By road, Isafjordur is six to seven hours from Reykjavik in summer, much of it on winding mountain passes that climb above 600 metres. The most dramatic stretch is the Westfjords ring road around the southern coastline; the inland route through Holtavörðuheiði is faster but less scenic. Both routes can be closed by snow from November to April — check road.is before driving.
The Isafjordur airport, set on the spit at the end of the fjord, has daily 40-minute flights to and from Reykjavik. The approach — banking between mountain walls — is famous among small-plane pilots and dramatic from a passenger seat. Cruise ships dock at the harbour in summer, sometimes two or three a day, and bring brief floods of visitors.