Iceland review - 2013, Síða 51

ICELAND REVIEW 49
TRAVEL
TIpS FOR yOuR TRIp TO The WeST FJORDS’ cApITAl
Ísafjörður EssEntials
*Downtown Ísafjörður is tiny. For exact locations of the places mentioned above, ask around.
ArcHitecture
Take a walk through history. Ísafjörður is filled with colorful old
houses of all shapes and sizes.
Ómar Smári Kristinsson has tracked the history of the town’s
architecture, drawing maps and illustrated timelines of the changes.
Iceland Review asked him to describe one of his favorite buildings:
“It’s a beautiful building and it has a history. It’s also where so
many cultural activities take place now,” he says of Edinborgarhúsið,
a Norwegian-style house assembled in Iceland in 1907. The house
has undergone extensive changes over the years. In its early days,
it was used as the local kaupfélag, or market place. During the
war, a drying chamber was added allowing for the drying of fish
throughout the winter. Today, the building houses a café and bar
as well as a cultural center which hosts concerts, exhibitions and
conferences. 
Food
Opening in 2012, Bræðraborg is a café and bar (and
travel agency) which serves coffee and fresh homemade
treats, breakfast, lunch and dinner. This place sources
many ingredients locally and prepares everything on site
with an emphasis on organic and the environmentally-
friendly. It’s also popular for its pizzas, made from scratch
(it’s the only place in town to make its own bases) and
topped with lots of fresh ingredients.
Tjöruhúsið restaurant has made a name for itself as
one of Iceland’s best. The idea is simple: the catch of
the day direct from the boat served sizzling in the pan.
Housed in an old fish warehouse down by the harbor,
this place is a must-try. Open during summer.
Adventure
The Biking Book Of Iceland Part 1 by Ómar Smári Kristinsson details
14 day-trip cycle circuits in the West Fjords. Pick up your copy (avail-
able in local souvenir and book stores), rent a bike in Ísafjörður (West
Tours, Tel: (+354) 456 5111; Simbi, Tel: (+354) 860 8037), Þingeyri
(Simbahöllin, Tel: (+354) 899 6659) or Hólmavík (Information
Center, Tel: (+354) 451 3111) and get on your way to discovering
this remote but stunning part of Iceland. But, remember: it’s not the
Netherlands. Expect steep mountain roads, snowy mountain passes,
and even rivers.
Ísafjörður is also the perfect base for hiking, kayaking, skiing and
sailing. A number of locals have been tapping into the potential, setting
up travel agencies. Borea (boreaadventures.com), located in Bræðraborg,
emphasizes low impact, sustainable tourism and the use of non-
motorized transport. Also check out Ögur Travel (ogurtravel.com).
souvenirs
The West Fjords Shop sells products
exclusively from the region includ-
ing books, music—a large number
of Icelandic musicians originate from
the West Fjords—jewelry, design,
photo books, original postcards and
maps, as well as the popular West
Fjords map t-shirts designed by store
owner Eyþór Jóvinsson.
By Zoë roBErT PHOTOS By ÁSlaug SNorraDÓTTir