Ísafjörður in Skutulsfjörður fjord is the capital of the West Fjords. Foreign tradesmen plied their trade in Ísafjörður for a long time and even stayed there for many years, but the town did not start growing until the Danish monopoly was abolished in late 1700. Ísafjörður has for long been one of the most important fishing towns in the country.
Ísafjörður has everything to offer: Museums, cafés, restaurants, information centre, hospital, souvenirs made by local artists, bakeries, various tours, bus service, car rentals and other available services. The variety of services often surprises visitors since Ísafjörður is quite a small place. Neðstikaupstaður in Ísafjörður has a special place in the hearts of Icelanders.
There can be seen a concentration of four large houses built in the 18th century. They house, among other things, a maritime museum and a seafood restaurant in the summer. The population in Ísafjörður is around 3,200.