Ísafjörður - Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður is a center in the northwestern corner of theIceland.

To know

Ísafjörður is the largest center of the said region Western fjords, in northwestern Iceland.

Despite its remote location and its small size, the town is able to worthily welcome foreign visitors thanks to its comfortable hotels and the numerous leisure opportunities it offers.

Geographical notes

Ísafjörður lies on a slender peninsula that juts out into the fjord of the same name surrounded by high mountains whose steep slopes descend directly into the sea.

When to go

Ísafjörður is also popular in winter thanks to the possibility of skiing downhill in the Tungudalur valley, less than 4 km away. Keep in mind that in the middle of winter the hours of illumination are less than a couple and in any case the sun never appears on the horizon, hidden from view by the high mountains that surround the fjord. big party in Ísafjörður.

How to orient yourself

Hafnarstraeti it is the main artery of the center where you will find banks, supermarkets and anything else you need.

How to get

By plane

Air Iceland operates more daily flights from capital. Flights are reduced in number during the winter season.

By car

The shortest way to reach Ísafjörður from Reykjavik consists of heading to Stykkisholmur and boarding the ferry to Baldur, on the other bank of the fjord. From here follow the signs for Brjanslaekur, 122 km away. In all, there are 300 km

By bus

In the summer months only a bus service connects Ísafjörður to Reykjavík is Akureyri

How to get around

By car

Avis, Hertz and other local companies have an agency in Ísafjörður.

What see

• Museum of the Sea, Neðstakaupstaður, ☎ 354 456 3293, 354 456 3299. Housed in a 1734 wooden warehouse called "Turnhus" (Tower House), the Maritime Museum illustrates past fishing methods and exhibits collections of black and white photos. 
• House of Culture, @[email protected]. Open from 13:00 to 19:00 (Saturday until 14:00) Closed on Sundays. Located in the former hospital, the house of culture includes the municipal library and a modest exhibition of paintings and photographs. As elsewhere in Iceland, the library reading room is a hot spot and allows you to connect to the network via wi-fi at a minimal price. 

Events and parties

• ^{[link not working]}Við Djúpið. Music festival that occurs every year at the summer solstice. 

What to do

Ski

The ski season is very long. Downhill skiing is practiced in the Tungudalur area equipped with lifts, which are illuminated due to the shortness of the day during the winter.

In May, a race takes place in Ísafjörður that attracts cross-country skiers from all over Iceland. More information on the website www.fossavatn.com.

Mountain Bike

If you like this kind of activity, you can rent a bike at the agency West Tours. The West Tours website also contains short descriptions of possible routes

Boat trips

The exploration of the western fjords is done with the hulls of the sjoferdir and other smaller companies. Tickets can be purchased at the West Tours

Golf

A golf course is located in the Tunguladur valley

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Where stay

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

At the local tourist office you can buy a brochure outlining all possible excursions departing from Ísafjörður. If you want to know them before departure, consult the West Tours website (in English). Below we limit ourselves to listing some of the most renowned:

• Naustahvilft - A path that from the airport runway goes up the side of the mountain allowing splendid views of the fjord.
• Hornstrandir Nature Reserve - Accessible only by sea, the reserve extends on the sides of the mountains that flow directly into the sea at the northern end of the Western Fjords region. Billed as the most exciting excursion from Ísafjörður, the reserve is home to a small colony of Arctic seals but the main spectacle is offered by the numerous flocks of migratory birds that stop there every year. The company Sjoferdir operates on the Ísafjörður - Hornstrandir route with small hulls. You can stay overnight in one of the guesthouses open from June to August but you will need to bring your sleeping bag with you as none have beds. On the other hand they have a kitchen area so you will have to buy groceries at the Ísafjörður supermarket. However, inquire well at the West Tours, also because the accommodations are difficult to identify.

• Dynjandi - This name indicates a series of waterfalls that fall on the slopes of the hills of Arnarfjordur. Near the falls there is a campsite where you can stay overnight.
• Bolungarvík (15 km) - Fishing village of ancient tradition, Bolungarvík today it is a fairly popular tourist resort despite the lack of services. The location was the backdrop for some scenes in the film Nói Albínói in 2002 awarded at the Rotterdam festival, which contributed to significantly increasing its tourist fortunes, despite the tragic tones of the cinematographic work.

Itineraries

• Road 1

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Ísafjörður
• Commons contains images or other files on Ísafjörður

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