Isafjordur Airport Travel Guide

Ísafjörður Airport is a domestic airport located in the Westfjords.

Location of Isafjordur Airport

Ísafjörður Airport is located in the largest settlement of the Westfjords, Ísafjörður. It is one of three airports in the region, the others being Bíldudalur to the south and Gjögur to the east.

The airport and town centre are just five kilometres from each other; it can be reached by driving Route 64 west for six minutes. There are no buses but there are taxis, and it is possible to rent a car from a range of car rental companies.

Ísafjörður and its airport are nestled in a curved fjord walled by sheer mountains; as such, approaching the runway requires pilots to engage in a unique approach. It cannot be approached from straight on in any direction; the plane has to hug closely to the terrain from a low altitude and, from one approach, turn 180 degrees before it touches down.

Ísafjörður Airport has flights only to Reykjavík Domestic Airport in Iceland’s capital with the Air Iceland Connect.

Use of Isafjordur Airport

Ísafjörður is one of the most far-flung settlements from Reykjavík, and yet it is the commercial centre of the Westfjords. As such, the airport is important for industry and tourism in the area. This is especially the case in winter, when many roads throughout the Westfjords are closed due to snow, often making Ísafjörður completely inaccessible by car.

Visitors to Iceland who are not renting a car, or do not want to embark on the five-and-a-half hour drive from the capital, will find taking a domestic flight a convenient and efficient alternative. The Westfjords are one of Iceland’s most remote regions, thus draw many tourists who seek to witness the country’s spectacular nature away from the worst of the crowds.

The town of Ísafjörður has plenty of options for accommodation, gas stations, shops, restaurants and cultural attractions, and is also the centre of the region’s tourism industry. It is possible to take whale watching tours from the town, and also book guided excursions for a range of activities in the area. Nearby attractions include Dynjandi Waterfall and the Látrabjarg birdwatching cliffs.