Westfjords Villages

We start the Westfjords villages tour from Isafjordur by looking around Isafjordur to visit the town’s most important landmarks, including the beautiful library building, the heritage area of Nedstikaupstadur, with the oldest timber buildings in Iceland, and the whalebone arch in Jonsgardur garden.

We then drive through a tunnel to the fishing village of Flateyri in beautiful Onundarfjordur fjord. Geologically this is considered to be the oldest part of Iceland.
We stop at an old whaling station and fishing sheds to learn about the long and colourful history of the village, which was established as a trading port in 1792. Across the fjord, we will enjoy views onto a unique golden beach and dune system that are a protected eider duck nesting site.
We continue into the village to visit the barrier built to protect the village after deadly avalanches struck in 1995. The wall offers a great view over the village.
If you are interested, it is possible to stop at the Kaffi Sol farmhouse cafe, where you can taste local specialties and learn about the “hardfiskur“ (dried fish) produced there.

We drive back to Isafjordur and take another tunnel to visit Bolungarvik, the second-largest town in the Westfjords, and the northernmost.
The busiest fishing port in the Westfjords, the charming harbour area is filled with boats and usually busy with activity.
The pretty church perched atop a hill has a unique stone wall and offers lovely views of the town.

It is possible to visit the Osvor open-air museum just outside of the town. Designed to be a replica of an Icelandic fishing station from the 19th century; fishing huts, a boat, tools and equipment have been painstakingly preserved to provide visitors with a glimpse into the hardship of times past. Views of the open ocean and sounds of the crashing waves add to the experience.

It is also possible to include a visit to Sudureyri village in the narrow and deep Sugandafjordur fjord. Before the tunnel was opened in 1996, the treacherous road over the mountain was only open in the summer, making it one of the most isolated communities in the country, and indeed in Europe.
The Seafood Trail is a delightful tour with an insight into life in this charming village, the Westfjords fishing heritage, and a tasting of local seafood specialities.