Ísafjörður is the regional capital, a town of roughly 2,679 people, and its Neðstikaupstaður quarter holds the oldest cluster of houses in Iceland, from the late eighteenth century. From there the region fans out: the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, the red sand of Rauðasandur and the boat trips to the Hornstrandir nature reserve. Start with those three, and add the Westfjords Heritage Museum for a rainy hour in town.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Látrabjarg, Rauðasandur, Dynjandi and Hornstrandir
- Main access to Látrabjarg: Road 62 near Hotel Flókalundur, then Road 612
- Boat season to Hornstrandir with HornstrandirTours: 1 June to the end of August
- Warmest month: July, with a high of 55°F (13°C)
- Base town: Ísafjörður, with departures to Hornstrandir
What are the best things to do in the Westfjords?
Látrabjarg
Látrabjarg is the westernmost point of the European continent and is described as Europe’s largest bird cliff. It stretches 8.7 miles (14 km) and rises up to 1,447 feet (441 m).
To reach it, turn onto Road 62 near Hotel Flókalundur and follow it about 40 minutes. Then turn left onto Road 612 and continue approximately an hour. From Vatnsfjörður the drive takes about an hour and a half. Start early so the long drive leaves time at the cliff.
Rauðasandur
Rauðasandur is a beach of about 6.2 miles (10 km) of red and gold sand. The warm tones come largely from crushed shell fragments, dominated by the Iceland scallop. The color ranges from yellow to red and almost black, depending on the light. It’s the biggest pearl in a string of coves with sand from white to black.
The route generally follows Road 62, then Road 612, then Road 614. Most travelers come from Patreksfjörður or combine the beach with a detour to Látrabjarg. From Vatnsfjörður it’s about an hour. Pairing the two in one day saves a second long drive.
Dynjandi
Dynjandi is the best-known waterfall in the region. It drops about 328 feet (100 meters) through tiers.
It’s 30 minutes from Vatnsfjörður, so it fits as a stop on the way to or from the western sights. Skip it only if the day is already full with the drive to Látrabjarg.
Hornstrandir
Hornstrandir has been a nature reserve since 1975 and has been uninhabited since the 1950s. It’s reached by boat, with scheduled departures from Ísafjörður, Bolungarvík and Norðurfjörður at Strandir.
The crossing takes from one hour to two and a half hours or even longer. HornstrandirTours runs daily scheduled trips from 1 June to the end of August, so those are the months to plan around. Walkers can also arrive by land from Ófeigsfjörður or from Dalbær at Snæfjallaströnd.
Hesteyri
Hesteyri is an old fishing village inside the Hornstrandir reserve. Ten houses in the original style still stand and are used as summerhouses. The last residents left in 1952.
The passenger boat Hesteyri ÍS 95 carries 24 passengers. With so few seats, book ahead for a summer day. Skip it if you only have a day in town, since the boat journey alone can take an hour or more.
Westfjords Heritage Museum
The museum stands in Neðstikaupstaður in Ísafjörður, in the oldest cluster of houses in Iceland. The setting is part of the visit.
Ósvör Maritime Museum
Ósvör is a replica of a 19th-century Icelandic fishing station, on the east side of Bolungarvík by the sea.
The Bolungarvík District Information Office is at Aðalstræti 21, 415 Bolungarvík. Start there for local questions. The old road between Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík is also a hiking route, so the museum can end a walk.
When is the best time to visit the Westfjords for sightseeing?
In winter, highs sit between 34°F (1°C) and 35°F (2°C), and skiing is the activity on offer. October brings 4 1/2 inches of rain. The long drives to Látrabjarg and Rauðasandur make a car the practical way to cover the region.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in the Westfjords
Rauðasandur is the beach to plan around, with its red and gold sand. A beautiful beach is also a 10-minute walk from Hotel Latrabjarg, which suits anyone who is already at the cliffs. In Bolungarvík, the golf course Syðridalsvöllur is one of very few beach courses in Iceland.
Hiking routes include the hike up to the Trolls seat, Naustahvilft, and the old road to Bolungarvík. Ísafjörður Guide offers city walks, nature walks and private tours in German or English. The Ísafjörður Walk lasts 2 hours and the Nature Walk 5 hours, so pick by how much of the day you want to give. Kayaking is offered in Ögur and Ísafjörður.
Boat tours to watch whales and cliff birds are among the Westfjords activities. Vestfjarðaleiðin lists hot pools, beaches, waterfalls, kayaking and whale watching among the region’s experiences.
Day trips from the Westfjords
Most day trips are drives or boat rides from Vatnsfjörður and Ísafjörður. Dynjandi, Rauðasandur and Látrabjarg are all reachable by road from Vatnsfjörður. Hornstrandir needs a boat.
- Dynjandi: 30 minutes from Vatnsfjörður · car · for a short outing
- Rauðasandur: about 1 hour from Vatnsfjörður · car · for a half day with a beach walk
- Látrabjarg: about 1.5 hours from Vatnsfjörður · car · for a long day among the bird cliffs
With a car and one day, pair Rauðasandur with Látrabjarg. With less time, Dynjandi alone is enough. Without a car, take the boat to Hornstrandir.
In town, Ísafjörður Guide offers shorter outings: the Trolls and Stories walk lasts 2 hours, the Plants or Autumn Colours walk 3 hours and the Please Taste! culinary tour 3.5 hours. The Garden Tour is a bus tour through the historic town with coffee in Helga’s garden, for 4 to 7 people, lasting 1.5 to 2 hours.
What to eat in the Westfjords
Tjöruhúsið in Ísafjörður is a family owned restaurant serving only the catch of the day. Cafe Dunhagi, at Sveinseyri in Tálknafjörður, serves fresh local fish, Icelandic lamb, vegetarian specials and homemade breads and desserts. Both put local fish on the plate, so they fit a day of sightseeing in the region.
Things to do in the Westfjords at night
Flateyri held Götuveisla on 26 to 28 June, and Patreksfjörður held Sjómannadagurinn on 5 to 7 June.
The next date ahead is Aldrei fór ég suður in Ísafjörður on 24 March 2027. Cafe Dunhagi holds weekly events in the summer months, including author talks, concerts and plays. The Comedytheatre, founded in 1997, is the first and only professional theatre in the Westfjords.
Things to do in the Westfjords with kids
Rauðasandur is a long beach for running along.
A guided Ísafjörður Walk lasts 2 hours, which is short enough for a family afternoon. In winter the Westfjords offer skiing.
Sources
- westfjords.is (https://www.westfjords.is/en/experiences/culture-heritage/saga-heritage), checked 2026-10-30
- westfjords.is (https://www.westfjords.is/en/moya/extras/9/), checked 2026-10-30
- keflavikairport.com (https://keflavikairport.com/westfjords.html), checked 2026-10-30
- vestfirdir.is (https://www.vestfirdir.is/is/verkefni/atvinnuthroun-og-nyskopun/gullkistan-vestfirdir), checked 2026-10-30
- visiticeland.com (https://www.visiticeland.com/things-to-do/bolungarvik-district-information-office/), checked 2026-10-30
- open-meteo.com (https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/historical-weather-api), checked 2026-10-30
- perlan.is (https://perlan.is/articles/raudasandur), checked 2026-10-30
- visiticeland.com (https://www.visiticeland.com/things-to-do/westfjords-heritage-museum/), checked 2026-10-30