Heydalur

The Westfjords


It's worth detouring 11km off Rte 61 to hunt out Heydalur, tucked away at the head of Mjóifjörður. Here cabins cluster around a converted barn, the campground stretches beside the river, and indoor and outdoor hot-pots and a geothermal pool are dotted around. The restaurant (mains 1800kr to 3600kr; open 10am to 9pm June to August) serves hearty food.

Local activities include guided horse riding (per hour 8000kr), and kayaking (per two hours 7000kr).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Westfjords attractions

1. Steinshús

10.67 MILES

One of Iceland's most famous poets, Steinn Steinarr (1908–58), is commemorated at this museum set in his former homestead. It details, in Icelandic and…

2. Vigur

15.08 MILES

Charming Vigur is a popular destination for day trippers from Ísafjörður. In season it's a nesting site for hundreds of puffins, and the rest of the year…

3. Arctic Fox Center

15.71 MILES

The study of the Arctic fox has been underway on nearby Hornstrandir for years, and this locally loved exhibition details the life of the creatures, their…

4. Dynjandi

16.84 MILES

Tumbling in a broad sweep over a 100m-rocky scarp at the head of Dynjandivogur bay, Dynjandi is the most dramatic waterfall in the Westfjords. The bumpy…

5. Westfjords Heritage Museum

20.08 MILES

Part of a cluster of historic wooden buildings by the harbour, this museum is in the Turnhús (1784), which was originally a warehouse. It's crammed with…

6. Old Town

20.16 MILES

Ísafjörður's historic quarter borders it's eastern edges. Start explorations in Tangagata to see gabled, tin-clad homes, often brightly painted in…

7. Museum of Everyday Life

20.26 MILES

Celebrating the magic of the mundane is the aim of the powerful, creative displays here, where shoes, books and mini-movies each come with personal…

8. Ísafjarðarkirkja

20.44 MILES

More than 740 clay birds, arranged in flight soar above the altarpiece of this modernist church.They were made by locals during a group art project. Look…