The Snaefellsnes Peninsula (pronounced like snī-fells-nes) is in West Iceland, a couple of two-hour drive from the capital metropolis of Reykjavik. Since many vacationers head within the different course — both southeast alongside the coast or by way of the Golden Circle — you gained’t discover fairly the crowds in Snaefellsnes that you would be able to see in different elements of the nation.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is simply 90 kilometers lengthy, so technically you could possibly drive the whole factor in a few hours. Nonetheless, it would be best to give your self not less than a full day to scratch the floor of all of the issues to do one the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Snaefellsnes is one among my favourite areas in Iceland and it actually has the whole lot you may need to see…glaciers, lava fields, waterfalls, fishing villages, black and golden sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, spectacular rock formations, you identify it!
There is sufficient to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to spend a number of days, however since many individuals go to as a day journey from Reykjavik, I’ve put collectively a one-day Snaefellsnes Peninsula itinerary.
Attending to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
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I not too long ago took a ladies’ journey to Iceland and we spent sooner or later on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and stayed in a single day within the city of Stykkishólmur earlier than heading north to the West Fjords. You probably have already visited the south coast of Iceland like me, visiting West Iceland makes an ideal second or third journey to Iceland.
If you’re driving to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavik, it’s possible you’ll need to make a pit cease for restrooms and snacks on the N1 in Borgarnes. The roads round Snaefellsnes are in good situation (though look ahead to deep potholes in parking heaps that may strand your automotive and destroy the undercarriage so a 4WD is perhaps preferable.)
Nonetheless, if you’re visiting after August, I might extremely advocate following my suggestions for Iceland within the winter and test the Safetravel.is app for highway circumstances and closures earlier than you head out.
Whereas it’s simple to self-drive on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, we determined to e book a non-public tour with Hidden Iceland of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the West Fjords. It was nice to tour these areas with a neighborhood and we received a lot nice information about volcanic exercise, Icelandic folklore, and geology — plus we didn’t want to fret about driving or discovering our approach round.
Obtain 10% off scheduled group excursions from Hidden Iceland with promo code We3TRAVEL.
Most Snaefellsnes day excursions will journey counterclockwise, beginning in Stykkishólmur. Nonetheless, since we have been staying there in a single day after which heading north the next day, it made extra sense for us to go to the southern facet of the peninsula first and finish in Stykkishólmur.
Map supply: Google My Maps
This timing labored out effectively as a result of it meant we received to Kirkjufell earlier than sundown, which is a very fashionable time for photographers to collect to seize an iconic picture. In fact, it was fairly overcast after we have been there so we weren’t going to get superb sundown photos anyway.
Issues to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
In the event you comply with this itinerary and take this route alongside highway 54, the primary “must-visit” cease is in Búdir. You probably have extra time, you may cease on the Bjarnarfoss waterfall or the Ytri Tunga seaside, however to provide your self extra time to benefit from the stops on this Snaefellnes itinerary, I might say to skip them if you’re taking a day journey.
If you’re spending a few days on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, I might additionally advocate spending an evening at Lodge Búdir and taking your time exploring the numerous trails and pure sights close by.
Budakirkja / Black Church
As troublesome because the Icelandic language is to pronounce (can I inform you the variety of occasions I jokingly referred to Snaefellsnes as Snuffaluffagus?), it will get simpler to decode when you be taught a number of fundamentals. For instance:
- Kirkja = church
- Vik = bay
- Foss = waterfall
- Kull = glacier
Get it? That’s why so most of the names sound alike. So Budakirkja is a church in Búdir. A fairly well-known one too due to its black shade. Most of the church buildings in Iceland are white with crimson roofs, however there are a number of of those black church buildings scattered all through the nation.
Whereas the church and the connected graveyard make for a reasonably picture alternative, the true shock at this cease is the mountain climbing trails that go right down to the seaside and throughout the dunes. You could possibly spend hours right here you probably have the time, however make sure you not less than depart your self an hour to soak within the views.
Raudfeldsgja Gorge
Raudfeldsgja shouldn’t be included in most excursions of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, however it’s effectively definitely worth the cease if you’re self-driving or taking a non-public tour. It’s a slim canyon within the cliff wall, which jogs my memory loads of the Gljúfrabúi waterfall simply down the trail from Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the south coast.
It’s a little bit of an uphill climb from the parking zone to the gorge, however you may be rewarded with attractive views on the return hike. In the summertime it’s doable to enter this slim ravine, however you have to to stroll by way of a shallow stream so you must plan on sporting waterproof mountain climbing boots.
As soon as inside, you may climb over some rocks to get to a small waterfall, however you have to actually good mountain climbing footwear and a few waterproof gear. Gloves are additionally helpful for gripping rocks. You’ll be able to go so far as you are feeling comfy earlier than turning again. You’ll most likely want not less than an hour at this cease as effectively, relying on how far you need to climb.
Arnarstapi Cliffs
By this time, you’ll probably be getting hungry and there are a few meals choices at Arnarstapi. There’s a fish and chips meals truck, the place you may eat exterior (or in your automotive), or the Snjófell Restaurant on the Arnarstapi Middle. We opted for the restaurant for an opportunity to sit down and loosen up for a couple of minutes and likewise use their restrooms. The meals was good and the ambiance was pretty.
After lunch, it’s good to take a stroll alongside the cliffs. You’ll be able to comply with the trail out to the stone large. It appears historic however is comparatively new, and put there in honor of a neighborhood man who was very tall. I might advocate heading left alongside the cliffs. Simply be ready to cease each few ft and marvel on the views.
There are fascinating cave formations throughout the basalt cliffs and the view jogs my memory of the Cliffs of Moher in Eire. As you stroll across the cliffs to the left, additionally, you will come to a land bridge. I might use warning strolling throughout this when you select, however it does make for a enjoyable picture alternative.
Needless to say in Iceland, issues should not fenced off and also you gained’t discover any railings. You’ll want to look out for cliff edges, free gravel, and rogue waves.
In the event you proceed alongside, you’ll come to a cute harbor, which is an efficient spot to show again. It’s also possible to stroll within the different course to Hellnar, or drive to Hellnar and stroll alongside the cliffs there. However if you’re brief on time, they’re comparable experiences and you may simply decide one.
In the event you do need to lengthen your time in Snafellsnes, you too can in a single day in Hellnar on the Fosshotel Hellnar. Fosshotel is an Icelandic resort chain that may be very dependable and never overpriced.
Lóndranga
The following cease alongside the highway will probably be Lóndranga, which is a volcanic plug that juts up from the shoreline. It’s also possible to see the place the lava has flowed into the see. The panorama is sort of dramatic.
It may be a fast 30-minute cease if all you need to do is stroll as much as the overlook and take some images. Nonetheless, give yourselves not less than an hour if you wish to comply with the trail alongside the cliff. In the event you stroll alongside the cliffs, keep away from strolling on the sting as it’s topic to erosion and is fragile.
After Lóndranga, you could possibly cease and take a tour of the Vatnshellir lava cave. Nonetheless, if time is proscribed, there’s a higher cave expertise nearer to Reykjavik at The Lava Tunnel.
Djúpalónssandur
There are a lot of black sand seashores throughout Iceland, attributable to the volcanic ash from over 130 volcanoes. One of the crucial well-known is Reynisfjara, alongside the south coast. Nonetheless, you may go to a black sand seaside on the Snaefellsnes peninsula at Djúpalónssandur.
Simply understand that once you go to seashores in Iceland, there will be massive rogue waves and a powerful undertow that may sweep you out to see. Keep alert and don’t get too near the sting, particularly along with your again turned for a selfie. In the event you see a warning signal, it’s there for good cause!
At Djúpalónssandur, there are a lot of areas to discover however positively comply with the trail right down to the seaside. Watch your step among the many rusted stays of an previous shipwreck. You will see that this seaside largely fabricated from volcanic pebbles. Whereas they appear gray, when you polish them sufficient to take away that layer of volcanic ash, they shine up a deep black.
You’ll want to allot for not less than an hour at this cease, particularly when you love photographing the black sand seaside and rock formations!
Saxhóll Crater
Saxhóll is a volcanic crater left by a volcanic eruption 3,000 years in the past. Watch out within the parking zone because it has its personal craters and we noticed one automotive caught hanging because the undercarriage was caught on a rock and the tires have been off the bottom.
The crater rises 109 meters above sea degree, so the climb up the steps to look into the highest is a bit steep. The steps are additionally an odd form, too extensive to take two steps at a time however too brief for a pure climb. The views from the highest are neat, however if you’re getting drained and less than a climb, you could possibly skip this cease. Personally, I discovered the crater at Grábrókargigum in West Iceland extra fascinating. In the event you do cease, it shouldn’t take greater than half-hour to discover.
Snaefellsjökull
Snaefellsjökull is the volcano with the glacier on high that dominates the panorama as you loop across the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the Nationwide Park. That’s when it isn’t obscured by clouds, which is it a lot of the time.
We by no means received a transparent view on our journey, which was disappointing, as I used to be wanting ahead to seeing the place that so impressed Jules Verne that’s the place the characters in Journey to the Middle of the Earth enter the earth’s core.
It’s doable to hike the volcano to the Snaefellsjökull Glacier on a guided tour, however that takes a full day.
Kirkjufell / Arrow Mountain & Kirkjufellsfoss
Kirkjufell, additionally known as Arrow Mountain on account of its form, is that iconic picture that folks affiliate with Snaefellsnes and probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland. You will notice photographers lining up with their tripods on the far facet of the waterfall (Kirkufellsfoss) an hour or two earlier than sundown to seize the picture of the solar taking place behind the mountain.
It’s also possible to see this mountain in Sport of Thrones in Season 7, episode 6 the place they head north of the wall, and in Season 6 the place they present the creation of the White Walkers. This after all has made an already common spot much more closely visited.
After an extended day, we wished to proceed on to Stykkishólmur and test into our Airbnb earlier than the eating places closed so we didn’t wait round for sundown. Even with out hanging out for sundown, you’ll probably need to spend not less than half-hour right here.
Professional tip: Needless to say the parking zone may be very small and when you park on the road or within the area throughout the road, you may be ticketed. If you’re going for sundown, I might get there very early to ensure you can get into the parking zone.
Stykkishólmur
I utterly fell in love with the small city of Stykkishólmur. The colourful homes, charming harbor, nice eating places, and free city WiFi. It makes an ideal in a single day cease or residence base for exploring the Snaefellsnes peninsula.
Even if you’re simply stopping for dinner earlier than heading again to Reykjavik, plan a while in Stykkishólmur. There are just a few eating places on the town so it would be best to name forward for reservations. I might extremely advocate Sjávarpakkhúsid for dinner. This small seafood restaurant options the freshest catch and the mussels and seafood stew are price each penny (and I don’t even like mussels!)
In the event you keep in a single day, Cafe Nú is an enthralling espresso store that gives espresso, tea, pastries, and different breakfast objects earlier than you head out within the morning.
You’ll be able to keep in a single day within the Fosshotel Stykkishólmur, or do what we did and hire a flat. Our trip rental had three bedrooms and an enormous lounge and kitchen space — good for teams or households.
I actually cherished our time in Snaefellsnes with Ryan from Hidden Iceland. We discovered a lot about glaciers, volcanoes, and lava flows and one of the best half was not needing to navigate or drive — we may simply sit again and revel in (or nap!) If you’re trying to do a day tour from Reykjavik, I extremely advocate the consultants at Hidden Iceland. As a reader, you may get 10% off a scheduled group tour from Hidden Iceland with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
The place to Keep in Snaefellsnes Peninsula
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