Westfjords

The Westfjords are one of the oldest parts of Iceland and are estimated to be over 16 million years old. Here you will not find active volcanoes or recent lava fields, as is more common in other parts of Iceland. Instead, the winding roads along the high green fjords take you to unbelievable breathtaking views.
Regardless of whether you are a photographer, a tourist, a wildlife enthusiast, a history buff or an ordinary traveler you will find here places that will delight you so much that you will want to come back again and again.\

Below we present the best of natures attractions and information about the towns that are worth visiting during your stay in Icelandic Westfjords.

Most travelers coming to Iceland wants to enjoy its diverse, unique and dramatic character. Exactly those three adjectives match the description of Westfjords without a hint of exaggeration.
On Westfjords you will find everything: wild animals (arctic foxes and whales), stunning waterfalls, beautiful quiet and wild beaches, hot springs and breathtaking landscapes while driving along the fjords and over the mountains.
A visit to the Westfjords ist best done during the warmer months of the year from May to October. In wintertime the snowfall in the Westfjordsis usually substantial and considering the small number of inhabitants the roads are not as regularly cleared of snow as in the rest of the country.

1. Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

The Hornstrandir nature reserve has been abandoned since the 1950s and is the least populated region of Iceland (apart from the highlands, the central part of Iceland). The lack of human habitation has allowed nature to revive and flourish the beautiful wild fauna and flora around the remains of the human settlements in the area. Because of this the reserve became a great place for those seeking unspoiled Icelandic nature. This is also where you can find the largest population of Arctic Foxes and countless seals that lie on the rocks along the shoreline. The surrounding waters are home to beaked whales, Humpback whales, dolphins and many others. Hornstrandir is also home for over 30 species of birds, most of them living on the cliffs: Hornbjarg and Riturinn.
Hornstrandir was declared a nature reserve in 1975 and since then been well protected without the possibility of direct access by means of transport such as a car or a bus. Visitors of the reserve are mostly hikers who are looking for tranquility close to wildlife and beautiful nature.

2. Latrabjarg Cliffs

The Látrabjarg cliffs stretch over 14 kilometers with a height of over four hundred meters in many places. This makes Latrabjarg the highest “bird” cliffs of Europe. During the summer literally millions of birds hang out here.

As many as 40% of the entire Razorbill population (species of sea bird) nest here as well as many other birdspecies like fulmars and white gannets. The bird however which attracts the most visitors to Latrabjarg is the famous puffin. Puffins inhabit the nearby cliffs in large numbers.
You do not have to look far as these cute colorful tiny birds nest in thousands often close to the top of the Latrabjarg cliffs. This gives us the possibility to observe them from up close without them being disturbed. Remember though that they are not to be petted as their feathers, like all other waterbirds, will lose its waterproofness by touching them. Best is not to get to close to the edge of the cliffs as puffins digged their burrows there causing the ground near the cliff to be more unstable and prone to collaps.

Látrabjarg is also known for the story of a serious rescue operation. When the British trawler Dhoon crashed on the rocks under the cliffs local farmers managed to rescue 12 crew members of the trawler. As Icelanders are accustomed to collecting eggs on these steep slopes at Latrabjarg they went down with their ropes to the fishermen and then pulled them up to a safe place.

3.The wreck of the oldest steel ship in Iceland

This beautifully located small, black wooden church is one of the most photographed churches in Iceland. And for a good reason. The Budir church is a beautiful and minimalist object located in the rough nature of Iceland. Its black color is a great contrast with the often cloudy mountains in the background. Next to the church there is a cemetery and a path which leads to a magnificent sand and stone beach.

4. Dynjandi waterfall

Dynjandi waterfall is like a hidden jewel. This waterfall is so spectacular and amazing it is being admired and favorited by many people throughout Iceland.
Dynjandi is actually not a single waterfall. It is a series of waterfalls that flow down the cliff in cascades of foamy white water. It resembles a bit of black and gray lava stairs with its appearance which is followed by white water. Dynjandi is over a hundred meters high and consists of many smaller waterfalls. While walking along the beautiful path up to the biggest waterfall all of them can be admired.

5. Raudusandur beach

Raudusandur is a very unusual beach compared to most other beaches in Iceland. The vast majority of the coasts of the country are cliffs with beaches of battered rocks and the occasional sandy beach is usually a black sand beach due to the regular volcanic eruptions on the island.
Rauðasandur however is completely different and a very picturesque place. The sand on the beach shimmers with amazing colors. You can find sand with a mix of red, orange, pink and golden colors which makes it an amazing and wonderful place.

Rauðasandur is located near the cliffs of Látrabjarg making it a convenient place to stop for a mountain picnic in this part of the Westfjords. In previous years the beach has been the stage for the musical festival Rauðasandur in July. The income from the festival is being used for the protection and development of this area of the Westfjords.

6. Westfjords Hot Springs

The Westfjords are much older than the rest of Iceland and are located further from the central Atlantic ridge which divides Iceland and is the cause of the excessive geothermal activity. In the Westfjords you will not find active volcanoes and also much less hot springs than in other parts of the country. This however does not mean there are no hot springs here. In fact, there are more than twenty wonderful natural hot pools in Westfjords.

The most convenient for many travelers is Hellulaug, which is located near the ferry port Baldur. This ferry connects the Westfjords with the city of Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes-peninsula. Another great hot spring that is worth mentioning is Gvendarlaug in Bjarnarfjörður in the north-eastern part of the region. It is easy to locate because it is right next to the Laugarhóll hotel.
Some of the best hot springs in the Western Fjords are located in the distant fjord called Mjóifjörður “along the way” towards the town of Ísafjörður. The hot springs are often hidden and therefore not very easy to find for tourists coming here. It is worth asking residents of nearby farms how to reach them, especially as most of them are probably the owners of the land where these hot springs are located.

7. Westfjords

In my opinion, one of the biggest natural attractions of Westfjords are the fjords themselves. One of the biggest experiences is traveling on the winding roads which curl over and along gigantic mountains. On clear days the view from the summits is breathtaking and throughout the summer you can watch the humpback whales that inhabit the surrounding fjords.

1. Isafjordur

Ísafjörður is the capital of Westfjords and the only big city on the fjords with a population of 2,600. Isafjordur is steeped in natural beauty and history and the cultural center for the entire region.
There are many hotels, bars, museums, restaurants and other amenities for visitors of the city. Most of the other town only offer more basic facilities.

In Ísafjörður there are also two cultural centers: the Edinborg Cultural Center and the Old Hospital where numerous works of art are exhibited. In Isafjordur you can also find one of the oldest and well-preserved buildings in Iceland which was build in the 18th century.

2. Patreksfjörður

The town of Patreksfjörður in the southern region of the Westfjords is the best place to stop when travelling to Dynjandi-waterfalls, Látrabjarg and Rauðasandur. The city has a large and popular swimming pool and is close to some of the mentioned hot springs.

Patreksfjörður is also home to the Pirate Museum and the People’s Museum.

In the 17th century, Icelanders were often attacked by pirates who killed several inhabitants and took many others of them into captivity. The written history of the survivors which is told in the museum is extremely fascinating.

3. Holmavik

The tiny village Hólmavík is one of those places that have much more to offer than we think. What seems to be just a sleepy little fishing village is home to the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft. Here you can learn everything about flying brooms, witch-hunts and folklore in Iceland. In Holmavik there is also the Museum of Sheep Breeding which educates about the importance of sheep for the survival of the Icelandic nation.

4. Reykholar

Reykhólar is a small town located in the north-western part of the Westjords with about 120 permanent residents. Near the town there is a shallow coast which is home to many bird species. Reykholar is therefore a very popular place for bird watching. In the town there is also a museum worth visiting. The museum is dedicated to the relationship between man and nature.
In Reykholar there is a small seaweed processing factor where seaweed is transformed into food, fuel, medicines and fertilizers. Here you can also take a wonderful “seaweed bath” and apply a seaweed mask. Both treatments are said to do wonders with the skin.

5. Flateyri

Flateyri is a tiny town surrounded by spectacular nature. Flateyri is surrounded by massive flat peaked mountains. The landscape with the sea in the background are listed as one of the most beautiful in the country. The town has a restaurant and pub, a swimming pool with newly built hot tubs and the increasingly popular Museum of Nonsense. The museum houses an excellent collection of historical eccentricities from around the world.

6. Djupavik

Traveling along road 643 through the municipality of Árneshreppur is one of the most scenic rides imaginable. In addition to the breathtaking nature, small farm settlements can be found along the way. The historic village of Djúpavík dates from 1917 when a small herring factory was established in a small stream near Reykjarfjörður. In 1934 another large fish factory was built there. The largest concrete building in Iceland at that time. The factory was operational until 1954. Currently it is being used as an exhibition hall. The remaining houses in Djúpavík are nowadays in use as summerhouses. The only hotel in town, Djúpavík Hotel, is open all year round.
Djúpavík is part of Árneshreppur, the least populated municipality in Iceland with only 53 inhabitants. It extends over a wide area of approximately 780 km2. Because of this the density of the population is only 0.07 individuals per km2. The area does not have any means of public transport apart from the one to two weekly flights from Reykjavik to Gjögur. This small settlement has an airport which is only inhabited during the summer.
Most visitors to Djupavik get there by car. However, if you decide to travel here during the winter it is essential you check the weather and road conditions before travelling to the area.