CAMPING IN THE WESTFJORDS, ICELAND: AN ADVENTURE ON THE EDGE OF THE MAP.
When we found out that only 10% of travellers visiting Iceland make it to the Westfjords, we knew it was going to be our mission to get there.
There’s something about the Westfjords that makes you feel like you’ve reached the edge of the world. The roads get emptier. The coffee stops more sporadic. The mountains start folding in around you and the ocean seems to get bluer.
When John and I spent a few days exploring the Westfjords, we knew we wanted to camp. It felt like the right way to do it, closer to the wild edges, slower, cheaper, and with the flexibility to follow the weather (a necessary tactic in this part of the world). Camping in the Westfjords is simple, beautiful, and occasionally a little chilly. But we loved it.
Here’s everything we wish we’d known before going, plus our favourite campsites.
Things to Know About Camping in the Westfjords
Do you need to book?
No, you don’t need to book. I’ll admit this took a little getting used to for me as I love to plan ahead. It felt slightly strange to be driving for hours to the far corners of Iceland, without a booking! But I tried to adjust.
Soon, I realised that one of the best things about camping in the Westfjords is the lack of crowds. Campsites work on a turn-up-and-pay system. Some had a little office or a host who came round in the evening, or a small reception. It’s all refreshingly low-key and very much based on trust.
Can you pay by card?
Yes. Even the more remote campsites accepted card payments.
Cost of campsites in the Westfjords
Campsites in the Westfjords cost similar prices to the rest of Iceland. Expect to pay between 2000kr and 3000 kr per person.
What to expect
Campsites vary, some are grassy fields with glorious views, others are more basic stopovers near small villages. Most have toilets, showers and washing-up sinks. A few had indoor cooking huts or communal spaces (a treat when the wind picks up). Don’t expect luxury, but do expect space, peace, and normally some sort of spectacular view.
The Best Campsites in the Westfjords
Here are the ones we stayed at, or scouted, and would genuinely recommend:
1. Tunguskógur Campground (Ísafjörður)
This was John’s favourite. Set in a little forested area about 10 minutes drive (or a 30 minute walk) outside Ísafjörður, it feels almost Alpine. The selling point is the waterfall and river running right through the campsite.
There’s a cosy communal hut with a kettle, and the campsite is fairly well looked after. We got lucky with fabulous weather when we were here for a few days and loved cooking on the picnic tables and enjoying supper by the river.
This campsite is well located if you fancy a few days of hiking, but also want to be close enough to town with good facilities (including a brewery).
You can find our full guide to visiting Ísafjörður here.
2. Þingeyri Campground
A small but friendly site right right on the beach, with views over the fjord and a nice walking trail behind it.
There’s a café and swimming pool nearby. It’s a good spot for families as there’s a small children’s park and an outdoor trampoline right by the campsite.
We loved spending time on the beach, especially at sunset.
The facilities were basic but clean. We found the vibe here very relaxed, just a few other travellers using the shared kitchen.
This a great spot if you want to visit Dynjandi waterfall, which is only 25 minutes away.
3. Heydalur
Heydalur is part-campsite, part-farm-stay, part-hot-spring-hideaway. We were so keen to visit as a few locals recommended this place to us. Unfortunately getting there really requires a 4WD car, as there’s a few kms of driving on gravel. We didn’t want to risk it in our little hire car.
Anyone camping gets access to the green house pool, and there’s a well rated restaurant too.
4. Hólmavík Campground
We hadn’t planned to stay in Hólmavík, but as we were heading out of the Westfjords, we decided to spend one more night before leaving. Mainly because the weather was better in Hólmavík, than elsewhere.
It’s nothing flashy, but the views out to sea are wide and calming, and the facilities are fine. The little town of Hólmavík is just a short walk away, there’s a café, a couple of shops, a brewery and the rather niche Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft, which is worth a peek if the weather turns.
There’s also a swimming pool with hot pots just next to the campsite (where you pay for the site.)
This campsite has quite bad reviews, I think it’s mainly because most people don’t realise that campers are allowed to use the kitchen and bathroom facilities inside the civic centre. So if you do visit, be sure to take advantage of that!
Tip: Holmavik is one of the main spots in the Westfjords for whale watching. If you do visit, consider booking a tour.
5. Hveravík (near Drangsnes)
If you want to camp by the sea and soak in the on site hot pot under the midnight sun, Hveravík is the spot.
This was by far my favourite site. Small, family run and with excellent facilities. It has wonderful views to the fjord, made even more lovely by the fact you can see them from the comfort of the hot pot.
There’s a large communal indoor space with a wonderfully stocked kitchen. There’s also an honesty system so you can buy beers and coffee. A good WiFi connection is available in the communal area. We also loved the large tables for socialising and eating.
Drangsnes hot pots are just down the road, but in all honesty, why go there when you’ve got access to the hot pot on this campsite.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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