Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður is a fishing town at the end of a long fjord in Iceland's Westfjords, and the usual base for boat trips to Hornstrandir.
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Ísafjörður sits at the head of Skutulsfjörður, a side fjord of Ísafjarðardjúp in the Westfjords of northwest Iceland. It is the largest town in the region, with a harbor, a compact center and mountains rising straight behind the houses. Fishing has long shaped daily life here, and the town is the most practical place to base yourself for trips into the remote north of the region.
The main reason to come is the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, a sparsely settled peninsula of sea cliffs and seabird colonies that you reach mostly by boat from town. Hiking and skiing on the slopes above the fjord are the other draws, and summer suits boat trips and hiking while winter suits skiing. Boat departures depend on sea and weather conditions, so plan a few nights for a short visit and more if you want room for delays.
Ísafjörður in five
- Plan the arrival day around the flightIcelandair serves Ísafjörður from Reykjavík and schedules vary by season, so check the airline before you fix a boat or tour day. The Westfjords guide compares flying, driving and the Baldur ferry.The Westfjords
- Register Hornstrandir trips in the sensitive monthsTravel in Hornstrandir must be registered electronically from 1 March to 15 June and from 1 September to 1 November. The Hornstrandir Visitor Centre in Ísafjörður gives route, condition and rule information.
- Take a boat to HornstrandirThe reserve has no road access. Scheduled and chartered boats run from Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík, day tours exist, and mobile coverage is poor or unavailable in many areas.Hornstrandir
- Add the villages around the fjordÞingeyri, Flateyri, Suðureyri, Súðavík and Bolungarvík surround Ísafjörður, and Visit Westfjords describes each as adding its own local heritage. Bolungarvík is the northernmost village in the Westfjords.
- Check the Bolafjall road before you go upThe viewing platform at Bolafjall opens for a season, and Visit Westfjords reported the road closed to vehicles for the season. Look at the latest news and umferdin.is before driving up.Visit Westfjords
Things to do in Ísafjörður
See all attractions in Ísafjörður
Need to know
- Airport
- Icelandair from Reykjavík, about 40 to 50 minutes
- By road
- About 410 km via Dynjandi, 455 km via Hólmavík
- Getting around
- Walkable center; car for fjord villages and Bolafjall
- Best base
- Ísafjörður itself, or Bolungarvík for Hornstrandir boats
- Time needed
- 2 nights; 3 to 4 with Hornstrandir or Dynjandi
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryDark, aurora
- FebruaryAurora, snow
- MarchSki week, snow
- AprilThaw, quiet
- MayBirds, long days
- JuneBoats begin
- JulyHornstrandir boats
- AugustHiking, boats
- SeptemberLights return
- OctoberQuiet, lights
- NovemberDark, storms
- DecemberDarkest
Right now in Ísafjörður
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Ísafjörður
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°6°100%Monday: Rain. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue9°3°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed4°2°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu6°2°74%Thursday: Rain. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Fri3°2°46%Friday: Rain. High 3°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Sat4°0°87%Saturday: Rain. High 4°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 87%.
- Sun1°-4°85%Sunday: Snow. High 1°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 85%.
Updated 06:05 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 121.8 ISK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Hornstrandir Nature Reserveby boat from Ísafjörður or BolungarvíkCliffs above 500 m at Hornbjarg, Arctic foxes and no roads.
- Dynjandion road 60 toward the southA waterfall stop on road 60 between Ísafjörður and the southern fjords; walking notes are in the Westfjords guide.Read the guide
- Bolungarvík and Flateyrishort drives around the fjordFishing villages with local heritage, each close to Ísafjörður.
Before you go to Ísafjörður
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Rules for Ísafjörður, checked
- Hornstrandir: trips must be registered from 1 March to 15 June and 1 September to 1 November; dogs are generally not allowed and drones need approval.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Ísafjörður
Region planner: ferry, road, Dynjandi, Látrabjarg
Read the guideAll of IcelandThe Westfjords base in a full Iceland plan
Read the guideSnæfellsnes PeninsulaBaldur ferry from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur
Read the guideBest time to visit IcelandHornstrandir boats, ski week and auroras
Read the guideInsurance for IcelandCover for remote hikes and boat cancellations
Read the guideDriving and transportCar hire, ferries and flights
Read the guideÍsafjörður FAQ
How do you get to Ísafjörður from Reykjavík?
Fly with Icelandair in about 40 to 50 minutes, or drive roughly 410 km via Dynjandi or 455 km via Hólmavík. The Baldur ferry from Snæfellsnes is the alternative if you arrive from West Iceland.
How many days do you need in Ísafjörður?
Two nights for the town and a fjord village, three or four if you add a Hornstrandir boat day or Dynjandi. Boat and flight weather can change plans, so keep one spare day when you can.
Can you visit Hornstrandir as a day trip from Ísafjörður?
Yes. Day trips run from Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík, according to Visit Westfjords, and independent hikers can use boat services to reach landing points. Most visitors go in summer when boats operate.
Do you need to register to hike in Hornstrandir?
Yes during the most sensitive periods: 1 March to 15 June and 1 September to 1 November, electronically. Check the Nature Conservation Agency page for the current rules before you plan a route.
Is Ísafjörður good for the northern lights?
Visit Westfjords advertises dark skies with little light pollution in places such as Önundarfjörður. Cloud decides, so allow several evenings between autumn and spring and check the Icelandic Met Office forecast.