Isafjordur Iceland Cruise Port is nestled in the breathtaking Westfjords, a peninsula in northwestern Iceland known for its rugged mountains, deep fjords and abundant wildlife. The town itself is relatively small, with only about 2,500 residents.
In this blog post, I’ll share with you not just the top things to do in Isafjordur itself but also the most popular excursions if you’re willing to travel further afield. Let’s go!
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Isafjordur Iceland Cruise Port: Is a DIY Excursion Easy? 😎😎 It’s Tricky…
Despite Isafjordur being Iceland’s third largest cruise port, there isn’t much to do near Isafjordur Cruise Port unfortunately. So, unless you’re willing to join a group tour and head further afield, it’s hard to find stuff to do for a full port day. That’s why I rated it 😎😎 “It’s Tricky”:
- Limited sightseeing options around Isafjordur Cruise Port: There’s two museums, which I’ll share below, but many will finish their walk around Isafjordur’s town centre in an hour or two
- Well-known hike is challenging: Famous Naustahvilft “Troll seat” hike, IMHO are for experienced hikers only due to the steep climb. (It’s a full day hike too!)
- “Best” excursions are “repeats”: The “best” excursions from Isafjordur are to visit waterfalls or whale watching, which cruisers would typically have scheduled at other Icelandic ports. If you’ve tired of waterfalls and whales by the time you visit Isafjordur, then I would recommend saying hello to the puffins in Vigur Island (needs pre-booking).
Isafjordur Iceland Cruise Port Essentials: All You Need to Know
- Isafjordur Cruise Port Address: Sundabakki, 400 Ísafjörður, Iceland – see this marked on my Isafjordur Cruise Port map below 🗺️📌👇
- Currency: Icelandic Krona (ISK)
- (As of February 2025), US$1 = ~140 ISK, GBP£1= ~175 ISK, Euro €1 = ~150 ISK
- Language: Icelandic. English is very widely spoken, especially in Reykjavik and Akureyri!
- Official Tourism Website is Visit Iceland and Visit Westfjords
- eSim for Iceland: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout
- Note on Icelandic prices: Iceland IS expensive! So if you’re planning a cruise to Iceland, be sure to factor into the cost of shore excursions! I personally found Iceland cheaper than Alaska during peak months (June-August). If you’d like to keep a tight budget on shore excursions, then there’s lots of shore excursion options which can be booked directly with a local operator. Booking through a local operator will generally be cheaper than through your cruise line.
Isafjordur Iceland Cruise Port Map
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- If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps
Isafjordur Iceland Cruise Port: Top Things to Do
As I mentioned above, unfortunately there isn’t much to do besides two museums in Isafjordur’s town centre itself. I know that museums aren’t for everyone but if you’re after a gentle port day and a stroll around a small village, then you’ll be interested to see the following. 👆 This aerial shot gives you a great overview of Isafjordur.
1. Westfjords Heritage Museum
Isafjordur has a long and fascinating history. The first settlers arrived in the 9th century and it gradually became an important trading post for foreign merchants. The Westfjords Heritage Museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Iceland.
The museum exhibits showcases the history of the Westfjords, with a focus on fishing and maritime traditions. It’s also a good opportunity to see Iceland’s most extensive collection of old timber frame houses! These are constructed in the 18th century by foreign traders.
- How to Get There: Once you disembark, you’ll be on Sundabakki street. Walk along this main road and you’ll be there in 5 minutes.
- Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm daily from 16 May to 31 August
- Tickets: 1600 ISK for adults, 1200 ISK for seniors. Free for kids.
2. Isafjordur Culture House
Built in 1924, this former hospital is a beautiful building! It’s now the Isafjordur Art Museum, the local Photography Museum, the Library and the Archives. Don’t miss the monument to the lost sailors outside.
- Opening Hours: 12 noon to 6pm weekdays, 1pm to 4pm Saturdays. Closed on Sundays.
P.S. The Museum of Everyday Life in Isafjordur has permanently closed.
Isafjordur Iceland: Shore Excursions Further Afield
1. Dynjandi Waterfall: The “Jewel of the Westfjords”
Dynjandi means “thunderous” in Icelandic. The Dynjandi Waterfall is known as the “Jewel of the Westfjords”. Cascading over 328 feet down a ridged rock face, Dynjandi fans out like a bridal veil, becoming wider at the bottom than at the top.
Seven smaller waterfalls tumble over the rocks beneath the main waterfall, adding to the spectacle. The water that feeds Dynjandi comes from Lake Stóra-Eyjavatn, which lies 350 meters above sea level. Due to seasonal floods, the volume of water flowing through the river (and eventually the waterfall) can increase tenfold!
If you’re planning to see either the Gullfoss Waterfall on the Golden Circle Route (typically from Reykjavik), or Godafoss Waterfall from Akureyri, rest assured that the three waterfalls are quite different!
Dynjandi Waterfall is known for its unique trapezoidal shape; the openness of how the waterfalls cascade down means that you can walk around and see each of the waterfalls. Gullfoss is a two-tiered waterfall plunging into a narrow canyon while Godafoss is more of a horseshoe-shaped waterfall.
- Half Day Tour: Typically a half day (3-4 hours) excursion. I would pre-book due to limited tour options at Isafjordur. You’ll be picked up at the port.
- Bus Journey Time: Takes about an hours’ drive each day from Isafjordur to Dynjandi Waterfall
2. Puffins Spotting & Bird Watching in Vigur Island
Vigur Island is a small, privately owned island located in the Westfjords. It’s the breeding ground for over 100,000 Atlantic puffins, making it one of the largest puffin colonies in Iceland. You’ll definitely see them from May to August!
These puffins arrive on Vigur Island in April/May to nest and raise their young. Besides puffins, Vigur Island is also home to a large eider duck colony, black guillemots and Arctic terns.
- How to Get There: Private boat transfer with West Tours (not an affiliate link)
- Ferry Transfer Time: Takes about 30 minutes each way to Vigur Island; you’ll then be taken on a guided tour to see the wildlife.
p.s. if you’d like to see puffins but can’t fit a trip to Vigur Island, then you can also see puffins with a short 1-hour cruise from Reykjavik – more details in my Reykjavik Cruise Port Guide. Alternatively, if your ship is calling on Seydisfjordur, then you can also take an excursion to Borgarfjörður Eystri to see the puffin colonies there, but it’s a 3-hour return trip.
3. Bolafjall View Platform
Built in 2022, the Bolafjall View Platform is perched atop Bolafjall Mountain in the Westfjords. Approx. 635m (~2,090 feet) above sea level, the platform extends out from the cliff’s edge, providing an illusion of hanging over the sky.
On clear days, you can supposedly see as far as Greenland but it’s also possible to visit during a temperature inversion, with low cloud cover, creating the surreal experience of being above the clouds 📸👆.
- Departure Location: Right from the cruise pier! Pre-book return transport here.
- Journey Time: Drive from Isafjordur cruise port takes about 45 minutes each way.
4. Hike to Naustahvilft (Troll Seat)
Naustahvilft, also known as the Troll Seat, is a hanging valley located above the town of Isafjordur. Legend has it that a troll was rushing home before sunrise to avoid turning to stone. She sat on the mountain to rest and cool her feet in the fjord and that’s how the deep harbour and the seat-shaped impression in the hill were created.
Trail Length: The trail is steep and rugged. From the start of the trail, marked on my Isafjordur cruise port map above, the walk is approximately 1.5km (~1 mile) with an elevation gain of 170m.
Trail Grade: Graded as moderately challenging. Takes ~45 minutes to ascend & ~30 minutes to descend.
Total Walk: The return walk (incl. the trail up to Naustahvilft) from Isafjordur cruise port is about 12 km (~7.5 miles). So do bring water, refreshments and warm clothing with you!
If you’re just interested in enjoying some fjord views, the walk from Isafjordur cruise port to the start the trail is on flat ground. You can walk on the main road along the bay, with good fjord views until you’re tired and then walk back. (There’s only one road and your ship will be visible at all times on this walk.)
However, once out of the Isafjordur’s town centre, there’s no pavements on the road. You’ll be walking by the side of the road, though there’s usually relatively little traffic!
5. Whale Watching in Westfjords
I consider whale watching one of the “must-go” excursions while cruising Iceland. If you’ve already planned a whale watching tour on one of your other Icelandic ports, you might wonder what’s different about whale watching in the Westfjords.
The deep fjords and sheltered bays provide a haven for diverse whale species, including humpback whales, orcas, minke whales and even the elusive blue whale. There’s definitely fewer visitors visiting this part of Iceland then let’s say Reykjavik, so you’ll typically find that the whale watching experience much more of a tranquil and personalised experience.
Whale watching tours depart next to the cruise pier, about 2 minutes walk after you disembark from your ship.
Featured Photo by Joel Rohland on Unsplash
Heading to Isafjordur this summer? Lucky you! Despite its small size, there’s actually quite a good selection of excursion options if you’re viewing to travel a bit further afield and I hope that this guide has given you some ideas on how to plan your port day at Isafjordur.
Found this guide helpful? Then I would really appreciate it if you can share this with family, friends or your fellow cruisers in your roll call groups!
