Ísafjörður with Kids: A Practical Guide to Iceland's Westfjords

Ferry, plane or long drive into the Westfjords, then a small town where the harbour, the pool and a short walk up to a waterfall fill a family day.

Getting There Is the Real Decision

Ísafjörður sits at the end of Ísafjarðardjúp in the Westfjords, and the journey shapes the trip more than anything you do in town. The 2.5-hour Baldur ferry from Stykkishólmur on Snæfellsnes runs most days in summer and carries cars, which suits families who want their own vehicle without a 400 km drive. Flying from Reykjavík Domestic to Ísafjörður takes about 40 minutes on a small aircraft — book early, since seats are limited and checked baggage is tight. Driving from Reykjavík via Route 60 takes six to seven hours with stops; from Akureyri, allow four to five.

With children, I would fly in and pick up a car in town for the week, or take the ferry and drive the southern Westfjords slowly. The drive over Dynjandisheiði is spectacular but exposed, and it is not somewhere you want to be at the end of a long day with tired passengers. June to early September is the window: after mid-September, mountain roads can close without notice and the ferry timetable thins out. July brings the most daylight and the most visitors.

Where to Sleep and What It Costs

Most family beds are in guesthouses along Hafnarstræti and Austurvegur, a few minutes' walk from the harbour, plus a handful of small hotels on the edge of town. Rooms with a private bathroom and space for a travel cot typically run in the mid-to-upper range for Iceland, with guesthouses sharing bathrooms at the lower end; expect summer rates well above winter's. Apartments with kitchenettes are the sensible choice for families — eating out in Ísafjörður is limited and costly, and a fridge plus a hob saves a lot.

Book three to four months ahead for July and August. The town fills up around the music festival in late July and during cruise-ship calls, when a few thousand day visitors can arrive at once. For a family, I would take a self-catering apartment within a ten-minute walk of the harbour over a hotel further out; parking is easy everywhere, but the walk to the pool and the playground matters more than a view. Ask directly about cots, high chairs and whether the stairs are safe for toddlers.

A Day That Actually Works

Start at the harbour on Hafnarstræti, where the old wooden buildings and fishing boats give small children plenty to look at without a queue or an entrance fee. The Westfjords Heritage Museum in the old Turnhús building is compact enough for short attention spans; the maritime collection is genuinely interesting and the staff are used to families. From there, walk the short, paved path up to the waterfall above town for a view over the fjord — twenty minutes up, easy for school-age children, and free.

Then commit the afternoon to the sundlaug, the town swimming pool, which has a shallow children's pool, hot pots and a waterslide. This is where local families spend weekends, and it is the single best value activity in town. Skip the longer museum visits and any organised boat tour with children under five — sea conditions in the fjord change quickly and there is little shelter on the smaller boats. Keep one day spare for weather; rain is common even in July.

Food, Weather and the Short Trips

Eating is straightforward but not cheap. Bakeries and cafés around the main street do good soup, bread and coffee at lunchtime, and the town's small supermarkets are fine for self-catering breakfasts and picnics. Fish is excellent and locally landed; a grilled catch of the day is the reliable order for a family table. Layers, waterproof outerwear and sturdy shoes are not optional — summer temperatures hover in the low teens Celsius, and wind off the fjord makes it feel colder. A dry bag for phones and a thermos are worth packing.

For a half-day, drive the 15 minutes to Bolungarvík for a gentler pool and a look at the coast, or continue towards Flateyri and its harbour. Both are short enough for restless passengers. Leave the more remote Strandir coast and the rougher tracks for a trip without children, and do not attempt the mountain passes in a standard hire car outside summer. Base yourself in Ísafjörður for the whole stay rather than moving hotels — the town is small and the surrounding drives are day trips.

Questions, answered

How many days do you need in Ísafjörður with children?

Three full days covers the harbour, the heritage museum, the pool and one half-day drive to Bolungarvík or Flateyri. Add a spare day for wet weather. Families staying a week usually use the town as a base and take longer day trips around the Westfjords.

Is it better to fly or take the ferry to Ísafjörður?

Flying from Reykjavík is faster at about 40 minutes but seats and baggage allowance are limited, so book early. The Baldur ferry from Stykkishólmur takes 2.5 hours in summer and suits families bringing a car without a long drive. Both are comfortable for children.

What should families pack for Ísafjörður in summer?

Waterproof jackets and trousers, warm mid-layers, hats and gloves even in July, and shoes with grip for the waterfall path. Summer temperatures sit in the low teens Celsius with wind off the fjord. Add swimwear for the town pool and a thermos for outings.

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