Europe > Iceland > Bíldudalur (BIU)

The Car or no Car advice for  Bíldudalur can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Bíldudalur ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Bíldudalur ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

🇮🇸 Mode

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🚆 Non-car score non-car score 2

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Bíldudalur?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇮🇸 Factor

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🚗 Car Score car rental availability score 4

🚗Do we need a car in Bíldudalur? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Bíldudalur sits deep in the dramatic Westfjords, one of Iceland’s most remote and hauntingly beautiful regions. The town is tiny, peaceful, and framed by mountains, waterfalls, and long, winding fjords. Because public transport is almost nonexistent here, visitors naturally ask: should you rent a car in Bíldudalur? The answer depends on whether you want to remain in the village or explore the surrounding fjords, cliffs, and nature reserves. Since the Westfjords are one of the least connected areas of Iceland, your plans matter more than anywhere else in the country.


🏡 Inside the Village: No Car Needed

Bíldudalur itself is very small.
You can walk comfortably between:

  • The harbour

  • Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

  • The café and guesthouses

  • Seafront viewpoints

Everything sits close together, and the town’s calm atmosphere encourages slow exploration on foot.

You won’t need a car for local wandering.


🚌 Public Transport Is Extremely Limited

There is no useful bus network for tourists.
A few regional services exist, but:

  • They do not run daily

  • They do not connect major attractions

  • They rarely match visitor schedules

Transit is not a practical option for sightseeing.


🌄 Exploring the Westfjords: Distances Are Long and Roads Are Slow

The landscape around Bíldudalur is incredible.
Nearby highlights include:

  • Dynjandi waterfall (one of Iceland’s best)

  • Selárdalur valley (with quirky Samuel Jónsson sculptures)

  • Patreksfjörður

  • Látrabjarg bird cliffs

  • Rauðasandur red-sand beach

These places are spread across narrow fjords and gravel roads.
You cannot reach them without your own vehicle.

This region practically requires a car.


🚗 When a Rental Car Makes Perfect Sense

A car gives you:

  • Total flexibility

  • Safer travel on remote roads

  • The ability to stop for every waterfall and viewpoint

  • Access to cliffs, beaches, and quiet valleys

  • Independence from sparse bus schedules

Most travellers combine the Westfjords with a ring-road loop or a flight into Bíldudalur Airport (BIU), where small rental operations sometimes offer pre-booked cars.

Without a car, you will miss most of what makes the Westfjords special.

🚗 Extra Notes on Car Hire and Flights to Bíldudalur (BIU)

When checking car-rental availability for Bíldudalur, you may struggle to find anything on the major comparison sites. I tested several date ranges, and no results appeared through the usual aggregators. However, Google Maps does show a Hertz office at Bíldudalur Airport, and booking directly through Hertz produced real availability with prices starting just over £300 per week. That figure is completely normal for Iceland: car hire here is significantly more expensive than in mainland Europe due to the country’s isolation, limited fleet sizes, and the challenging road conditions in remote regions like the Westfjords.

You should also remember that Bíldudalur is served only by tiny regional flights, so most international travellers will need to fly to Reykjavík (KEF) or Akureyri (AEY) first. Both of those airports offer far wider ranges of airlines, connections, and car-rental options. If you’re flying onward to Bíldudalur, you’ll need to change airports in Reykjavík — international flights arrive at KEF, while domestic flights depart from RKV. Even with the transfer, the trip is worth it: the approach into Bíldudalur is spectacular, weaving between fjords and mountains before dropping gently into the tiny airstrip. It’s one of the best scenic flights in Iceland and adds real magic to the journey.


🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plans in Bíldudalur Car Needed?
Staying inside the village ❌ No
Short walks + sea views ❌ No
One or two ferry-linked journeys ❔ Optional
Visiting Dynjandi or Látrabjarg ❔ Optional
Touring the Westfjords ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Bíldudalur?

  • ❌ Skip the car only if you plan to stay in the village and enjoy a peaceful retreat by the fjord.

  • ❔ Consider renting a car for anything more ambitious — because the Westfjords reward freedom, flexibility, and long scenic drives.


🚗Do we need a car in Bíldudalur? Is it worth it? Should we? Destinations | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.

🇮🇸 Factor

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🚗Should You Rent a Car in Bíldudalur?
overall should you rent a car score 9
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