in most fishing towns but several have shortened winter hours. Fill up at every opportunity.
For EVs, the situation is improving but tight. Most chargers are concentrated around Ísafjörður, Patreksfjörður, and Hólmavík. Plan a route with at least 30% buffer — wind and elevation will eat your range fast. The full list of Westfjords chargers shows everything currently public. Note that e1 / eONE covers most of the smaller-town chargers up here; download that app before you leave Reykjavík.
When to go
- June – August: all roads open, all attractions accessible, ~20 hours of daylight. Best window.
- May / September: shoulder season. Some side roads and ferries closed. Quieter and cheaper.
- October – April: only experienced winter drivers. Many roads close for weeks at a time.
Practical tips
- Book accommodation ahead in Ísafjörður and Patreksfjörður — beds are limited.
- The Baldur ferry (Stykkishólmur ↔ Brjánslækur) saves ~3 hours of driving each way. Book in advance May–September.
- Cell coverage drops in the more remote fjords. Download offline Google Maps.
- Sheep have right of way. They will not move. You will move.
The Westfjords aren't where you go to tick off "Iceland." They're where you go after you've already done that and want the next layer.