Where to Stay in the Westfjords

The Westfjords present Iceland's most formidable accommodation challenge. This remote peninsula, connected to mainland Iceland by a narrow isthmus just 7km wide, demands careful planning when it comes to lodging. With a sparse population of roughly 7,000 spread across 22,271 square kilometres, your accommodation choices are limited but distinctive, ranging from historic guesthouses perched on dramatic fjord edges to working farms where you'll wake to the sound of Arctic foxes.

Understanding Westfjords Geography for Accommodation Planning

The Westfjords' serpentine coastline creates dozens of deep fjords, with accommodation clustered around key settlements. Ísafjörður, the region's capital with 2,600 residents, serves as the primary hub. From here, driving to Patreksfjörður takes 102km via Route 60, while reaching remote Djúpavík requires 247km of mountain roads. These distances matter profoundly when selecting your base, as winter driving conditions can extend journey times significantly.

The region divides into distinct accommodation zones: the Westman Bay area around Ísafjörður, the southern coast near Patreksfjörður and Tálknafjörður, the Strandir coast including Drangsnes and Djúpavík, and the remote Hornstrandir peninsula accessible only by boat.

Ísafjörður: The Regional Capital

Hotel Ísafjörður

This 36-room establishment occupies a commanding position overlooking Skutulsfjörður fjord. Rates range from 28,000 ISK (€185) in summer to 18,000 ISK (€119) during winter months. The hotel's restaurant serves locally caught Arctic char and langoustine, whilst rooms feature heated bathroom floors—essential given Ísafjörður's average January temperature of -2°C.

Gamla Guesthouse

Housed in a renovated 1896 building, this intimate 10-room guesthouse charges 15,500 ISK (€102) for doubles. The structure survived the devastating 1995 avalanche that claimed 20 lives and reshaped the town's northern districts. Its thick walls and period furnishings create an atmospheric base for exploring the surrounding peaks of Kirkjubólsfjall and Ernir.

Southern Westfjords: Látrabjarg Proximity

Hótel Látrabjarg

Positioned 14km from Europe's westernmost point at Látrabjarg cliffs, this 23-room hotel serves visitors pursuing the continent's largest seabird colony. Summer rates reach 24,000 ISK (€158), justified by the property's strategic location for accessing eight million breeding birds, including 40% of the world's razorbills. The hotel operates from May through September, closing when Atlantic storms render the coastal approach treacherous.

Patreksfjörður Accommodation

The town's Fosshótel Westfjords offers 42 rooms from 19,500 ISK (€129), featuring panoramic views across Patreksfjörður fjord to the Hornstrandir mountains. This modern facility serves as an ideal base for the 17km drive to Rauðasandur beach, where crimson sands stretch for 10km beneath towering basalt columns.

Remote Strandir Coast

Djúpavík Hotel

Perhaps Iceland's most dramatically situated hotel, this former herring factory occupies a ghostly industrial complex on Reykjarfjörður's shores. The 1934 concrete structure, once Europe's largest, processed 50,000 tonnes of herring annually before the stock collapsed in 1954. Today, 13 rooms occupy the restored sections, priced at 22,000 ISK (€145) including breakfast served in the cavernous factory hall beneath original machinery.

The journey to Djúpavík requires negotiating the 635-metre Steingrímsfjarðarheiði pass on Route 643, often impassable between November and April. Your reward includes access to pristine hiking trails and the nearby Krossneslaug geothermal pool, where 40°C waters overlook the Arctic Ocean.

Drangsnes Guesthouse

This 8-room facility in the village of Drangsnes (population 67) charges modest rates of 12,000 ISK (€79) for doubles. The settlement's three natural hot pots, heated to 38°C by underground springs, lie just 200 metres from your room. Drangsnes serves as the departure point for boats to Grímsey island, home to the Arctic fox research station.

Farm Stays and Unique Accommodation

Korpudalur Farm

Located 23km south of Ísafjörður, this working sheep farm offers authentic rural accommodation in renovated farmhand quarters. Rates of 14,500 ISK (€96) include access to the property's 847 sheep, Highland cattle, and resident Arctic fox family that dens annually in the nearby cliffs. The farm sits at the head of Álftafjörður, where golden plovers and whimbrels nest in summer months.

Núpur Church Farm

This historic farm beneath the 747-metre Núpsfjall mountain combines accommodation with significant cultural heritage. The site's church dates to 1896, replacing a medieval structure mentioned in 13th-century sources. Eight guest rooms occupy converted farm buildings, priced at 13,500 ISK (€89), with meals featuring lamb from the property's 600-strong flock.

Seasonal Considerations and Booking Strategy

Westfjords accommodation operates on dramatically seasonal schedules. Many properties close entirely between October and April, when daylight dwindles to four hours and mountain passes become impassable. Summer demand (June-August) frequently exceeds supply, with popular properties like Hotel Ísafjörður booking months ahead.

Winter visitors must rely primarily on Ísafjörður, Patreksfjörður, and Bíldudalur for accommodation, as remote properties like Djúpavík Hotel close completely. However, winter rates drop by 35-40%, and you'll experience the Northern Lights unimpeded by light pollution.

Book accommodation before arranging Westfjords travel, not after. The region's limited capacity means alternative options may lie 100km away across challenging mountain roads. Consider the Westfjords as requiring similar planning to expedition travel rather than conventional tourism.

The accommodation landscape here reflects the Westfjords' essential character: remote, challenging, but utterly rewarding for those who embrace its demanding beauty and logistical complexity.

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