Westfjords · 12 August 2026 — the eclipse has passed
Total solar eclipse, 12 August 2026 — Bolungarvík and the Westfjords
The total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 is over. Its path of totality made first landfall in Iceland here, over the Westfjords, and Bolungarvík sat inside it: about 1 minute 36 seconds of totality beginning around 17:43 GMT, a touch longer than neighbouring Ísafjörður. This page stays up as a record of the event and of the places people watched it from — every one of them worth the drive on an ordinary clear day. Our four apartments in Bolungarvík are open year-round.
The eclipse at a glance
When it happened
Wed 12 Aug 2026 · totality began ~17:43 (Iceland stays on GMT all year)
Totality at Bolungarvík
≈ 1 min 36 sec of full darkness
The path
The Westfjords were the eclipse’s first landfall, then Snæfellsnes and Reykjavík
Longest on land
Látrabjarg 2 min 13 sec — the western tip, ~2 hrs from Dúfan
Why the Westfjords were in the path
The path of totality reached Iceland here first, over the empty, glacier-carved coastline of the Westfjords, before crossing to Snæfellsnes and Reykjavík. Up here the crowds were thinner than in the south — and so were the beds. Bolungarvík and Ísafjörður are the only towns of any size inside the path in the Westfjords, which is why eclipse-week accommodation across the region sold out well in advance.
Where people watched — and where to go now
These are the spots we pointed guests to. None of them were built for one afternoon in August: they are the reason to bring a camera to Bolungarvík at any time of year.
- Bolafjall — the mountain right above town, with a viewing platform out over the edge and a very wide sky (check the road and weather first).
- Skálavík — a black-sand beach one valley over, open to the sea.
- The harbour and Ósvör — a flat view west over the fjord mouth.
- Rauðisandur and Látrabjarg — roughly 2 hours southwest, where totality lasted longest on land, and where the bird cliffs are worth the drive regardless.
- Ísafjörður is 15 minutes away through the tunnel.
What the weather does here
West-coast August afternoons are clear only around 40% of the time, and Westfjords weather turns fast — that was true of eclipse day and it is true of any other. It is the reason to pick a base you can drive from: whether you are chasing a gap in the cloud for an eclipse, for the northern lights, or just for a view, mobility beats a fixed vantage point.
Staying in Bolungarvík, year-round
Dúfan Apartments has four private, self-catering apartments in Bolungarvík — 15 minutes from Ísafjörður through the tunnel, with full kitchens, laundry and 24-hour self check-in. Eclipse week sold out; the rest of the year is quieter and a good deal cheaper. Summer is for hiking, the Hornstrandir boats and the long northern daylight; winter is for the northern lights, the ski slopes above Ísafjörður and empty roads. Live prices are on the site, and booking direct is always our lowest price.
Planning a Westfjords trip
- Give the region at least 3–4 nights — the distances are honest and the point is to slow down.
- Summer beds in the northern Westfjords are genuinely scarce and book weeks to months ahead; winter is wide open.
- Check road conditions at road.is and travel advice at safetravel.is — in winter, always.
- The festival calendar is the other reason to book early: Aldrei fór ég suður at Easter, the Fossavatnsgangan ski marathon in April.
Keep reading: where to stay in the Westfjords → · Westfjords events & festivals → · things to do around Bolungarvík →
Common questions
Was Bolungarvík in the path of totality?
Yes. Bolungarvík was inside the 2026 path of totality and saw about 1 minute 36 seconds of total eclipse — slightly longer than Ísafjörður (about 1 minute 30 seconds).
What time was the eclipse in the Westfjords?
Totality reached the Westfjords at about 17:43 (5:43 PM) on 12 August 2026. Iceland stays on GMT all year, so local time was GMT. The partial phases ran for over an hour on either side of totality.
Can you see the northern lights from Bolungarvík?
Yes. Iceland’s aurora season runs roughly from September to April, and Bolungarvík is a small town with little light pollution — you can often watch from the harbour or just outside the door. You need a dark, clear night; Veðurstofan (the Icelandic Met Office) publishes an aurora forecast alongside the cloud cover.
Where should you stay in the Westfjords?
For most first visits, the Ísafjörður area in the northern Westfjords — it is the region’s only real town cluster and has the airport. Bolungarvík, 15 minutes away through the tunnel, gives the same day-trip reach at lower prices. Our full base-by-base comparison is at dufanapartments.is/where-to-stay-westfjords.
Sources: Visit Westfjords, Veðurstofan, road.is, safetravel.is.
Four apartments in Bolungarvík — open year-round
Fifteen minutes from Ísafjörður, in the town the eclipse crossed first. Live prices, and direct is always our lowest.
Book direct securely — availability and payment are handled by our booking system, and your confirmation arrives by email.