Explore the Westfjords in Iceland – the Untouched Wilderness in the North

Few places in Iceland depict the nation as well as the wild region of the Westfjords. Second only to the Highlands in Iceland, this rugged terrain offers everything from unmatched wilderness to history and mysticism.

Read on to find out why we strongly recommend you spend some time in the breathtaking area of the Westfjords in Iceland.

When Should I Visit the Westfjords?

You can visit the Westfjords all year round, but the winter can be a bit harsh in this part of the country. The western fjords in Iceland are a region of mountains and fjords with a lot of narrow gravel roads. Pick a time between May and September for optimal weather and experience and remember to check the road conditions in Iceland before you arrive in the Westfjords to not run into any unwanted surprises.

Visiting the Westfjords in summer is going to be the pristine time of the year since that is when the area truly comes to life. Driving in the Westfjords is easier this time of year, and you will have good access to the attractions.

Top Attractions in the Westfjords

Nature is the name of the game in the Iceland Westfjords. The fjords and steep cliffs are renowned for their rich birdlife and are home to a rich blend of non-farm animal life. The Westfjords also offer many hidden gems in the form of small hot springs and breathtaking waterfalls, so keep your eyes peeled as you explore the nooks and crannies of this place.

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

If you are looking for untouched wilderness in Iceland, Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is the best place to visit. This is one of the most remote and isolated places in the country and has been almost completely untouched in the last decades. This has left room for the flora to practically explode in the summer, and this part of the Westfjords becomes a canvas of color with hundreds of species of wildflowers.

In terms of animal life, the elusive Arctic Fox thrives in the absence of human settlements, and you will easily spot plenty of seals along the coastline. The waters around the reserve are rich with White-beaked Dolphins, Humpback Whales, and the occasional group of Orcas.

The only bothersome part of this area in the Westfjords is that it’s not easily accessible. The only way to reach Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is by boat. This can be done either via the local ferry or with a guided boat tour. Regardless of which, a trip to the nature reserve should be properly planned in advance.

 Latrabjarg Cliffs

The long and proud Latrabjarg Cliffs are the westernmost point in Iceland and all of Europe. Being 14 kilometers long and 440 meters high, these cliffs are the largest bird cliffs in Europe and home to millions of birds in the summer in Iceland. If you want to catch a glimpse of the Puffin bird, this is the area you want to visit. These sad clown birds of the north gather in their thousands in the summer, which means that you must be careful where you put your feet to not step on a Puffin burrow.

Another bird species that comes here to nest in the summer is the razorbill. An impressive forty percent of the entire world’s population comes here, which makes it a vital area for this bird’s survival.

To reach Latrabjarg Cliffs in the Westfjords, simply drive Road 62 in the Westfjords to the inner part of Patreksjördur Fjord and then take Road 612 from there until the road ends. From there, it’s just a short hike up the cliffs to see the birds.

Raudasandur Beach

If you follow the same route as Latrabjarg but take a left to Road 614 from Road 612, you will get to one of Iceland’s few non-black beaches. Raudasandur Beach has a large portion of ground-down red and pink shells from the ocean that mixed with the volcanic sand, which has created light sand with red tones.

Raduasandur sits under the Latrabjarg Cliffs, which invites its visitors to see some of the birdlife of Latrabjarg from a different angle. The beach is just over 12 kilometers long, so it offers plenty of spots to explore and you can easily spend an entire day here.

Melanes Campsite sits at the eastern end of the beach with 3 little sleeping cottages for rent and plenty of space to pitch a tent. We suggest finding a tent spot that is a bit protected since it is right next to the ocean.

Flatey Island

In Breidafjördur sits Flatey – an island with a picturesque little village of great historical significance. This used to be the area’s beating heart in the late Viking Age and throughout the Middle Ages. Traces of this important time can still be seen on parts of the island.

To reach the island, you can either take a ferry to and from Stykkisholmur on the mysterious Snaefellsnes Peninsula or the same ferry to and from Brjánslaekur in the Westfjords. You might think that this would make Flatey an excellent point of entry to the Westfjords but since you’re not allowed to have a car on the island, you’ll have to leave the car at the town you’re departing from.

Dynjandi Waterfall

Last, but not least: the Dynjandi Waterfall. This waterfall is well-known all over Iceland for its dramatic descent and impressive size, hence why it’s regularly referred to as the Jewel of the Westfjords. It is a little off the beaten path and you will pass a couple of smaller waterfalls on your hike to this gem.

The total drop of the waterfall is 100 meters, but it is dramatically draped over several steps of volcanic rock, resembling a bridal veil flowing down the mountain.

The Villages and Towns of the Westfjords

Since the Westfjords is a rough and wild region in Iceland, the settlements are few and far between. Only 7,000 people live in the area permanently, so these are small settlements. Still, they all pack a punch!

Isafjördur

The capital of the Westfjords is home to 4,000 of the region’s inhabitants. Isafjördur sits at the mouth of the largest fjord in the area, Isafjardardjúp, in the northern part of the Westfjords. To get there, you’ll have to get on Road 61 at the base of the region and just follow it for about 3 hours after it diverges from Road 60.

Here, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and accommodation that serves as a great stop on your Westfjords journey. The museums offer an opportunity to understand the region better and are within walking distance of the town center. 

Holmavik

Along Road 61, about 2.5 hours before you reach Isafjördur, you find the mysterious village of Holmavik. This town is known to have ties to the occult part of Iceland and is an excellent place to learn a lot about the ancient folklore and witchcraft of Iceland.

This is the spot in the Westfjords to get the chance to get up close and personal with the big boys and girls of Iceland: the whales. Plenty of species come to the area just east of the Westjords in the summer, making this a great place to go whale watching in Iceland.

Patreksfjördur

On the other side of the Westfjords, we find the best-suited base camp for three of our top picks of things to do in the Westfjords: Latrabjarg, Dynjandi, and Raudusandur. Here, you can also check out Iceland’s oldest steel ship; an ex-fishing and whaling vessel that sits on the shoreline, resting after a long life of service. This ship set out in 1912, making it more than a hundred years old, just to give you an idea of the history it carries.

Reykholar

Despite being a small village of only 120 permanent inhabitants, Reykholar plays an important part in the Westfjords as it is the home of a large kelp processing plant. It processes kelp into fertilizer, medicine supplies, food, and even fuel! 

If you want to get a good feel of the many good qualities of kelp, head on over to the Reykholar Sea Baths and take a swim. It is said that the seaweed here is good for your skin, as long as you can deal with the chilly temperatures of the water. 

Flateyri

Despite the name being similar to Flatey Island, this small village sits just west of Isafjördur in the northern part of the Westfjords. The main attraction in this settlement is the Old Bookstore which is almost as old as the ship in Patreksfjördur. Being built in 1914, the store has kept its original form and décor, making it a virtual time capsule for how the village looked like more than a hundred years ago.

Visit the Westfjord Museums

As you might have noticed, the Westfjords are not only rich in nature experiences but also culture and history. There are a couple of museums around the Westfjords that cover all aspects of the region, from nature to culture to history!

Westfjords Heritage Museum

To start things off: the Heritage Museum in the Westfjords is in the capital of the region. Here you can get a good representation and explanation of how the unique culture of the area has developed. Since Iceland has a strong connection to music, you can see the continuously growing collection of accordions that have been owned by many prominent Icelandic musicians.

There are more than 15 restored boats from different time periods that show how the fishing industry developed from having boats made of oak at the beginning of the 1900s to the boats used in the Cod Wars with the UK in the mid-1900s.

Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft

In the mysterious village of Holmavik, you’ll find a large collection of artifacts used in the practices of witchcraft and dark arts. The village has a long history of being involved in the occult, and they’re not afraid to flaunt it. An interesting historical fact about the area is that it goes against the norm, since a total of 16 men and only 1 woman were burned at the stake for witchcraft.

The Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft has everything from magical symbols to milk-sucking demons and zombies. We recommend taking a deep breath before entering, as the museum has been known to send chills down the spine of even the bravest men and women.

Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

In the same category, the little village of Bíldudal in the western part of the Westfjords hosts a museum dedicated to all the sea monsters that have been causing trouble in the region since the Viking Age.

The Sea Monster Museum has a series of dimly lit rooms that give detailed descriptions of exactly which monsters have been spotted in the fjord outside, as well as the fjords surrounding it. The museum provides eyewitness accounts of spotting the four main sea monsters in Iceland: the Shore Laddie, the Merman, the Shell Monster, and the massive Sea Horse. The last one can be seen as Iceland’s very own Loch Ness Monster.  

Arctic Fox Center

On a lighter note, Iceland’s only native mammal, the arctic fox, has its own museum in Sudavik. The Arctic Fox Center aims to tell the story of the elusive fox and the importance of preserving its habitat as well as its species.

Here, you can get a complete rundown of the biology, behavior, appearance, and how well it adapts to the harsh and ever-changing environment in Iceland.

Everyday Museum

After visiting the dark and morbid part of the Westfjords, it’s time to visit the more light-hearted Everyday Museum in Isafjördur, which brings modern history to life. Listen to recollections of locals who are no longer with us and activate your senses in the Sensory Laboratory. The laboratory offers smell, feel, and sounds to show visitors how it was in the region in the olden days.

The White-tailed Eagle Center

Like the Arctic Fox, the White-tailed Eagle is an important part of nature in the Westfjords. This magnificent creature was almost completely extinct in Europe but was brought back due to great conservation efforts. The White-tailed Eagle Center invites visitors to learn everything there is to know about this incredible bird.

Visit the Westfjords in Iceland

The Westfjords is a practical cornucopia of attractions and places to visit. It offers a wide range of options for unique experiences in nature and cultural insight. All that is left for you to do now is to rent a campervan in Reykjavik and head out to the many wonders of the wildest region in Iceland.