The Snaefellsnes Peninsula (pronounced like snī-fells-nes) is in West Iceland, a few two-hour drive from the capital metropolis of Reykjavik. Since many vacationers head within the different path — both southeast alongside the coast or via the Golden Circle — you gained’t discover fairly the crowds in Snaefellsnes that you would be able to see in different components of the nation.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is just 90 kilometers lengthy, so technically you can drive your entire factor in a few hours. Nonetheless, it would be best to give your self at the very least a full day to scratch the floor of all of the issues to do one the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Snaefellsnes is one in every of my favourite areas in Iceland and it actually has all the pieces you would possibly need to see…glaciers, lava fields, waterfalls, fishing villages, black and golden sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, spectacular rock formations, you title it!
There is sufficient to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to spend just a few 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 lately took a ladies’ journey to Iceland and we spent at some point on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and stayed in a single day within the city of Stykkishólmur earlier than heading north to the West Fjords. When you have already visited the south coast of Iceland like me, visiting West Iceland makes an ideal second or third journey to Iceland.
In case you are driving to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavik, you might 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 tons that may strand your automobile and destroy the undercarriage so a 4WD could be preferable.)
Nonetheless, if you’re visiting after August, I’d extremely advocate following my ideas for Iceland within the winter and test the Safetravel.is app for street situations and closures earlier than you head out.
Whereas it’s straightforward to self-drive on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, we determined to e-book a personal tour with Hidden Iceland of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the West Fjords. It was nice to tour these areas with a neighborhood and we obtained a lot nice data about volcanic exercise, Icelandic folklore, and geology — plus we didn’t want to fret about driving or discovering our manner round.
When you would like a guided, personal tour, I extremely advocate my companion Hidden Iceland. Hidden Iceland gives totally custom-made itineraries and knowledgeable guides and by mentioning WE3TRAVEL once you contact them, they’ve graciously provided our neighborhood preferential therapy and a few further perks whereas on tour.
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 properly as a result of it meant we obtained to Kirkjufell earlier than sundown, which is a very talked-about time for photographers to collect to seize an iconic photograph. After all, 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
When you comply with this itinerary and take this route alongside street 54, the primary “must-visit” cease is in Búdir. When you have extra time, you’ll be able to cease on the Bjarnarfoss waterfall or the Ytri Tunga seashore, however to provide your self extra time to benefit from the stops on this Snaefellnes itinerary, I’d say to skip them if you’re taking a day journey.
In case you are spending a few days on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, I’d 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 tough because the Icelandic language is to pronounce (can I let you know the variety of occasions I jokingly referred to Snaefellsnes as Snuffaluffagus?), it will get simpler to decode when you study just a few 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 coloration. Lots of the church buildings in Iceland are white with pink roofs, however there are just a few of those black church buildings scattered all through the nation.
Whereas the church and the hooked up graveyard make for a reasonably photograph alternative, the true shock at this cease is the climbing trails that go right down to the seashore and throughout the dunes. You might spend hours right here when you’ve got the time, however be sure you at the very least depart your self an hour to soak within the views.
Raudfeldsgja Gorge
Raudfeldsgja just isn’t included in most excursions of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, however it’s properly well worth the cease if you’re self-driving or taking a personal tour. It’s a slender canyon within the cliff wall, which jogs my memory numerous 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 beautiful views on the return hike. In the summertime it’s potential to enter this slender ravine, however you will have to stroll via a shallow stream so you need to plan on carrying waterproof climbing boots.
As soon as inside, you’ll be able to climb over some rocks to get to a small waterfall, however you will have actually good climbing sneakers and a few waterproof gear. Gloves are additionally helpful for gripping rocks. You’ll be able to go so far as you’re feeling snug earlier than turning again. You’ll most likely want at the very least an hour at this cease as properly, relying on how far you need to climb.
Arnarstapi Cliffs
By this time, you’ll seemingly be getting hungry and there are a few meals choices at Arnarstapi. There’s a fish and chips meals truck, the place you’ll be able to eat outdoors (or in your automobile), or the Snjófell Restaurant on the Arnarstapi Middle. We opted for the restaurant for an opportunity to take a seat and calm down for a couple of minutes and likewise use their restrooms. The meals was good and the ambiance was beautiful.
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 seems to be historical however is comparatively new, and put there in honor of a neighborhood man who was very tall. I’d advocate heading left alongside the cliffs. Simply be ready to cease each few toes and marvel on the views.
There are attention-grabbing cave formations inside 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’d use warning strolling throughout this should you select, however it does make for a enjoyable photograph alternative.
Remember the fact that in Iceland, issues will not be fenced off and also you gained’t discover any railings. You’ll want to look out for cliff edges, unfastened gravel, and rogue waves.
When you proceed alongside, you’ll come to a cute harbor, which is an efficient spot to show again. You can even stroll within the different path to Hellnar, or drive to Hellnar and stroll alongside the cliffs there. However if you’re quick on time, they’re comparable experiences and you may simply choose one.
When you do need to prolong your time in Snafellsnes, you may as well in a single day in Hellnar on the Fosshotel Hellnar. Fosshotel is an Icelandic lodge chain that could be very dependable and never overpriced.
Lóndranga
The following cease alongside the street will probably be Lóndranga, which is a volcanic plug that juts up from the shoreline. You can even see the place the lava has flowed into the see. The panorama is kind 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 at the very least an hour if you wish to comply with the trail alongside the cliff. When you stroll alongside the cliffs, keep away from strolling on the sting as it’s topic to erosion and is fragile.
After Lóndranga, you can 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. Probably the most well-known is Reynisfjara, alongside the south coast. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to go to a black sand seashore on the Snaefellsnes peninsula at Djúpalónssandur.
Simply remember the fact that once you go to seashores in Iceland, there may be giant 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. When 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 seashore. Watch your step among the many rusted stays of an previous shipwreck. You can see this seashore largely manufactured from volcanic pebbles. Whereas they give the impression of being gray, should you polish them sufficient to take away that layer of volcanic ash, they shine up a deep black.
You’ll want to allot for at the very least an hour at this cease, particularly should you love photographing the black sand seashore 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 automobile 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 stage, 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 quick for a pure climb. The views from the highest are neat, however if you’re getting drained and lower than a climb, you can skip this cease. Personally, I discovered the crater at Grábrókargigum in West Iceland extra attention-grabbing. When 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 obtained a transparent view on our journey, which was disappointing, as I used to be trying 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 potential to hike the volcano to the Snaefellsjökull Glacier on a guided tour, however that takes a full day.
Kirkjufell / Arrow Mountain & Kirkjufellsfoss
Kirkjufell, additionally referred to as Arrow Mountain because of its form, is that iconic picture that folks affiliate with Snaefellsnes and essentially 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.
You can even see this mountain in Recreation 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 in style spot much more closely visited.
After an extended day, we needed 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 seemingly need to spend at the very least half-hour right here.
Professional tip: Remember the fact that the parking zone could be very small and should you park on the road or within the subject throughout the road, you may be ticketed. In case you are going for sundown, I’d get there very early to be sure to can get into the parking zone.
Stykkishólmur
I fully fell in love with the small city of Stykkishólmur. The colourful homes, charming harbor, nice eating places, and free city WiFi. It makes an incredible in a single day cease or dwelling 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’d extremely advocate Sjávarpakkhúsid for dinner. This small seafood restaurant options the freshest catch and the mussels and seafood stew are value each penny (and I don’t even like mussels!)
When you keep in a single day, Cafe Nú is an enthralling espresso store that provides espresso, tea, pastries, and different breakfast gadgets 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 the perfect half was not needing to navigate or drive — we may simply sit again and luxuriate in (or nap!) In case you are seeking to do a day tour from Reykjavik, I extremely advocate the specialists at Hidden Iceland.
The place to Keep in Snaefellsnes Peninsula
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged knowledgeable in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.