The Westfjords travel

The Westfjords

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Overview

The Westfjords is where Iceland鈥檚 dramatic landscapes come to a riveting climax and where mass tourism disappears 鈥� only about 10% of Iceland's visitors ever see the region. Jagged bird cliffs and broad multihued dream beaches flank the south. Rutted dirt roads snake north along jaw-dropping coastal fjords and over immense central mountains, revealing tiny fishing villages embracing traditional ways of life. In the far north, the Hornstrandir hiking reserve crowns the quiet region, and is home to cairn-marked walking paths revealing bird life, Arctic foxes and ocean vistas. The Strandir coast is less visited still, with an end-of-the-line, mystical feel, geothermal springs and minuscule oceanside hamlets.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

The Westfjords

Craggy mountains, precarious sea cliffs and plunging waterfalls make up Hornstrandir, one of Europe鈥檚 last true wilderness areas, covering some of the鈥�

Dynjandi

The Westfjords

Tumbling in a broad sweep over a 100m-rocky scarp at the head of Dynjandivogur bay, Dynjandi is the most dramatic waterfall in the Westfjords. The bumpy鈥�

Westfjords Heritage Museum

脥蝉补蹿箩枚谤冒耻谤

Part of a cluster of historic wooden buildings by the harbour, this museum is in the Turnh煤s (1784), which was originally a warehouse. It's crammed with鈥�

脫sv枚r Maritime Museum

The Westfjords

The old turf-and-stone fishing shacks of the 脫sv枚r Maritime Museum powerfully evoke a past age. A guide in a typical lambskin fisher鈥檚 outfit shows you鈥�

Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft

The Westfjords

The multilingual displays at this award-winning museum brilliantly convey dark, dramatic tales. Unlike the witches of New England's Salem trials, most of鈥�

Sam煤el J贸nsson's Art Museum

The Westfjords

At the tip of the Arnarfj枚r冒ur, local artist Sam煤el J贸nsson lived out his remaining years at a remote farm in Sel谩rdalur, and filled his days by creating鈥�

搁补耻冒补蝉补苍诲耻谤

The Westfjords

Stunning 搁补耻冒补蝉补苍诲耻谤 beach stretches out in shades of pink and red sands on the southern edge of the peninsula. Pounded by surf and backed by a huge azure鈥�

The Factory

The Westfjords

Crumbling plaster, towering chimneys and vast water tanks ensure Reykjarfj枚r冒ur's old herring factory is an atmospheric place. The trappings of old鈥�

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Explore the wilderness of Iceland's Westfjords with our guide to the region's best things to do.

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Best Time to Visit

If you鈥檙e looking for Iceland at its rawest, wildest and emptiest, the Westfjords is most definitely where you鈥檒l find it. Here are the best times to come.

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