In short: Westfjords Route 60 Circuit is a 1,100 km scenic road trip in Iceland, typically driven over 6 days, best in June to September. Highlights: Reykjavík, Hólmavík, Súðavík.
Distance
1,100 km
Duration
6 days
Best Season
June to September
IconicModerateScenicEV-friendly
A six-day, genuinely closed Westfjords circuit from Reykjavík through Hólmavík, Ísafjörður, Dynjandi, Patreksfjörður, Látrabjarg, and Brjánslækur. It returns by Route 60 by default, with the Baldur crossing only as a preconfirmed alternative, and gives Ísafjörður a full cultural day instead of wasting an overnight in Borgarnes.
~1 refuel
~3 charges
Practical notes
Check https://umferdin.is and SafeTravel immediately before every leg: weather, gravel, single-lane bridges, and long fuel gaps make Westfjords timings volatile. Roads 612 and 614 to Látrabjarg and Rauðisandur are slow gravel; stay on marked access, protect nesting birds, keep back from cliff edges, and never park on roads or shoulders. Dynjandi has a current parking/service fee and no overnight stay outside a designated campsite; Hrafnseyri normally opens 1 June–31 August, 11:00–17:00. The Route 60 road return is the default closure. As of July 2026, Baldur vehicle service is suspended through 23 July with a planned 24 July resumption: recheck the live operator notice, then book the vehicle and every passenger separately before depending on Brjánslækur–Stykkishólmur. On 12 August 2026, Roads 612/614 become controlled one-way routes from noon, access controls may begin by 08:00, roadside parking is forbidden, and Bolafjall is shuttle-only; arrive at least a day early and carry fuel, food, water, warm layers, charged communications, and certified eclipse glasses.
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Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Reykjavík to Hólmavík via Borgarnes
Borgarnes supply stop · Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft · Café Riis
Day 2Hólmavík to Ísafjörður
Arctic Fox Centre · Neðstikaupstaður historic quarter · Gamla Bakaríið
Day 3Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík
Westfjords Heritage Museum · Ósvör Maritime Museum · Tjöruhúsið
Day 4Ísafjörður to Patreksfjörður via Dynjandi
Dynjandi waterfall walk · Hrafnseyri museum · Vegamót Bíldudalur
Day 5Patreksfjörður to Brjánslækur or Flókalundur
Rauðisandur beach · Látrabjarg bird cliffs · FLAK
Day 6Brjánslækur or Flókalundur to Reykjavík
Route 60 road closure to Reykjavík · Baldur ferry alternative, booking required · The Settlement Center Restaurant
Stops along the route
Departure
Reykjavík
Leave with groceries, a full fuel plan, and live road checks completed.
City
Hólmavík
The first overnight combines the former Borgarnes and Strandir legs at a realistic pace.
City
Ísafjörður
Two nights support the old town, maritime museum, and a Bolungarvík excursion.
City
Patreksfjörður
The practical base for the remote western capes and gravel roads.
Arrival
Reykjavík
Close the circuit on Route 60, or via Stykkishólmur only with confirmed ferry tickets.
Things to Do
Landmark
Bolungarvík
Base for Ósvör and, only when officially open and safe, Bolafjall.
Nature
Dynjandi
The signature waterfall walk on the southbound Route 60 leg.
Nature
Rauðisandur
A conditions-dependent Road 614 beach detour with no illegal verge parking.
Nature
Látrabjarg
Fragile seabird cliffs visited under reserve, edge, and parking rules.
Road-trip logistics
Borgarnes supply stop
Use Borgarnes for fuel, groceries, and a short break rather than spending the first night here; the classic Westfjords circuit continues to Hólmavík today.
Museum
Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
If you reach Hólmavík during opening hours, use this compact museum for the town’s strongest cultural stop; otherwise put it first the next morning.
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Wildlife museum
Arctic Fox Centre
Pause in Súðavík for the specialist exhibition and resident foxes when its seasonal opening calendar fits the drive; allow about an hour rather than treating it as a generic viewpoint.
Historic district
Neðstikaupstaður historic quarter
Walk the exact historic trading-station quarter beside Ísafjörður harbor once, keeping the separate maritime museum visit for the following day.
Maritime museum
Westfjords Heritage Museum
Visit the maritime collection in Ísafjörður’s historic trading-house complex during its published seasonal hours for the clearest account of Westfjords fishing life.
Open-air museum
Ósvör Maritime Museum
Continue to Bolungarvík for this restored fishing station when it is open, checking the day’s guided-entry schedule before making the short detour.
Mountain viewpoint
Bolafjall viewpoint, conditions permitting
Drive the exposed summit road only when it is officially open and weather is settled. On 12 August 2026 the mountain is closed to general traffic and access is by the official shuttle only.
Waterfall
Dynjandi waterfall walk
Allow time for the signed walk past the lower cascades to the main fan-shaped fall. Pay the current parking/service fee and do not camp or stay overnight outside a designated campsite.
History museum
Hrafnseyri museum
Add the Jón Sigurðsson museum only inside its published 1 June–31 August daily window of 11:00–17:00, or arrange an appointment outside those dates.
Beach and coastal scenery
Rauðisandur beach
Take slow gravel Road 614 to the red-gold beach only in suitable road and weather conditions, then return the same way without blocking farms or narrow verges.
Nature reserve
Látrabjarg bird cliffs
Follow marked access, stay well back from the fragile cliff edge, never approach nests or birds, and park only in designated areas before continuing to Brjánslækur or Flókalundur.
Scenic drive
Route 60 road closure to Reykjavík
Complete the loop by road on Route 60 unless a same-day vehicle-ferry sailing is explicitly confirmed; allow a full driving day and refuel whenever practical.
Conditional ferry crossing
Baldur ferry alternative, booking required
Use Brjánslækur–Stykkishólmur only after confirming that car service is operating and booking both the vehicle and every passenger; the car ticket does not include its driver.
Where to Eat
Food & Drink
Bíldudalur
A precise meal stop at Vegamót between Dynjandi and Patreksfjörður.
Icelandic café and bistro
Café Riis
Have the day’s soup, fish, or a hot dinner at Hafnarbraut 39 in Hólmavík. Check the café’s same-day seasonal hours before relying on an evening arrival.
Bakery and café
Gamla Bakaríið
Stop at the long-running bakery at Aðalstræti 24 in Ísafjörður for bread, pastries, or a light late lunch; confirm current hours because they vary by day.
Icelandic bistro
Húsið
Choose the established bistro at Hrannargata 2 in Ísafjörður for a proper dinner after the fjord drive, and check its current service hours before arrival.
Seasonal seafood
Tjöruhúsið
Reserve the communal fish dinner in the historic Neðstikaupstaður area well ahead in summer; opening dates, sittings, and the daily menu are seasonal.
Café and restaurant
Vegamót Bíldudalur
Use the named harbor-side venue in Bíldudalur for a planned meal after Dynjandi, checking the live seasonal schedule before setting out.
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Café and local dishes
Stúkuhúsið
Finish with dinner at the established café in Patreksfjörður; verify current hours or reserve where offered during the short summer season.
Seafood and contemporary Icelandic
FLAK
Eat in Patreksfjörður before the remote Roads 612/614 section, confirming the restaurant’s current address, summer hours, and reservation policy directly.
Icelandic hotel restaurant
Hótel Flókalundur Restaurant
Use the seasonal hotel restaurant near Brjánslækur for dinner only after confirming that it is open and booking ahead; alternatives are sparse on this coast.
Icelandic
The Settlement Center Restaurant
Break the default Route 60 return with a named meal at Brákarbraut 13–15 in Borgarnes, checking its current kitchen hours before the final drive to Reykjavík.
How long is the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit drive?
The Westfjords Route 60 Circuit covers 1,100 km from start to finish.
How long does the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit take to drive?
Most travellers spend 6 days on the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit, depending on stops and pace.
When is the best time to drive the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit?
The recommended season for the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit is June to September.
What are the main stops on the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit?
The Westfjords Route 60 Circuit passes through Reykjavík, Hólmavík, Súðavík.
How difficult is the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit to drive?
The Westfjords Route 60 Circuit is rated moderate and is best handled with any vehicle.
Can I drive the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit in a regular car?
Yes — the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.
How many fuel stops are needed on the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit?
Plan around 1 refuels (or about 3 EV charges) along the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit, based on its 1,100 km length.
Is the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit EV friendly?
Yes — the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.
Is the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit safe to drive?
Check https://umferdin.is and SafeTravel immediately before every leg: weather, gravel, single-lane bridges, and long fuel gaps make Westfjords timings volatile. Roads 612 and 614 to Látrabjarg and Rauðisandur are slow gravel; stay on marked access, protect nesting birds, keep back from cliff edges, and never park on roads or shoulders. Dynjandi has a current parking/service fee and no overnight stay outside a designated campsite; Hrafnseyri normally opens 1 June–31 August, 11:00–17:00. The Route 60 road return is the default closure. As of July 2026, Baldur vehicle service is suspended through 23 July with a planned 24 July resumption: recheck the live operator notice, then book the vehicle and every passenger separately before depending on Brjánslækur–Stykkishólmur. On 12 August 2026, Roads 612/614 become controlled one-way routes from noon, access controls may begin by 08:00, roadside parking is forbidden, and Bolafjall is shuttle-only; arrive at least a day early and carry fuel, food, water, warm layers, charged communications, and certified eclipse glasses.
What scenic tier is the Westfjords Route 60 Circuit?
The Westfjords Route 60 Circuit is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.
