Are the Westfjords in Iceland Worth Visiting? 8 Reasons to Go

In recent years, overtourism in Iceland has become increasingly prevalent. During summer, the most popular regions of the country are packed with visitors. 

If you want to avoid overtourism in Iceland, your best bet is to travel to a lesser-visited region of the country: The Westfjords.

The Westfjords are in the north-western region of Iceland. As you can probably guess thanks to its name, this region is known for its many magnificent fjords. Because the Westfjords are a more remote and sparsely inhabited part of Iceland, this region sees far less tourism than the rest of the island. 

Estimated to be as old as 24 million years, the Westfjords are also the oldest geological region of Iceland. The rest of Iceland dates back 15 million years.

The lack of tourist crowds in the Westfjords is one major reason why the Westfjords are worth visiting, but there’s many more reasons to consider too. Let’s dive in!

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8 Reasons to Visit Iceland’s Westfjords

Thinking of visiting the Westfjords? Here’s 8 key reasons why you should.

1. See Incredible Landscapes

Iceland is known for its incredibly diverse landscapes, ranging from black sand beaches to fields of volcanic lava. In the Westfjords, you’ll be treated to landscapes that are unique to this region of the island. 

The Westfjords are very mountainous. You’ll be amazed by the steep mountains that rise up along the coast of the many fjords that this area is so famous for. Along with views of the fjords and mountains, you’ll have the chance to take in ocean views from many lookout points and beaches. 

Various landscapes throughout the Westfjords.

2. Learn the History of Witchcraft in the Westfjords

Most people are familiar with the period of witch hunting and accusations of witchcraft in Europe. But this craze around witchcraft occurred in Iceland, too. 

Fears and speculations around witchcraft are believed to have started in the 1650s, in the Westfjords. In 1654, three men were burned at the stake in Trékyllisvík in Strandir, and the witch craze developed from there.  

In Hólmavík, you can visit the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft. This small museum presents the history of witchcraft in the Westfjords through artifacts, and it explains how witchcraft is represented in Icelandic folklore. 

You’ll learn about specific, documented witchcraft cases from the Westfjords. And, you’ll get the chance to discover the spells and types of witchcraft practices that were thought to be prevalent in the 17th century. 

3. Experience Whale Watching in Hólmavík

Northern Iceland is known for fantastic whale watching, and one of the best locations to whale watch is in the Westfjords! 

Hólmavík is a small fishing town, found in the large Steingrímsfjördur fjord. From Hólmavík, you can join a whale watching tour that takes you out into the fjord, which is an ideal feeding ground for whales – particularly minke whales and humpback whales. 

There is only one whale watching company operating out of Hólmavík (as of 2024), and that’s Laki Tours. This tour company is Icelandic-owned and dedicated to responsible whale watching. They do not chase or crowd whales, and they take time on their tours to educate you about the whales you’ve seen. 

Because Laki Tours is the only operator in Hólmavík, when you go with them, you’re the only boat out on the water watching the whales. When we went whale watching with Laki Tours in September 2024, we spotted our first whale within 25 minutes. We saw two different species and many dolphins, too! 

If you want to see whales in Iceland and want to support responsible wildlife tourism, whale watching out of Hólmavík is the way to go. 

Whale watching with Laki Tours

4. Soak in Remote Hot Springs and Pools

The Westfjords has many geothermal pools, and it’s all because of Iceland’s location. Iceland is positioned directly over a rift in continental plates which means it has a high concentration of volcanoes. This creates geothermal energy, which Iceland harnesses to use as energy – and which also means lots of natural hot springs!

While in the Westfjords, you’ll want to experience at least one natural hot spring. There are plenty to choose from, so it’s easy to add this to your Westfjords itinerary. 

Soaking in geothermal pools is a longstanding tradition in Iceland, going back as far as the 12th century. Today every town in Iceland has their own public swimming pools, many of which are heated by geothermal water. 

The public pools in the Westfjords are a place to relax and socialize, while soaking in the mineral rich waters. While these pools are a nice experience, I recommend heading to a natural outdoor geothermal pool.

These pools are sometimes as simple as a small tub built using rocks. Other times, they look like your classic swimming pool (but they are typically shallow). The pools use hot spring water that comes from a nearby source. 

Often, these pools are managed and cleaned by the local community. Most of them have a small hut nearby where you can change into your swimsuit. To support the management of these natural hot springs, I recommend leaving a donation – there is usually a donation box at the changing station or next to the pool. 

Here are just some of the natural hot pools you can go for a soak in while in the Westfjords:

Hellulaug is a geothermal pool on Barðaströnd, the southern part of the Westfjord region. It is located right on the beach.

Reykjafjarðarlaug pool is in Reykjafjörður fjord, one of the side fjords of the long Arnarfjörður fjord. This pool is divided into two parts – one is hotter, one is cooler. 

Hörgshlíðarlaug is a man-made hot pool, located by road no. 633, near the sea. The pool is privately owned by the farmers but open for public use. Please leave a donation if you use this pool!

5. See the Tallest Waterfall in the Westfjords

While in Iceland you could easily plan nothing at all and still stumble across beautiful Icelandic waterfalls, which are called “foss” in Icelandic. In fact, many of them can be seen right from Iceland’s famous Ring Road (Route 1).

??The Westfjords is home to many magnificent waterfalls. The most famous in the region (which is also the tallest of the Westfjords) is Dynjandi waterfall.

Standing 100 meters (330 ft) tall, Dynjandi waterfall flows down from a cliff, forming a river at the bottom. The biggest and widest part of the waterfall is the part of Dynjandi that gets all the attention – but there are several smaller waterfalls that you can admire as you walk to Dynjandi from the parking lot. 

Dynjandi waterfall is easy to reach by car because it’s just a short detour from the main road, Westfjords Route 60. There is a parking lot, and from there you can follow a well-marked trail up to Dynjandi. Along the way, you can stop to see smaller waterfalls: Bæjarfoss, Hrísvaðsfoss, Strompgljúfrafoss, and Hæstahjallafoss. 

Be sure to pay the parking fee at Dynjandi waterfall. You can pay at a machine, or using a QR code. There are cameras – if you don’t pay the fee, you’ll be ticketed. Nearby the parking lot there are public restrooms as well as a cooking and picnic area.

Dynjandi waterfall

6. Learn About Icelandic Culture in Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður is home to about 2,700 people. While this sounds small, in the Westfjords, this is considered to be a large community! Ísafjörður is a harbor city that is in the peninsula of Vestfirðir, surrounded by beautiful mountains. 

It’s a worthy stop in the Westfjords because it’s home to many interesting museums! The most notable of them is the Museum of Everyday Life. This museum is exactly that – an homage to life in the Westfjords. 

Through a mixture of formats (including movies, testimonies, and physical items), you can learn what daily life in the region is like. For a more historical look at the region, head to the Westfjords Heritage Museum.   

Ísafjörður also has several restaurants, cafes, and a local brewery called Dokkan Brugghús. Head to Dokkan Brugghús for cozy, friendly vibes. Be sure to try a flight of whatever beers they have on rotation, and order their fish and chips if you’re hungry!

7. Watch Puffins in their Natural Habitat

Puffins are adorable little seabirds that have colorful beaks and are known for their clumsy, waddling when they are on land. They spend most of their life at sea, but during the breeding season, they come to land to nest in large colonies on cliffs and steep hillsides. 

The Westfjords region is home to several viewing points where you can spot puffins. The best locations are these bird cliffs: Látrabjarg, Hornbjarg, and Hælavíkurbjarg.

Látrabjarg is the most famous bird cliff in the region. It’s located on the westernmost point of the Westfjords, and is the largest bird cliff in Europe. This 14 kilometer-long cliff is home to millions of seabirds, including puffins. Plus, along with birdwatching, you’re treated to beautiful views of the coastline and ocean at Látrabjarg.

Látrabjarg is accessible by car, but only during the summer months. From May to August, the puffins are nesting and rearing their chicks, making it the perfect time to watch them. 

Hornstrandir is another great location to see puffins up close, and it can be accessed by boat from the town of Ísafjörður. Two bird cliffs, Hornbjarg and Hælavíkurbjarg, are located by Hornvík in the Hornstrandir nature reserve. During summer, tours go from Ísafjörður to Hornstrandir.

8. Experience the Least-Traveled Region of Iceland

In recent years, overtourism in Iceland has become increasingly prevalent. During peak season (summer), the most popular regions of the country – the south coast and the Ring Road – are packed with visitors. 

Iceland has been taking active measures to counter the impact of overtourism, and one of those measures is that Iceland is recommending people visit lesser-traveled areas of the country. 

Because the Westfjords are in a more remote, sparsely inhabited part of Iceland, this region sees far less tourism than the rest of the island.

By visiting the Westfjords over other parts of Iceland, you’re spreading tourism to a region that isn’t overwhelmed by tourist numbers. It also means you’ll have a better experience because you’ll avoid the crowds, which are never nice, both for locals and for visitors. 

Visiting The Westfjords, Iceland: Basics to Know

Before heading to the Westfjords, there’s some basic info you should know and consider.

Winter weather brings heavy snowfall which makes the region difficult to reach, and can cut it off from the rest of the country. We road tripped the Westfjords in early October, which was the very end of the season in the region. If you choose to go in October, be sure to go early in the month and be prepared for potential snowfall. 

You also need to account for the risk of bad weather, which can disrupt your plans for the day, and slow your driving. The Westfjords cannot be visited as a day trip – the driving distances are too long. 

It is possible to drive the Westfjords with a 2×4, but if you choose to do this, be extremely cautious on gravel roads, don’t drive the F-roads, and check the weather regularly. 

Westfjords, Iceland: Before You Go

• Need a car rental for your Iceland adventures? Discover Cars compares the prices for a vehicle from a variety of suppliers to ensure you get the cheapest rate, and you can reserve your car rental in advance. Reserve a car rental here!
  
• You can get online in the Westfjords with a quick-to-install eSIM through Airalo. What I appreciate most about Airalo’s eSIM is its simplicity. You can quickly select and activate an Airalo eSIM for whichever country you are headed to. Selecting, downloading, and activating your eSIM takes less than 5 minutes, and it’s easy to top up your eSIM if you run out of data. You can get started with an Airalo eSIM, right here.

Final Thoughts: Traveling The Westfjords, Iceland

The Westfjords is home to incredible fjord landscapes, fascinating history, beautiful remote hot springs like Hellulaug, and wildlife. But one of the best reasons to visit this region of Iceland is that it helps support responsible tourism. 

Because southern Iceland and the Ring Road struggles with overtourism (particularly in the summer months), heading to lesser-traveled regions of the island helps to reduce negative impacts like crowding, and spread tourism dollars to more communities.

If you’re planning to visit Iceland, I hope you’ll consider visiting the Westfjords, and keep in mind tips around what NOT to do in Iceland, for example – don’t hike off designated trails, don’t eat puffin or whale, and don’t camp on undesignated land.

More from Pina Travels:

• How to Hike From Arnarstapi to Hellnar
• 14 Southern Iceland Waterfalls You Can’t Miss
• How to Visit Brúarfoss in Iceland