Holtsfjara Pier – Önundarfjordur, Westfjords

Önundarfjordur is a stunning fjord in a quiet corner of the Westfjords in Iceland with the tranquil Hotlsfjara Pier being a perfect place to explore from. It has a beautiful golden sand beach, unusual in Iceland that is edged with sand dunes and grasses. In the sunshine, this is a beautiful place to wander and watch the Atlantic Ocean sparkle, but in the usual Westfjords mist, it is gloomy and foreboding.

small pier with mountains behind and blue sea and sand

Önundarfjordur, Westfjords

In the mists of the Westfjords is a beautiful fjord, Önundarfjordur. It is isolated and empty with a cold wind blowing through even in the middle of summer. Across the water, the mountains – Ytra-Hvilfarhorn, Innra-Hvilfarhorn, Hólsfjall, Kirkjubólsfjall and Kroppstaðarfjall form a protective circle around the head of the fjord and the small village of Flateyri. The golden sand and deep green grasses that form the sand dunes stretch into the distance, a breeding ground for eider ducks in the early summer.

underneath the pier legs with sand
pier in Iceland with mountains behind in monochrome
A wooden pier in Iceland with fjord and mountains behind
two yellow buoys on a fence

Getting to Önundarfjordur Pier

This small pier is 466km from Reykjavik just south of Ísafjörður on Road 61. Shortly after the main tunnel (where you should take the left fork midway through) and a causeway over the head of the fjord there is a turning to the right signposted to Holt. The pier is on the right a short distance along this road. There is a small amount of parking.

The sand dunes are the protected nesting ground for eider ducks so check before heading along the beach for any restrictions that are in place.

To visit this corner of Iceland a hire car is essential unless you join a tour. A 4WD takes some of the stress of driving away as well!

a grey tin shed surrounded by fields and mountains
  • South of Ísafjörður on Road 61
  • Find the pier on Google Maps
  • The pier is part of a nature reserve so pay attention to signs, especially during the breeding season
  • Parking is just by the shed/barn close to the beach and the pier
  • This is just a brief stop unless you intend to walk along the beach

I'm Suzanne the traveller and photographer behind Meandering Wild. With over 30 years of experience travelling to different corners of the world in search of wildlife and remote locations nearly all of the advice on this website is from my own exploring.