Flight
The domestic airport in Reykjavik is located in the heart of the city. It is connected to three flight destinations in the West fjords area.
Isafjordur. Air Iceland offers two to three daily flights to Isafjordur the whole year. The flying time is 40 minutes. see www.flugfelag.is
Gjogur. Ernir airline offers two flights per week from Reykjavik to Gjogur (in the Strandir area), on Mondays and Thursdays. The flying time is 50 minutes. see www.ernir.is
Bildudalur. Ernir airline offers flights between Reykjavik and Bildudalur (in the southern part of the Westfjords) all year round. The flights go every day except Saturdays. The flying time is 45 minutes. see www.ernir.is
Bus
There is bus service between Reykjavik and Isafjordur six days a week during the summer. The service is offered on two routes, giving passengers the opportunity to enjoy the scenic Westfjords circle:
a) On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays the bus goes from Reykjavik to Stykkisholmur, then you take the ferry over to Brjanslaekur, and the bus via the villages Patreksfjordur and Thingeyri to Isafjordur. It is also possible to take a side trip to the magnificent Látrabjarg, the biggest bird colony in the North Atlantic.
b) On Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays the bus goes from Reykjavik to Holmavik (in the Strandir area) and then by the bay Isafjardardjup to Isafjordur.
The trip in the opposite direction, from Isafjordur to Reykjavik, goes on the same days along the same routes.
There is also a connection to the bus to and from Akureyri, plus scheduled tips from Reykjavik to Kroksfjardarnes and Reykholar. For details, contact Trex bus company (tel (+354) 587-6000, email info@trex.is) or the Westfjords Tourist Information Office in Isafjordur (tel (+354) 450-8060, email info@vestfirdir.is )
Car
There are various possibilities when driving a car from Reykjavik to the West fjords. The most commonly used routes are:
Option 1:
Route: Reykjavik Hvalfjordur (tunnel) Borgarnes Stykkisholmur Ferry to Brjanslaekur in the southern part of the Westfjords. From Brjanslaekur, the distances to some of the destinations in the area are (in km):
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Travel time from Reykjavik to Isafjordur along this route is about 6 hours during the summer.
Option 2:
Route: Reykjavik Hvalfjordur (tunnel) Borgarnes Brattabrekka (road 60) Svinadalur (road 60) Bardarstrandasysla (road 60) Helluskard (road 60) Dynjandisheidi Hrafnseyrarheidi Thingeyri Isafjordur.
Distance (Reykjavik-Isafjordur): 456 km, thereof paved road: 291, gravel road 165.
Travel time during the summer: about 6 hours.
Option 3:
c) Route: Reykjavik Hvalfjordur (tunnel) Borgarnes Brattabrekka (road 60)- Svinadalur (road 60)-Þorskafjardarheidi (road 608) Isafjardardjup (road 61) Isafjordur.
Distance: (Reykjavik-Isafjordur): 440 km, thereof paved road: 372, gravel road: 68.
Travel time during the summer: 5 6 hours.
Option 4:
Route: Reykjavik Hvalfjordur (tunnel) Borgarnes Holtavörðuheiði (road 1) Bru Holmavik (road 61) Steingrimsfjardarheidi (road 61) Isafjardardjup (road 61) Isafjordur.
Distance (Reykjavik-Isafjordur):: 495 km, thereof paved road: 429, gravel road 66.
Travel time during the summer: about 6 ½ hours.
Note:
1) Following proposed road improvements, due to be completed in 2009, the shortest route between Reykjavik and Isafjordur will be a slight variation of route c. This will shorten the travelling time between Isafjordur and Reykjavik and eliminate all gravel roads on the route Reykjavik Budardalur Holmavik Isafjordur.
2) During the winter, the mountain roads Dynjandisheidi and Hrafnseyrarheidi (on route b) are not kept open on regular basis.
