PATREKSFJÖRÐUR IN SHORTPatreksfjörður is the largest town in the southern Westfjords, home to around 780 people, and the natural base for visiting Látrabjarg bird cliffs, Rauðasandur beach and Dynjandi waterfall. It is about 400 km (5 to 6 hours) from Reykjavík by car, free to visit, open all year, and most visitors stay a night or two rather than just passing through.
About Patreksfjörður
Patreksfjörður grew up around fishing, and in the early twentieth century it was one of the first places in Iceland to bring in trawlers, which turned it into an important fishing port. Commercial fishing and fish processing are still the backbone of the local economy, alongside a growing number of guesthouses, hotels and cafés serving visitors on their way further into the Westfjords.
For travellers, Patreksfjörður works best as a base rather than a sight in itself: a comfortable place to sleep, eat and restock before heading out to the region's real highlights nearby. The new outdoor swimming pool with hot tubs and a sauna is a good way to unwind after a day on the road.
The fjord has been settled since the first days of Iceland and is named in Landnámabók, the Book of Settlements, but for most of its history there were only farms and fishing stations here. A village did not form until around the start of the twentieth century, when the fishing grounds just outside the fjord drew trade and people to one place.
Several of the best-known sights in the Westfjords are within a day's reach, and there are natural hot pools a short drive away, which is why so many people touring the region spend a night here.
Quick facts
PopulationAbout 780
Name"Patrick's fjord", after Bishop Patrick of the Hebrides
RegionSouthern Westfjords
From ReykjavíkAbout 400 km, around 5–6 hours by car
From LátrabjargAbout 65 km, around 1 hour by car
EntryFree
Opening hoursOpen all year, as an inhabited town
Air accessBíldudalur airport, about 36 km away, with limited flights from Reykjavík
The fjord of St Patrick
Patreksfjörður means "Patrick's fjord". According to Landnámabók, the first settler here was Örlygur Hrappsson, who came from the Hebrides. He named the fjord after Bishop Patrick of the Hebrides, the churchman who had fostered and taught him. The name dates from the settlement age, well before Iceland itself converted to Christianity.
In the early 1900s, Patreksfjörður was among the first towns in Iceland to invest in steam trawlers, a step that turned a community of farms and small boats into a modern fishing port. The village had about 1,000 people in 1981 and has shrunk since fishing quotas were introduced. Fishing and fish processing remain the main work today, joined in recent years by fish farming and tourism.
How to get to Patreksfjörður
By carFrom Reykjavík, drive north on Route 1 through Borgarnes. About half an hour beyond the town, turn left onto Route 60 (Vestfjarðavegur) and follow it through Búðardalur and along the fjords of the south coast of the Westfjords. At Flókalundur, turn left onto Route 62, which runs along Barðaströnd and over the Kleifaheiði pass to Patreksfjörður. Roads are paved but include mountain passes that can be affected by weather.
By ferryThe ferry across Breiðafjörður from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur shortens the drive and gives you a break from the wheel. From Brjánslækur it is under an hour on Route 62 to Patreksfjörður. Book ahead in summer and check the timetable in winter.
By airBíldudalur airport, about 36 km away, has limited scheduled flights from Reykjavík, useful when road conditions are poor.
By public transportSummer buses connect Patreksfjörður with other Westfjords towns, but services are infrequent, so most visitors self-drive.
The drive from Reykjavík crosses several mountain passes that can close in winter storms, so check umferdin.is before travelling from October to April.
Places to visit around Patreksfjörður
The town is the starting point for the main sights of the southern Westfjords. Break the long drive in with stops along the way, and use the town as your base once you arrive.
Látrabjarg bird cliffs<a href="/locations/latrabjarg/">Látrabjarg</a> is the westernmost point of Iceland and one of the largest bird cliffs in Europe: a 14 km line of cliffs rising to about 440 metres. Fulmars, guillemots, razorbills and gulls nest here in huge numbers, and puffins are on the clifftop from mid-May to late August. Allow an hour to an hour and a half each way on Route 612, much of it gravel.
Rauðisandur beach<a href="/locations/raudisandur/">Rauðisandur</a> is a beach of red and golden sand about 10 km long, backed by high cliffs. The colour shifts with the light and the weather, from pale gold to deep red. The road down to it is steep, narrow gravel, so take it slowly.
Dynjandi waterfall<a href="/locations/dynjandi-waterfalls/">Dynjandi</a>, often called the jewel of the Westfjords, is the largest waterfall in the region. It fans out as it falls about 100 metres down the mountainside, about 30 metres wide at the top and far wider at the bottom. It is roughly an hour and a half's drive north of Patreksfjörður.
Hot pools and the town poolThe town's outdoor swimming pool has hot tubs and a view over the fjord, and it is the easy way to relax after a day's driving. For natural hot water, <a href="/locations/pollurinn-hot-spring-westfjords/">Pollurinn</a> above Tálknafjörður is about 23 km away.
Garðar BA 64 and ÖrlygshöfnOn Route 612, on the way to Látrabjarg, you pass the beached steel ship <a href="/locations/gardar-ba-64/">Garðar BA 64</a> and the golden sands of <a href="/locations/orlygshofn-cove/">Örlygshöfn</a>, with the Hnjótur museum.
Látrabjarg and Rauðisandur both lie beyond rough gravel roads. Allow more time than the map suggests, and do not walk close to the cliff edge at Látrabjarg, where the turf is undermined by puffin burrows.
Best time to visit Patreksfjörður
Summer (June–August)The easiest season, with all roads open and long daylight for exploring Látrabjarg, Rauðasandur and Dynjandi nearby.
Winter (October–April)Patreksfjörður stays open year-round, but the surrounding mountain roads can be icy or closed, so build flexibility into your plans.
Safety and practical tips
- Fuel up here before continuing to Látrabjarg or Rauðasandur, as the roads beyond are remote.
- Book accommodation ahead in summer, since the southern Westfjords have limited beds for the number of visitors.
- Check umferdin.is and vedur.is for mountain pass conditions outside summer.
- Use Patreksfjörður as your overnight base for a day trip to Látrabjarg and Rauðasandur rather than trying to do both in one long day from further away.
- If you would like a local guide for the bird cliffs or a boat or kayak trip, arrange it before you travel. There are few operators in the southern Westfjords and they book up in summer.
Facilities and accessibility
The town has supermarkets, fuel stations, cafés, restaurants, several hotels and guesthouses, a swimming pool and a visitor information centre on Aðalstræti.
Nearby places worth a stop
Where to stay near Patreksfjörður
Patreksfjörður has the widest choice of hotels and guesthouses in the southern Westfjords, making it the natural overnight base for exploring Látrabjarg, Rauðasandur and Dynjandi.
Patreksfjörður FAQ
How far is Patreksfjörður from Reykjavík?
About 400 km, roughly 6 hours by car, depending on the route and road conditions.
What does Patreksfjörður mean?
"Patrick's fjord". The settler Örlygur Hrappsson named it after Bishop Patrick of the Hebrides, his teacher.
Is Patreksfjörður a good base for the southern Westfjords?
Yes, it has the most hotels, guesthouses and services in the area and sits close to Látrabjarg, Rauðasandur and Dynjandi.
Can you fly to Patreksfjörður?
There is no airport in the town itself, but nearby Bíldudalur has a small airport with limited flights from Reykjavík.
Is Patreksfjörður open in winter?
Yes, it is inhabited year-round, though the mountain roads to reach it can be affected by snow and wind.
What is there to see near Patreksfjörður?
The Látrabjarg bird cliffs, Rauðisandur beach, Dynjandi waterfall, the wreck of Garðar BA 64 and the hot pools at Tálknafjörður are all within a day trip.
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