Glacially carved fjords and bird cliffs make the Westfjords magical place to view the 2026 total eclipse
If you want to experience the longest totality in Iceland — at 2 minutes 13 seconds — it’s to the country’s remote northwest you should go. This region, called the Westfjords, is known for its fjords, cliffs, mountains, valleys and remote villages. It’s a wonderland for anyone after wildness and solitude, though the latter may be in short supply on August 12, 2026. Ponant’s Le Lyrial cruise ship will bring eclipse chasers to Ísafjörður — one of the most beautiful fjords in Iceland — the night before the eclipse, before sailing into the center of the path on eclipse day.
Around 450 kilometers (280 miles) from Reykjavík and a six-hour journey, the Westfjords peninsula can also be reached via the Baldur car ferry between Stykkihólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Brjánslækur on the Westfjords, just south of Flókalundur. Whether you arrive by ferry or by car, this is where the adventure begins.
Since this is a mountainous region, for the eclipse, it will be best to keep away from the mountains and get to the southwest region of the Westfjords. As well as clear sightlines to the eclipse, totality will last longer here. From Flókalundur, route 62 travels west towards the most southwestern point, with route 612 leading to the latter.
The Westfjords region can be challenging for drivers. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended for its mix of paved and gravel roads, with limited services and cellphone service. Come prepared, have the EasyPark and Parka apps on your phone, and check road.is for road conditions, and vedur.is for weather warnings. Also, bear in mind that the Westfjords have limited darkness in August, with only about an hour of semi-darkness.
Here are some places to watch the total solar eclipse in the Westfjords:
2 minutes 13 seconds
The westernmost point in Iceland and the closest place to the center line of the path of totality, Látrabjarg’s cliffs are home to millions of puffins, northern gannets, guillemots and razorbills. “They will probably be silent during the eclipse,” says Sævar Helgi Bragason at Eclipse2026.is. “It’s a gorgeous site and it would be a very interesting place to view the eclipse, but the road leading there is not very good — and there may be some congestion on the way in and out.” Látrabjarg is also a dangerous place; in 2010, a tourist fell to his death from the 100-meter cliffs, so authorities will likely make the site secure — and may restrict numbers. It’s very remote, at the end of road 612.
2 minutes 11 seconds
Also on road 612, just shy of Látrabjarg, is Breiðavík, a west-facing beach that’s sure to be busy on eclipse day. A vast sandy beach, the only landmarks in this wide-open region are Breiðavíkurkirkja — a white church with a red roof — and Hotel Breidavik (which also has a campground).
2 minutes 7 seconds
Although it’s north-facing, Tungurif ‘Golden Beach’ on road 612 is easier to get to than Breiðavík or Látrabjarg, though still considered remote. Blessed with golden and white sand, its wide-open vistas make it perfect for viewing an eclipse from. Hotel Latrabjarg is close by.
2 minutes 5 seconds
Reached via route 614, Rauðasandur (red sands) beach is about 10 km long, providing endless viewpoints for eclipse chasers. Its reddish tones change with the light, which should mean a fascinating show on eclipse day as the light fades. Here you’ll also find Saurbaejarkirkja, a black church with a red roof, with a car park.
2 minutes 2 seconds
If you’re after a unique foreground for an eclipse, try this wreck of an old whaling and fishing vessel on the shoreline of the Patreksfjordur fjord. Accessed via road 612, there’s plenty of space to park here.
1 minute 54 seconds
Eclipse chasers after the longest totality possible will likely push into the farthest southwest corner of the Westfjords, leaving more accessible places to the east much quieter. What this stunning white sand beach on road 62 lacks in the length of totality it makes up for in expansive views.
1 minute 36 seconds
It’s often cold in the Westfords in summer, and it will get colder still during the eclipse. So why not try totality from a hot spring? On the oceanfront surrounded by rocks, Hellulaug is just north of Flókalundur, up from where the ferry docks at Brjánslækur.
1 minute 46 seconds
Another hot spring on road 62, there’s free parking here and changing facilities. A donation fee is requested, which can be paid via QR code. It’s across the road from a few guesthouses.
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Jamie Carter is the author of Complete Guide to the Total Solar Eclipse 2026, The Eclipse Effect and When Is The Next Eclipse? A traveler’s guide to total solar eclipses 2026-2034
