Cruise Port Stop: Gorgeous Views in Ísafjörður, Iceland (HAL Nieuw Statendam Nordics Cruise)

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After an overnight port visit to Akureyri, the Nieuw Statendam cruise heads to Ísafjörður and this is how I spent my day here.

LOGISTICS

MONEY MATTERS

Credit cards were widely accepted (we were able to use Visa and Mastercard throughout Iceland but I couldn’t always use my AMEX). We found that other than for tipping in local currency, we didn’t need to carry cash (ie tipping guides on already paid tours). Speaking of which, Iceland is similar to Norway in that tipping is not obligatory with high/living wages and strong worker laws so there isn’t a need for a tipping culture (vs in the US where workers are reliant upon tips as part of their salary). As such, it is a nice gesture of appreciation to tip if you receive great service.

COMMUNICATION

English is widely spoken throughout Iceland

_{BEAUTIFUL TIP: Reminder that arrival times for port days are estimates for when the ship will be docked and may not be when the port has given approval to the ship to allow passengers to get off. IF the activity start time is close to arrival times, I will always reach out the activity/tour provider and find out exactly what their policy is if I am not able to be there on time. I have found that many operators are flexible especially if the majority/all of the participants are from the cruise ship but some may not be able to accommodate late arrivals with no refund given. Whilst both scenarios are valid business practices, don’t make the mistake of finding out it’s the latter when you aren’t able to join! See below in what we did for more info on this}

PORT INFO

The dock is in the center of town but note that larger cruise ships will tender for this port. As you can see from the above map, the town is very walkable.

ÍSAFJÖRÐUR

Ísafjörður serves as the gateway to and the unofficial capital of Iceland’s remote and stunning Westfjords (Vestfirðir) region. The small but charming fishing town of 2,000 surrounded by towering mountains and tranquil waters offers breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and some memorable excursions.

Ísafjörður as shown in the above photo is located in a nearly perfect natural harbor within Skutulsfjörður protected on three sides by towering mountains.

Taxis

An expensive and scarce mode of transportation to get around – ask for assistance at the Tourist Information Office

WHAT I DID

Tourist Info-Hut at Cruise Terminal

Only because of HAL’s highly informative port overview (given by the amazing cruise and travel director, Clare) did I already have an idea of what I was going to do in town. Left photo: show cases which hiking routes are in town

In the info-hut there were physical maps and information books that were helpful in choosing which hiking route I could take since I needed to be back in time for my afternoon excursion as seen in the right photo.

Exploring Ísafjörður

I went first to the Neðstikaupstaður buildings but since it was only 8:15, I was only able to look at the outside of the buildings.

Walking alongside the harbor on my way to the avalanche barrier/observation deck (you can see this in the left third of the photo: the dark green slant next to the trees) – admiring the boats and colorful houses along the way. 

Hiking: Avalanche Barrier / Observation Deck

A moderate walk to the base of the stairs of the avalanche barrier

The black rock is the observation deck and I went up a little further to capture this photo with the lupines in the foreground overlooking Ísafjörður. If you look behind the ship to the right, you will find another beautiful viewpoint area known as Naustahvilft (Troll’s Seat) so named because it looks like a troll sat down and squished the mountain!

If you are able to, definitely head here for some gorgeous views over all of Skutulsfjörður

And if you are feeling adventurous or want a leg work out, you can continue with suggested hikes per the map or I decided to test my leg and hike up the mountainside. Very bummed that I wasn’t able to make it to the top =( maybe next time

I did have time to make it to another great photo stop looking out over the crystal clear water of the fjord.

I love this sign: it shows the practicality of Icelanders…and their honesty and humor.

Lunch at Húsið

I did really enjoy my lunch but if Tjöruhúsið had been open (they’re closed on Mondays which is when we docked), I would have went there.

And also wish that I would have had time to grab a beer from here – there are so many reasons to come back to Ísafjörður now!

3.5-Hour Sightseeing Tour To Dynjandi Waterfall  

I had wavered between going to Vigur island or going to see Dynjandi Waterfall but the island tour sold out and made my decision for me. I opted for the visit only to the falls so I could maximize my time in Ísafjörður and took the latest tour and would come back right in time

Many of the waterfalls that you visit in Iceland are close to the parking area but this is not one of them. There are 6 other waterfalls below Dynjandi, which you will pass on the way up to the biggest waterfall. It is quite a scenic route with an elevation of some 200 meters up to the biggest waterfall.

To reach Dynjandi there is a bit of a hike (anywhere between 15-30 minutes) and on the way up you can stop by all the smaller waterfalls and admire them from viewing platforms.

At this point, I am rushing to make it up close to the waterfall to be able to make it back on time to the bus and the ship….in hindsight, I would not have chosen a departure that shortened the amount of time here (but also should have done more research to know what this entailed as I thought that an hour would be more than sufficient).

WHAT I ATE

Húsið

The best seafood soup that I had whilst in Iceland.

WHAT I SPENT

• Activities $76.80 3.5-Hour Sightseeing Tour To Dynjandi Waterfall booked via Viator
• Food $28.35 Lunch at Húsið
• Misc $7.10 Ísafjörður magnet

ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY IDEAS & OTHER TOP SPOTS TO EXPLORE

Dynjandi Waterfall & Iceland Farm Visit Tour

I have had great experiences with Bus Travel Iceland in other ports and would have done this tour if I had more time as you will be able visit Dynjandi waterfall and then will head over to a working Icelandic farm with time to see the farmyard animals and enjoy coffee, tea and traditional Icelandic Cake (which is included in the tour).

Westfjords Whale Watching

During my first visit to Akureyri, we went on a 3 hour whale watching tour.

On this tour departing from , you will be sailing with a company (Sjóferðir) focused on the best possible encounter, both for animal welfare and passenger enjoyment and searching for whales with an incredibly beautiful backdrop.

2 Hour Tour to Bolafjall View Platform

For an incredible view you don’t have to hike to, book this tour that will take you to the Bolafjall Viewing platform which according to Visit Westfjords: is “the most popular visiting point in Bolungarvík is the viewing platform on top of Bolafjall Mountain. The place offers a staggering view over Ísafjarðardjúp, Jökulfirðir and some people say all the way to Greenland.” 

TOURS

• The same conscientious company (Sjóferðir) that does the whale watching tour offers a chance to see other wildlife with this sailing that takes you around Vigur which in the summer is host to a large numbers of puffins and other birds
• Wild Dynjandi: On this full day tour, you will be able to witness and hike up close to Dynjandi waterfalls followed by wakeboarding
• Nature Reserve. Hornstrandir is one of the most remote and uninhabited regions of Iceland, with no permanent residents since the 1950s. This isolation has allowed the area to remain largely untouched by human development, preserving its wild beauty. Since 1974 the flora and fauna has been protected and now arctic foxes, birds, seals and plants have thrived undisturbed. Take a tour that includes the boat ride and a guide and experience this part of Iceland that few others ever explore