Westfjords Iceland Hotels: Best Places to Stay in Isafjordur, Patreksfjordur and Remote Fjord Towns
Isafjordur town on a sand spit with steep fjord walls behind
Discover the best accommodation options across Iceland's dramatic Westfjords, from Isafjordur's harbour-front guesthouses to remote fjord lodges perfect for exploring this wild peninsula.
Why Stay in the Westfjords Region of Iceland
The Westfjords peninsula remains Iceland's most remote and least-visited region, offering travellers a glimpse of the country before mass tourism arrived. Dramatic cliff faces plunge into deep fjords, Arctic foxes roam freely, and towns like Isafjordur and Patreksfjordur serve as authentic bases for exploring one of Europe's last true wilderness areas. Staying overnight here rather than rushing through on a day trip lets you experience the midnight sun in summer or hunt for northern lights in winter without competing crowds.
Hotels and guesthouses across the Westfjords fill quickly during peak summer months despite the region's isolation, as word spreads about attractions like Dynjandi waterfall, Latrabjarg bird cliffs, and the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Planning your accommodation early ensures you secure a room in the right town for your itinerary, whether you're tackling the full peninsula loop or focusing on specific areas like Isafjordur as a hub for daily excursions.
Isafjordur: The Westfjords Capital and Best Base
Isafjordur serves as the Westfjords' largest town and transport hub, with a population around 2,600 clustered along Skutulsfjordur fjord. The town's colourful 18th-century timber houses cluster around the old harbour on Adalstraeti and Silfurtorg, home to some of the oldest surviving buildings in Iceland, and the whole centre is compact enough to walk in half an hour. Most visitors base themselves here for two to four nights and drive out to the surrounding fjords each day.
For accommodation, Hotel Isafjordur sits right on the main square and is the largest full-service option in town, with doubles typically running $150-$230 depending on season. Smaller family-run guesthouses along Silfurgata and Fjardarstraeti offer rooms in the $140-$180 range and often include a shared kitchen, which helps in a region where restaurant choices are limited. Book well ahead for June through August, and be wary of places advertised as Isafjordur that are actually out in Hnifsdalur or Bolungarvik — a 10-20 minute drive that can be cut off in bad weather.
Patreksfjordur and the Southern Westfjords
Patreksfjordur, a fishing town of around 650 people, anchors the southern Westfjords and makes the natural base for some of the region's most famous sights. From here you are within reach of the Latrabjarg bird cliffs — Europe's westernmost point and one of the best places in Iceland to see puffins at close range — and the golden sands of Rauoisandur beach, both roughly an hour's drive away on gravel roads. Fosshotel Westfjords is the main full-service hotel in town, with a restaurant and harbour-front rooms, alongside a handful of smaller guesthouses.
Expect to pay $150-$250 for a double in summer, with prices dropping sharply either side of the June-August season. Because the southern Westfjords are a long drive from Isafjordur — the two are separated by the vast Arnarfjordur and Dynjandi fjord system — many travellers split their trip, spending a night or two in Patreksfjordur for the cliffs and beaches before continuing north. The nearby villages of Talknafjordur and Bildudalur add a few more small guesthouses if Patreksfjordur is full.
Remote Fjord Towns and Where Else to Stay
Beyond the two main hubs, the Westfjords are dotted with tiny settlements where a single guesthouse or farm stay may be the only option for miles. Holmavik on the eastern Strandir coast is the main service town on the way in from the Ring Road and home to the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft; it makes a practical first-night stop. Further out, villages like Sudureyri, Flateyri and Thingeyri sit in their own fjords along Route 60 and offer quiet, well-priced rooms for travellers who want to break up the driving.
For the truly remote, the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the far north has no roads and no hotels at all — access is by boat from Isafjordur, and visitors either camp or use the few basic huts and the old doctor's house at Hesteyri, which takes a handful of guests in summer. There is no accommodation at Dynjandi waterfall itself either, so most people visit the falls as a day trip from Isafjordur to the north or Patreksfjordur to the south.
Practical Tips for Booking Westfjords Accommodation
The Westfjords have far fewer beds than Iceland's south coast or the Golden Circle, and the season is short, so summer rooms in Isafjordur and Patreksfjordur can sell out weeks ahead. Book as early as you can for July and August, and treat a rental car as essential — there are no direct buses from Reykjavik, and public transport within the region is minimal. Many guesthouses are small operations with only a few rooms, so flexibility on dates helps.
Think about your route before you book. The peninsula is huge and the roads are slow, mixing paved sections with gravel and mountain passes, so a base that looks close on the map may be two hours' drive away. A common approach is two to three nights in Isafjordur for the northern fjords, Dynjandi and Hornstrandir boat trips, plus a night in Patreksfjordur or Holmavik to bookend the long drive. In winter, keep plans loose: roads close for avalanches, ferries stop, and you should never set out without checking road.is and safetravel.is.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reykjavik.
Isafjordur is the best all-round base — it is the largest town, has the most hotels and guesthouses, and puts you within reach of the northern fjords, Dynjandi waterfall and Hornstrandir boat trips. For the Latrabjarg cliffs and Rauoisandur beach in the south, Patreksfjordur is the better choice.
Expect roughly $140-$180 for a guesthouse double and $150-$250 for a hotel room in Isafjordur or Patreksfjordur during the June-August season. Prices fall sharply outside summer, but many places close entirely in winter.
A minimum of three days covers Isafjordur, Dynjandi waterfall and one smaller fjord village. A full loop taking in the Latrabjarg cliffs, Rauoisandur beach and a Hornstrandir hike is better done over about a week.
Yes, but with caution. Isafjordur is reachable by plane most days, but the roads are avalanche-prone and can close for days at a time, and many guesthouses shut for the season. Never drive Westfjords roads in winter without checking road.is and safetravel.is first.
