About

Norðurfjörður is a tiny settlement located at the very end of the road along Iceland's Strandir coast, in the eastern Westfjords. It is one of the most remote inhabited places in Iceland and is considered the end of the line for travellers following the Strandir route northward from Hólmavík. The village itself consists of just a handful of houses, a small harbour and basic services — the attraction here is not the settlement itself but the extraordinary natural surroundings. The immediate area offers access to rugged coastal hiking routes, dramatic cliff scenery and mountain terrain largely untouched by tourism. The main draw for most visitors is Krossneslaug, a remote geothermal swimming pool located a few kilometres further along a rough track from the village. The pool sits right at the ocean's edge, with the Atlantic stretching to the horizon and waves sometimes washing close to its rim — among the most atmospheric bathing experiences in Iceland. The Strandir region as a whole has a reputation for mysticism and folk magic — it is known as the sorcery heartland of Iceland, and several museums and sites along the route explore this history. Norðurfjörður sits at the far northern extreme of this magical coast. Access requires driving the full length of the Strandir coast road from Hólmavík, a journey of roughly 2–3 hours in good conditions. Road 643 is unpaved for much of the way beyond Drangsnes.

📖 Story

The road to Norðurfjörður simply ends. There is no road onwards — only sea, mountains and the raw Icelandic wilderness. This remoteness is precisely what draws those who make the long drive along the Strandir coast: the silence, the unspoilt landscapes, the steaming geothermal pool at Krossnes with waves lapping at its edge, and the feeling of being somewhere truly far from the rest of the world. The handful of people who live here year-round are tough, self-reliant and deeply connected to this wild place.

Key Facts