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Patreksfjörður is the main service centre for the southern Westfjords, a town of around six hundred people built on the slopes of a fjord named after Saint Patrick, the patron saint introduced to Iceland by the Irish monks who preceded Norse settlement. It has a lively harbour, a swimming pool, and enough restaurants and guesthouses to make it a comfortable base for exploring the remote western peninsula.

The town sits close to some of Iceland’s most dramatic scenery: Látrabjarg, Europe’s largest seabird cliff, is about an hour away by road, and the sweeping orange sands of Rauðasandur beach are similarly accessible. A local highlight is the rescued and restored cargo ship Garðar BA 64, the oldest steel ship in Iceland, beached just across the fjord at Patreksfjörður.

Patreksfjörður is reached via the Westfjords’ mountain roads, which may require a 4×4 in winter. There are regular domestic flights to Bíldudalur nearby. The town is open year-round.