Westfjords: A road trip between fjords and bird cliffs

In Iceland’s Westfjords, long fjords, mountain passes, waterfalls and coastal landscapes unfold in succession. The approximately 950-kilometre Westfjords Way is a circular route through the region that you can travel in full or in shorter sections. This lets you shape your trip as one big road trip or focus on selected stretches—something worth considering before deciding on your accommodation and itinerary.

A route for different types of trip

The Westfjords Way connects towns and villages with fjords, mountain passes, beaches, hot springs, cultural sites and natural attractions. It follows long fjords, crosses mountain passes and passes through tunnels. Some sections of the route are still gravel roads. These varying road conditions are part of planning the route: first decide whether you want to explore the circular route in full or just selected sections. When choosing your holiday rental, you can then consider which stretches or experiences are a priority for your trip.

Waterfalls and dramatic coastlines

Dynjandi comprises a series of six waterfalls and plunges approximately 100 metres. The main waterfall area is accessible from the designated car park via a 15-minute walk. This gives you a specific walking distance to factor into your day’s plans, without implying a walking time for any additional visits.

Látrabjarg has a very different landscape: the cliffs stretch for approximately 14 kilometres and rise up to 441 metres above the Atlantic. Látrabjarg is among Europe’s largest seabird cliffs and was designated a nature reserve in 2021. During the breeding season, millions of seabirds nest there, including puffins, razorbills, common guillemots and gannets. Látrabjarg is accessible by road, and you can walk along sections of the cliff edge. Anyone interested in coastlines and birdlife will find a striking contrast here to a day spent at waterfalls or inland.

Nature experiences and routes to Hornstrandir

Hornstrandir is part of a 589-square-kilometre protected area in the northern part of the Westfjords Peninsula. Watching and photographing Arctic foxes is a visitor activity there in both winter and summer. The most common way to reach the area is by sea; scheduled departures operate from Ísafjörður, Bolungarvík and Norðurfjörður on the Strandir coast. If Hornstrandir is a focus of your trip, consider these departure points when deciding where to base yourself.

The Vatnsfjörður Nature Reserve offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching and wildlife observation; fishing and geothermal bathing are also possible there. Hellulaug is a geothermal pool near the beach in Vatnsfjörður. There is a car park beside its access path. These nature experiences offer different kinds of activities: you can choose based on whether you prefer hiking and watching wildlife or fishing and geothermal bathing.

Culture, history and regional cuisine

Surtarbrandsgil was protected as a natural monument in 1975 to preserve fossilized vegetation, particularly lignite and clay layers from the Tertiary period. An exhibition about the nature reserve is housed in the old parish residence in Brjánslækur. It is open daily in summer; during opening hours, guided walks to the gorge with a land ranger are offered at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Admission to the exhibition is free. If you would like to combine natural history with an on-site visit, you can take these set weekdays into account when planning.

The Arctic Fox Centre is a non-profit research and exhibition centre focused on the Arctic fox. The Westfjords Heritage Museum, usually called the Maritime Museum in guidebooks, offers insights into the maritime history and culture of the Westfjords. Regional food culture adds another distinctive touch: seafood is central, and along the route you’ll also find local lamb, baked goods and other culinary experiences.

When choosing your holiday rental, you can therefore start by weighing up the kind of trip you want: a circular road trip through changing landscapes, selected sections of the Westfjords Way, or a trip focused on nature, culture and regional cuisine.

Discover more places

For further inspiration: Thingeyri, Patreksfjördur, Bíldudalur, Ísafjörður, Haukadalur, Keflavik, Suðureyri, Holt, Bolungarvík, Flateyri, Látur, Hólmavík, Borðeyri, Saurbær, Breiðavík, Súðavík, Drangsnes, Hnífsdalur, Kirkjuból, Garpsdalur, Hagi, Staður, Prestbakki, Árnes, Tálknafjörður, Reykhólar and Sæból.

For the broader travel overview: Iceland.