IS · Westfjords · 66.08°N 23.13°W

ísafjörður

Timber houses below steep mountains, fjord kayaking and boats to Hornstrandir.

Best time
June–September is the season for fjord drives and boat trips, and Hornstrandir boats run only at the height of summer. November–March brings snow, short days and tricky access.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Keflavík, usually via London, Amsterdam or Istanbul (about 19–21 hours all in), then take the 40-minute domestic flight from Reykjavík's city airport, or drive about 6 hours. Iceland is 8 hours behind KL all year.
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IS · Westfjordsísafjörður66.08°N 23.13°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Timber houses below steep mountains, fjord kayaking and boats to Hornstrandir.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingÍsafjörðurIS, Westfjords
KLísafjörður
≈ 11,168 km from KL, as the crow flies
Town of Ísafjörður, seen from the top of Kubbi mountain on 12 June 2019.

Photo: Sturlast~iswiki · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Ísafjörður is the little capital of the Westfjords, on a spit of land below steep mountains. Timber houses, a working harbour and boats out to the wild Hornstrandir reserve make it a base for a slower side of Iceland.

Makan

  1. Fish of the dayThe harbour lands it, and the restaurants by the water cook it simply.Map ↗
  2. PlokkfiskurMashed fish and potato in a creamy sauce, Icelandic comfort food.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. NeðstikaupstaðurSome of Iceland's oldest timber buildings, from the 1700s, now home to the Westfjords Heritage Museum.Map ↗
  2. Fjord kayakingGuided paddles on the calm fjord, with mountains rising straight out of the water.Map ↗
  3. HornstrandirA roadless nature reserve of cliffs, wildflowers and Arctic foxes, reached by summer boat.Map ↗
  4. DynjandiA tiered waterfall spreading like a bridal veil down the mountainside, a little over an hour's drive away.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book the Hornstrandir boats both ways; there are no roads out of the reserve.
  • Leave a spare day before your international flight, as weather often delays the domestic flights.
  • There's no halal meat here, so bring supplies from Reykjavík; the fish is excellent.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.