West Iceland

West Iceland (Icelandic phrasebook|Icelandic: Vesturland) is the region of Iceland north of Reykjavík|the capital.

Towns

Grundarfjörður, Vesturland, Islandia, 2014-08-14, DD 096 - |Grundarfjörður

Listed from south to north.

Borgarnes – a town by Borgarfjörður about an hour and a half from Reykjavík by car. Originally a service centre for the neighboring farming communities, it has a developed tourist industry and is a good place to stay for those wanting to get out of Reykjavík while remaining close to the southwest corner.
Stykkishólmur – the largest town on Snæfellsnes and gateway to the islands of Breiðafjörður. Has many houses of Danish influence dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Grundarfjörður – to the west of Stykkishólmur, on the north coast of Snæfellsnes.
Hellissandur, Rif and Ólafsvík – three villages on the western end of Snæfellsnes, close to Snæfellsjökull and the national park.
Búðardalur – small village in Dalirnir, known for its Cheese production.

More Destinations in West Iceland

Reykholt – former home of Snorri Sturluson, medieval poet, author and chieftain.
Snæfellsjökull National Park - Located on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in southern Iceland, this park is home to the ice covered volcanic crater that was the setting for Jules Verne's book Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Flatey – the largest island in Breiðafjörður, and the only one currently inhabited.
West Iceland Halal Travel Guide

West Iceland can be split into four main areas. Furthest north are Dalirnir (The Valleys), a farming area mainly seen by tourists driving through on their way to North Iceland. Dalirnir contain a remarkable natural phenomenon, though: The hills. There are many of them. Very many in fact. And some of the hills have hills on top of them. Icelandic legend has it that the hills are so many that they're uncountable.

A second uncountable phenomenon is found to the west of Dalirnir. Breiðafjörður is a large bay scattered with a supposedly uncountable number of small islands. In earlier times these islands were all used for farming purposes, but today only one of them is inhabited and the island of Flatey.

South of Breiðafjörður is a large, long peninsula. Snæfellsnes is one long mountain range with stunning, if barren, beauty. Dotted along the coastline are fishing communities, with farming taking place on the little lowland regions found between the coast and the mountains.

Finally, to the south of Snæfellsnes and there is the farming area surrounding Borgarfjörður. This is an important agricultural area, reaching far inland. Borg and the farm after which both Borgarfjörður and the town of Borgarnes are named, was the home of Egill Skallagrímsson and the titular character of Egil's Saga. Further inland, Reykholt was home to Snorri Sturluson, one of the most important players in Iceland's 14th century civil war and chronicler of Norwegian kings. Today the area is home to two universities and the Icelandic University of Agriculture and Bifröst University.

Travel as a Muslim to West Iceland

West Iceland is linked to Southwest Iceland|Southwest and North Iceland via the ring road. Note that if arriving from Reykjavík, you will most likely go through a tunnel under Hvalfjörður (the fjord marking the start of West Iceland). This is the only toll road in Iceland, and for vehicles shorter than 6 meters each trip costs 1000 kr. If you'll be going back and forth a lot and there's a discount card for ten trips at 6350 kr. Whichever direction you're driving and the toll booths are on the north. An alternative to paying is to drive around Hvalfjörður. It's a scenic drive, and well worth it if you have the time. Since the tunnel was built and the traffic levels are very low and sights include the nation's only whaling station in operation as well as innumerable waterfalls, mountains and rivers. However it's a long drive, 59km as opposed to the 6km long tunnel.

If you're arriving from the Westfjords and there are two roads, one on each coast of the peninsula that links the regions. Another option you can take a ferry from Brjánslækur, on the south coast of the Westfjords, called Baldur. Note that Brjánslækur is only a ferry port and the closest towns are Bíldudalur and Patreksfjörður, both around 50km away. The terminal on the West Iceland side of the route is Stykkishólmur on Snæfellsnes, with a stop in Flatey on the way.

There are no scheduled flights into West Iceland.

How to get around in West Iceland

Roads mainly trace the coastline in West Iceland, with a few mountain passes and more inland roads in the rural area northeast of Borgarfjörður. The Ring Road bypasses large sections of the region, including Snæfellsnes and Dalirnir, meaning traffic can be very light. Although most roads are paved and the very tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula is not, nor are some of the mountain passes. If driving, beware that in some places the road on Snæfellsnes sits on a very narrow ledge, with a long and steep fall to the sea below.

Driving on your own is the most flexible way of getting around, but there are some bus routes operated by Sterna . Hitch hiking is an option for those travelling by bus who want to reach destinations not served by the bus system.

To get to the islands of Breiðafjörður, a boat is needed. Only Flatey is served by regular ferries from Stykkishólmur, crossing over to Brjánslækur on the south coast of the Westfjords. If you wish to visit other islands you will need to arrange transportation locally, but frankly most of them are small and without much to see.

What to see in West Iceland

Lighthouse Malarrif at Snæfellsnes peninsula - The lighthouse Malarrif at Snæfellsnes

Natural beauty is the main attraction of the region, particularly Snæfellsnes and the islands of Breiðafjörður.

Deildartunguhver – Europe's biggest hot spring, measured in amounts of water. Close to Reykholt.
Snæfellsnes – a magnificent mountain range that forms a peninsula separating the bays of Faxaflói and Breiðafjörður. A trip around the peninsula will allow you to see the ocean and the mountains. Many waterfalls come out of the mountain cliffs and there are a number of beautiful rivers running from the mountains into the ocean.

What to do in West Iceland

The islands of Breiðafjörður – according to Icelandic legend and the islands of Breiðafjörður are so many that they're uncountable. Sightseeing trips are available from Stykkishólmur as well as tours to some of the larger islands.
Glacier tours – go to the top of Snæfellsjökull National Park|Snæfellsjökull glacier. You can get a ride in special trucks, or simply hike up on your own. Just remember to pack sunglasses!
Danish days – the town festival in Stykkishólmur held each August, celebrating the town's historic links to Denmark. - Horse riding. The farm of Lýsuhóll on Snæfellsnes offers horse rentals where you can ride Icelandic horses on the Snæfellsnes coast. - Hiking. Snæfellsnes is ideal land for hikers, with its many mountains.

Halal Restaurants in West Iceland

West Iceland is not traditionally a culinary destination, even by Icelandic standards. However there is some important food production. Snæfellsnes is a fishing area, so look for fresh fish, especially in the small villages on the western end of the peninsula. Búðardalur is known in Iceland for its Cheese production, although the Cheese produced are generally not local (brie, cheddar etc.). There are geothermal areas in the vicinity of Borgarfjörður, and by extension there is greenhouse farming. Sometimes it will be feasible to buy vegetables straight from the farmer and there's a popular stall selling tomatoes by Deildartunguhver.

Most villages will have some Halal restaurants, but there are also some interesting rural eating options with fantastic scenery . These include Hótel Búðir (fine dining) and Fjöruhúsið (a small café), both on the southern coast of Snæfellsnes.

West Iceland has a local and a local vodka. The organic juice is called Jökull and brewed by Mjöður Brugghús in Stykkishólmur. Reyka Vodka is distilled in Borgarnes.

As everywhere in Iceland, alcohol can only be bought in Vínbúðin. This can be interesting in some of the smaller villages and in Ólafsvík the stores also happens to be a baby clothes store.

Stay Safe

Don't worry about crime - you probably won't see very many people at all. The biggest risk is falling off the road. Especially going up the mountain, be careful and watch for oncoming traffic.

As the Peninsula sticks directly into the Atlantic and the area tends to be very windy.