Breiðavík Beach

Breiðavík is a sweeping bay of pale golden sand on the Látrabjarg Peninsula in the far west of the Westfjords. Roughly three kilometres long and flanked by low sea cliffs, the beach is striking not only for its light-coloured sand — rare in Iceland — but also for its extraordinary remoteness and the turquoise hue of the water in calm conditions.

The beach sits adjacent to Iceland’s legendary Látrabjarg bird cliffs, home to millions of seabirds including puffins (May–August), razorbills, and guillemots, making it possible to combine a beach visit with one of Europe’s great wildlife spectacles. The small settlement of Breiðavík has a guesthouse for overnight stays.

Getting here requires a long drive of roughly six hours from Reykjavík through the Westfjords’ winding roads — the journey itself is part of the experience. Summer is by far the best season for a visit.