Isafjordur is Iceland’s Westfjords capital — a small town of 2,600 people at the end of a dramatic fjord in the most remote and rugged region of the country. The Westfjords is the part of Iceland that most tourists never reach, and the part that looks most like what you imagine Iceland to look like before you arrive: steep mountain walls dropping directly into black-sand fjord shores, ptarmigan and arctic foxes in the surrounding hills, and a human presence that feels genuinely small against the scale of the landscape. When VV calls at Isafjordur, it delivers the most remote and authentically wild port day in the European itinerary network.
The Fjord
The approach to Isafjordur by ship through Skutulsfjordur is one of the most dramatic fjord approaches in the VV fleet — the ship navigating between walls of bare mountain rising several hundred meters from the water, the small colored houses of the town visible at the fjord’s end. The scale is Alaskan. The emptiness is extraordinary. The light in summer is the perpetual golden light of the Arctic circle, where the sun barely sets.
Vigur Island
Vigur Island — accessible by small boat from Isafjordur — is a tiny inhabited island that is home to large colonies of puffins, Arctic terns, eider ducks, and razorbills. The puffin population is particularly accessible and tame by wild bird standards. VV Shore Things offers Vigur Island tours and they consistently rank among the most memorable wildlife experiences in the European network.
The Town
Isafjordur is a genuinely functioning small Icelandic town — the fish processing industry is still active, the harbor has working fishing boats, and the old timber buildings at the harbor end (the oldest in Iceland, dating to the 18th century) have been preserved. The Westfjords Heritage Museum in the old warehouse buildings tells the story of fishing and trade in this remote region.
Kayaking and Arctic Hiking
The calm waters of the fjord and the dramatic surrounding landscape make Isafjordur one of the best sea kayaking ports in the VV European network. Guided kayak tours operate even in light rain (the standard Westfjords weather) and the views from water level up the mountain walls are extraordinary.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Book the Vigur Island puffin tour. This is the definitive Isafjordur Shore Thing. The puffin colonies on Vigur are extraordinary and the boat tour through the fjord is beautiful.
- Dress for the Westfjords. The Westfjords is one of the rainiest regions in Iceland. Full waterproof outer layers and warm mid-layers are necessary regardless of the season.
- Isafjordur is the last scheduled VV Iceland port. VV is not returning to Iceland in 2027. This is a genuinely rare destination. Treat it accordingly.
Ready for the Westfjords?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Isafjordur is one of the most remote and extraordinary port days in the VV fleet.
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