Staying connected in Iceland’s wild Westfjords and remote coastal towns can be part of the adventure—if you know a few tricks. Whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights, road-tripping around Snæfellsnes, or exploring the dramatic fjords, a little planning goes a long way to ensure reliable internet access.
At Ourhotels.is, we welcome many guests who work remotely, share their travels in real time, or simply want to stay in touch with family. Here are our best internet access tips for remote areas in West Iceland, with examples from three of our locations: Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn.
First, always check your accommodation’s Wi‑Fi details before you arrive. Most hotels and guesthouses in Iceland offer free Wi‑Fi, but speeds and coverage can vary in rural areas. At Ourhotels.is properties, including Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður (near Borgarnes), Stykkishólmur Inn on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords, you’ll find complimentary Wi‑Fi throughout the common areas and guest rooms. If you need to upload large files, join a video call, or stream, ask at reception which areas have the strongest signal—often lounges or dining areas are best.
Mobile data is another key part of staying connected in remote Iceland. Before you travel, check with your provider about roaming in Iceland, or consider buying a local SIM card or eSIM with a generous data package. Coverage in West Iceland is generally good along main roads and in towns like Borgarnes, Stykkishólmur, and Ísafjörður, but it can drop in mountain passes, deep fjords, and along less-traveled routes. When you stay at Hvítá Inn, for example, you’ll enjoy solid coverage in and around the property, but if you head deeper into Borgarfjörður’s valleys or towards the highlands, expect occasional dead zones. Download offline maps and important documents before you set off.
If you’re a digital nomad or need to work remotely, plan your “online windows” around your travel days. Many guests at Stykkishólmur Inn schedule their video meetings for mornings or evenings, when they’re back at the hotel and can rely on stable Wi‑Fi. Daytime is then free for boat tours on Breiðafjörður Bay, exploring the harbor, or driving the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Similarly, at Ísafjörður Inn, guests often use early mornings or late evenings to catch up on emails, then spend the day hiking, kayaking, or visiting nearby villages where coverage may be weaker.
Power management is just as important as connectivity. Remote areas mean longer stretches between cafés and charging points. Always travel with a fully charged power bank, and consider a multi-port USB charger so you can top up all your devices overnight at the hotel. At Ourhotels.is properties, you’ll find convenient outlets in rooms and common spaces, making it easy to charge phones, laptops, and cameras before heading out. This is especially useful in winter, when cold temperatures can drain batteries faster.
For those who rely heavily on cloud services, think “sync smart.” Before leaving Hvítá Inn for a day exploring the waterfalls and hot springs of Borgarfjörður, sync your files, download any documents you’ll need offline, and pause automatic cloud backups to save data. Do the same at Stykkishólmur Inn before a day on the water, or at Ísafjörður Inn before driving into the more remote Westfjords. This way, you’re not dependent on strong connections in the middle of nowhere.
If you’re traveling as a couple or group, consider sharing connectivity. One practical tip many of our guests use is to designate one phone as a mobile hotspot with a strong local data plan. When you’re back at Ourhotels.is, you can switch to the hotel Wi‑Fi and save your mobile data for the road. This is especially handy on longer drives between Borgarnes, Stykkishólmur, and Ísafjörður, where you may want to check weather updates, road conditions, or navigation.
Speaking of road conditions, always bookmark key Icelandic websites while you’re on a strong connection at the hotel. Before leaving Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, or Ísafjörður Inn, check the official road condition and weather sites, and keep them open in your browser. Even if your connection drops later, you’ll have the latest information cached. Reception staff at Ourhotels.is are also happy to help you interpret local forecasts and choose the safest routes.
Finally, embrace a balanced mindset about connectivity. Part of the magic of West Iceland is its sense of remoteness: the quiet fjords around Ísafjörður, the wide-open landscapes of Borgarfjörður, and the island-dotted views from Stykkishólmur. Many guests tell us they enjoy having reliable internet at Ourhotels.is when they need it, and the freedom to “switch off” when they’re out in nature. By planning your online tasks for when you’re at Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, or Ísafjörður Inn, you can relax and enjoy the offline moments in between.
With a few simple steps—choosing accommodations with dependable Wi‑Fi, preparing your mobile data, managing power and offline access—you can stay comfortably connected while exploring some of Iceland’s most beautiful and remote regions. Ourhotels.is is here to make that balance easy, so you can share your journey with the world and still feel wonderfully far away.
