The Golden Circle is Iceland's tour-bus loop, and it shows. The Westfjords get a small share of the country's visitors for a simple reason: they are slow to reach and slow to drive, with roads that wind around every fjord. That is the point. Base yourself in Ísafjörður, the only real town, and give it four or five days with a rental car: Dynjandi waterfall, the fishing villages, the red-sand beach at Rauðasandur and, in summer, a boat into the Hornstrandir reserve where there are no roads at all.
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When to go
June to August is the season: long days, open roads, summer buses and Hornstrandir boats. September is quieter and still workable. From October to April, mountain roads and passes can close with snow, daylight is short and many guesthouses shut; only go in winter with a plan and a 4WD.
Westfjords right now and the next 7 days
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Westfjords on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Westfjords · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Prices are per the way you travel, not a package.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Westfjords in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Dynjandi waterfall1 h 30 m · ₹530 each · A 15-minute walk up past smaller falls to the big one. There is a parking service fee per car (750 krónur in 2024); check the current rate.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 08:00Boat and hike in HornstrandirFull day · ₹21,000 each · Return boat to Hesteyri, 2 x 14,900 krónur. Abandoned village, arctic foxes, no roads. Summer only; go prepared for wet, cold weather.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Rauðasandur beachHalf day · free · A long pinkish-red sand beach at the end of a steep gravel road in the south.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Westfjords
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Domestic flight
₹9,400Icelandair. Returns seen from about 26,500 krónur in October 2026, so roughly 13,000-14,000 one way at the cheapest. The approach down the fjord is spectacular. From Keflavík (KEF) take the Flybus to Reykjavík first.
Rental car
Check fareThe most flexible way, and the only easy way to see the region. Some roads are gravel and follow every fjord, so allow extra time.
Car ferry Baldur Cheapest
₹4,4506,300 krónur per adult one way, plus 6,300 for a car up to 5 m (winter tariff, Sep 2026-May 2027). Cuts out a long drive into the southern Westfjords. Book ahead with a car.
Summer bus Last leg
Check fareRuns 1 June to 31 August only, timed to meet the Baldur ferry. Check the current timetable.
Getting around once you're there
Rental car
Check pricePublic transport inside the region is very limited. An ordinary car is fine in summer; check road.is every morning.
Boat to Hornstrandir
₹10,500From Ísafjörður: Hesteyri or Veiðileysufjörður 14,900 krónur one way, Hornvík 19,300. Summer only. Return costs the same again.
Ferry Baldur
₹4,4506,300 krónur per adult, one way, across Breiðafjörður.
On foot
FreeÍsafjörður itself is small and walkable; the hills above town have marked trails.
Where to stay in Westfjords
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm bed
₹4,950/nightDorm beds from about 7,000 krónur. Few of them: book early for summer.
Guesthouse
₹9,500/nightAbout US$110 a night, often with a shared kitchen. Cooking your own meals saves the most money here.
Campsite
₹0/nightSummer campsites in most villages. Wild camping in a campervan outside sites is restricted in Iceland. Check the price on arrival.
What to eat, and what it costs
Supermarket shop for self-catering
Check priceÍsafjörður has supermarkets. Buy here before driving out to the villages, which have little or nothing.
Fish of the day in Ísafjörður
Check priceThe town is a fishing port. Fish is the one thing that is fresh, local and worth paying for.
Coffee and cake at a village café
Check priceMany villages have one summer café. Check opening hours: they close early and shut for winter.
Things to do in Westfjords
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Dynjandi waterfall
₹530A 15-minute walk up past smaller falls to the big one. There is a parking service fee per car (750 krónur in 2024); check the current rate.
Boat and hike in Hornstrandir
₹21,000Return boat to Hesteyri, 2 x 14,900 krónur. Abandoned village, arctic foxes, no roads. Summer only; go prepared for wet, cold weather.
Rauðasandur beach
FreeA long pinkish-red sand beach at the end of a steep gravel road in the south.
Látrabjarg bird cliffs
FreeEurope's westernmost point and huge seabird cliffs. Keep well back from the edge: it is undercut.
Fishing villages: Suðureyri, Flateyri, Þingeyri
FreeShort drives through tunnels from Ísafjörður. Small harbours, a pool in nearly every village.
Day trips and next stops
Flatey island
Check fareFerry Baldur
Snæfellsnes peninsula
₹4,450Ferry Baldur to Stykkishólmur
Hólmavík and the Strandir coast
Check fareCar
Reykjavík
₹9,400Car or flight
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Mountain roads and passes can close with snow outside summer. Check road.is and vedur.is every morning, and do not drive closed roads.
- Hornstrandir has no roads, no shops and no phone signal. Boats are summer only and pickups can run late. Go with food, a tent and a plan.
- The UK FCDO has no advice against travel to Iceland. Its volcanic-activity warnings are for the Reykjanes peninsula in the south-west, not the Westfjords.
Ways to spend less
- Fly one way and take the Baldur ferry the other: you see the whole region without driving the long road twice.
- Self-cater. A guesthouse kitchen and a supermarket shop in Ísafjörður halve the cost of the trip.
- Late June: the midnight sun, the Hornstrandir boats are running and the bird cliffs are full.
Before-you-go checklist
Westfjords in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Westfjords?
Jun–Aug is the best time. June to August is the season: long days, open roads, summer buses and Hornstrandir boats. September is quieter and still workable. From October to April, mountain roads and passes can close with snow, daylight is short and many guesthouses shut; only go in winter with a plan and a 4WD.
How do I reach Westfjords?
Domestic flight: Reykjavík city airport (RKV) → Ísafjörður (IFJ), 40-50 min, about ₹9,400 one way. Car ferry Baldur: Stykkishólmur → Brjánslækur (via Flatey), About 2 h 10 m, about ₹4,450 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Westfjords cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹24,000 on a shoestring, ₹42,000 mid-range or ₹75,000 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is car ferry baldur (Stykkishólmur → Brjánslækur (via Flatey)) at about ₹4,450 each way.
How many days do you need in Westfjords?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Dynjandi waterfall, Boat and hike in Hornstrandir, Rauðasandur beach without rushing.
Is Westfjords good for families or solo travellers?
Westfjords works best for solo, couples, groups. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Westfjords?
Workable if you self-cater. Supermarkets have the basics, and restaurants in Ísafjörður usually have one vegetarian dish, but village cafés may not. Vegans should plan to cook.
Will my phone and cards work in Westfjords?
Coverage is good in towns and on main roads, patchy in the fjords and none in Hornstrandir. Cards work almost everywhere. Some fuel pumps want a PIN. You barely need any. Iceland runs on cards, even at campsites and small cafés.
Guides for Westfjords
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- westfjords.is OfficialFlights to Ísafjörður (Icelandair), Bíldudalur and Gjögur (Norlandair), 40-50 min; Reykjavík to Ísafjörður 5-6 h by road; gravel sections; limited public transport
- straeto.is OfficialWestfjords route 62 runs 1 Jun-31 Aug 2026 timed with Baldur; route 61 discontinued
- ust.is OfficialDynjandi service fee charged at parking; 15-min walk; facilities; no overnight stays
- ust.is OfficialDynjandi fee 750 ISK per private car (2024)
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO Iceland updated 11 Aug 2026; volcanic eruptions on Reykjanes; no advise-against areas
- ferja.isBaldur tariff Sep 2026-May 2027: adult 6,300 ISK, car up to 5 m 6,300 ISK one way; seasons
- ferja.isBaldur runs year-round, crossing about 2 h 10 min, about 46 vehicles
- icelandair.comÍsafjörður-Reykjavík return from 26,475 ISK in mid-October 2026 (seen via search snapshot; page blocked direct fetch)
- boreaadventures.comHornstrandir boats from Ísafjörður one way: Hesteyri/Veiðileysufjörður 14,900 ISK, Hornvík 19,300 ISK
- itimaker.comDorm beds from about 7,000 ISK; hotel from about 20,000 ISK (undated blog)
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Boaworm · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Silverkey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Evgeniy Metyolkin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Brad Weber · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
