Holiday in Ísafjörður

About Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður, the "capital of the Westfjords", dramatically lies on a sandbank in the innermost corner of Skutulsfjörður, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is the starting point for Iceland's most remote and wildest region. While the Ring Road leads most tourists around the main island, the Westfjords remain a hidden gem for nature lovers seeking the end of the world. The Westfjords are Iceland's last true wilderness. Steep fjords cut deep into the rugged coastline, roads end at lonely fishing villages, arctic foxes roam the tundra, and the density of puffins is the highest in Europe. Only 7,000 people live in the entire region — in an area as large as Schleswig-Holstein. The Dynjandi waterfall, 100 meters high and cascading in a fan shape over rocky terraces, is considered the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. The drive along unpaved roads along dramatic fjord edges is already an experience. In sunshine, the waterfall glows like a wedding veil made of crystal. The Hornstrandir Nature Reserve at the northern tip of the Westfjords is Iceland's wildest area — accessible only by boat, with no roads, no infrastructure. Multi-day hikes lead through abandoned farms, past bird cliffs with millions of seabirds, and through an arctic landscape reminiscent of the time before human settlement. Arctic foxes, which have no fear of humans here, often accompany hikers closely. Ísafjörður itself is a charming town with colorful wooden houses, excellent fish restaurants, and an surprisingly active cultural scene. The Aldrei fór ég Suður music festival (Easter) is one of the most popular in Iceland, and the Schräge Haus Museum (Gamla Bakaríið) offers insight into the hard history of fishing villages. From June to August, when the midnight sun bathes the fjords in golden light and the roads are passable again, a window opens to one of the most untouched corners of Europe.