Westfjords Iceland Hotels: Best Places to Stay in Isafjordur, Patreksfjordur and Remote Fjord Towns

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 buildings house museums, restaurants serving fresh seafood, and several hotels ranging from waterfront properties to converted heritage buildings. Staying in Isafjordur gives you access to the region's only year-round services including supermarkets, petrol stations, and the airport with flights to Reykjavik, making it the practical choice for travellers without their own vehicle or those arriving by air.

From Isafjordur, you can easily day-trip to Bolungarvik's maritime museum, kayak in Isafjardardjup bay, or drive to Dynjandi waterfall in under two hours. The town has enough dining options that you won't tire of evening meals during a multi-night stay, unlike smaller settlements where choices narrow considerably. Hotels here typically offer tour booking services and local knowledge that helps you make the most of unpredictable Westfjords weather.

Patreksfjordur and the Southern Westfjords

Patreksfjordur sits on the southern coast of the Westfjords peninsula, making it an ideal overnight stop for travellers exploring Latrabjarg cliffs and Raudasandur beach. This fishing town of roughly 650 residents offers several guesthouses and small hotels with significantly fewer crowds than Isafjordur, plus a swimming pool, grocery store, and fuel station covering your basic needs. The drive from Isafjordur to Patreksfjordur takes about two and a half hours on winding gravel roads, so splitting your accommodation between both towns makes sense for a thorough Westfjords exploration.

Staying in Patreksfjordur puts you within 30 minutes of Latrabjarg's puffin colonies and dramatic 440-metre cliffs, the westernmost point of Europe. The nearby red sand beach at Raudasandur offers one of Iceland's most unusual coastal landscapes, and the drive there alone justifies basing yourself this far south. Hotels and guesthouses here tend toward simpler family-run operations rather than larger properties, giving you authentic interaction with locals who know every gravel road and hidden hot pot in the area.

Remote Fjord Towns: Sudureyri, Flateyri and Thingeyri

Smaller settlements scattered throughout the Westfjords offer intimate accommodation experiences in working fishing communities. Sudureyri (population around 280) sits at the end of Sugandafjordur and has become known for its excellent fish processing facility and small guesthouse perfect for travellers seeking absolute tranquillity. Flateyri, with about 200 residents, offers heritage accommodation in renovated buildings and serves as a gateway to avalanche-prone valleys now protected by massive deflection dams that fascinate engineering enthusiasts.

Thingeyri, one of the oldest trading posts in Iceland with roughly 260 inhabitants, provides a genuine glimpse into traditional Westfjords life with its turf-roofed houses and mountain-backed setting on Dyjandi fjord. These remote towns rarely have more than one or two accommodation options, and facilities close entirely outside summer months in some cases. Booking ahead becomes essential, but the reward is waking to views of empty fjords and experiencing Iceland as locals actually live it, far from the Golden Circle crowds.

Practical Tips for Booking Westfjords Accommodation

Westfjords hotels and guesthouses operate on much shorter seasons than Reykjavik properties, with many closing completely between October and April when road conditions deteriorate and tourist numbers drop to near zero. Summer bookings from June through August should be made months in advance, particularly for Isafjordur properties during the Aldrei for eg stolinn music festival in July. Winter travellers need to verify that chosen accommodation actually operates year-round and understand that weather can make roads impassable even in September or May.

Most Westfjords accommodation lacks the amenities of Reykjavik hotels—expect simpler rooms, shared bathrooms in many guesthouses, and breakfast that's often self-service or not included at all. What you gain is authentic character, helpful owners who provide detailed driving directions, and room rates generally lower than comparable properties in southwest Iceland. Mobile coverage can be patchy in remote areas, so screenshot your booking confirmations and directions rather than relying on live internet access when navigating the region's challenging road network.

Questions, answered

How many nights should I spend in the Westfjords?

Plan at least three to four nights to properly explore the Westfjords without exhausting yourself on gravel roads. Most travellers split their stay between Isafjordur as a northern base and Patreksfjordur or another southern town, allowing time for key attractions like Dynjandi waterfall, Latrabjarg cliffs, and several scenic fjord drives without rushing.

Do I need a 4x4 vehicle to reach Westfjords hotels?

Main towns like Isafjordur and Patreksfjordur are accessible by regular 2WD vehicles on paved roads, though many connecting routes between settlements remain gravel. Some remote guesthouses require driving F-roads that legally require 4x4 vehicles. Check your specific accommodation's access route and road conditions on road.is before departure.

Are there restaurants near Westfjords hotels outside main towns?

Dining options thin dramatically outside Isafjordur and Patreksfjordur, with many small settlements having no restaurants at all. Guesthouses in remote areas sometimes offer dinner by advance arrangement, but self-catering becomes necessary in villages like Sudureyri or Flateyri. Stock up on groceries in larger towns before heading to isolated accommodation.

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