The Westfjords are the dangling left hand of Iceland on the map: a peninsula of fjords, cliffs and tiny fishing villages joined 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% make it up here, which is their loss.
How long do you actually need?
Minimum: 3 days from Reykjavík and back. Comfortable: 5 days. The distances are shorter than the Ring Road but the roads are slower: gravel sections, single-lane mountain passes, and endless driving in and out of fjords that turns 50 km on the map into 90 minutes behind the wheel.
Highlights, in rough order
- Látrabjarg: Europe's largest seabird cliff. Puffins sit 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 and a little surreal.
- Dynjandi: the Westfjords' answer to Skógafoss, a 100-metre tiered waterfall you may well have to yourself.
- Ísafjörður: the regional capital, with cafés, a maritime museum and fjord views. Base yourself here for 1–2 nights.
- Hornstrandir Nature Reserve: uninhabited, hike-only, reached by boat from Ísafjörður. Day trips are possible. Multi-day hikes take serious planning.
Hornstrandir day trips and puffin-packed Vigur island tours run from Ísafjörður in summer. They go where a car can't.
Browse Westfjords tours →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 need a 4x4 in summer. In winter they're all 4x4-only.
Mountain passes here close fast in bad weather. Check road.is every morning. Don't trust your phone's ETA. It has no idea about the climbs, the gravel or the sheep.
Fuel and charging: read this carefully
The Westfjords have the lowest fuel and charging density in Iceland. Most fishing towns have a petrol station, but several keep shorter hours in winter. Fill up at every opportunity.
For EVs it's getting better but still tight. Most chargers are clustered around Ísafjörður, Patreksfjörður, and Hólmavík. Plan with at least a 30% buffer, because wind and climbing eat range fast. The full list of Westfjords chargers shows everything currently public. e1 / eONE runs most of the smaller-town chargers up here, so download that app before you leave Reykjavík.
When to go
- June to August: every road open, everything accessible, ~20 hours of daylight. The best time to go.
- May / September: shoulder season. Some side roads and ferries closed. Quieter and cheaper.
- October to April: experienced winter drivers only. Many roads close for weeks at a time.
Practical tips
- Book accommodation ahead in Ísafjörður and Patreksfjörður. There aren't many beds.
- The Baldur ferry (Stykkishólmur ↔ Brjánslækur) saves ~3 hours of driving each way. Book in advance May–September.
- Cell coverage drops out in the more remote fjords, so download offline Google Maps.
- Sheep have right of way. They will not move. You will move.
The Westfjords suit a second trip to Iceland better than a first: go once you've done the usual sights and want more.