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 by way of the Golden Circle — you gained’t discover fairly the crowds in Snaefellsnes you can see in different elements of the nation.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is simply 90 kilometers lengthy, so technically you would drive your entire factor in a few hours. Nevertheless, it would be best to give your self at the 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 things 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 couple 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 lately took a women’ 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. In case you 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, chances are 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 may be preferable.)
Nevertheless, if you’re visiting after August, I might extremely suggest following my suggestions for Iceland within the winter and examine the Safetravel.is app for street circumstances and closures earlier than you head out.
Whereas it’s simple to self-drive on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, we determined to ebook 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 acquired a lot nice data about volcanic exercise, Icelandic folklore, and geology — plus we didn’t want to fret about driving or discovering our approach round.
If you happen to would favor a guided, personal tour, I extremely suggest my accomplice Hidden Iceland. Hidden Iceland affords absolutely personalized itineraries and knowledgeable guides and by mentioning WE3TRAVEL while you contact them, they’ve graciously supplied our group preferential remedy and a few extra perks whereas on tour.
Most Snaefellsnes day excursions will journey counterclockwise, beginning in Stykkishólmur. Nevertheless, since we had 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 acquired to Kirkjufell earlier than sundown, which is a very talked-about time for photographers to collect to seize an iconic picture. After all, it was fairly overcast once we had been there so we weren’t going to get superb sundown footage anyway.
Issues to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
If you happen to observe this itinerary and take this route alongside street 54, the primary “must-visit” cease is in Búdir. In case you have extra time, you’ll be able to cease on the Bjarnarfoss waterfall or the Ytri Tunga seaside, however to offer 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 suggest spending an evening at Lodge Búdir and taking your time exploring the various trails and pure points of interest close by.
Budakirkja / Black Church
As tough because the Icelandic language is to pronounce (can I inform you the variety of instances I jokingly referred to Snaefellsnes as Snuffaluffagus?), it will get simpler to decode when you study a couple of fundamentals. For instance:
- Kirkja = church
- Vik = bay
- Foss = waterfall
- Kull = glacier
Get it? That’s why so lots of the names sound alike. So Budakirkja is a church in Búdir. A reasonably well-known one too due to its black colour. Lots of the church buildings in Iceland are white with pink roofs, however there are a couple of of those black church buildings scattered all through the nation.
Whereas the church and the hooked up graveyard make for a fairly picture alternative, the actual shock at this cease is the climbing trails that go right down to the seaside and throughout the dunes. You can spend hours right here you probably have the time, however be sure you at the least go away your self an hour to soak within the views.
Raudfeldsgja Gorge
Raudfeldsgja is just not included in most excursions of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, however it’s properly definitely worth the cease if you’re self-driving or taking a non-public tour. It’s a slender canyon within the cliff wall, which jogs my memory plenty 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 car 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 slender ravine, however you will have to stroll by way of a shallow stream so you must 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 footwear and a few waterproof gear. Gloves are additionally helpful for gripping rocks. You possibly can go so far as you are feeling comfy earlier than turning again. You’ll most likely want at the least an hour at this cease as properly, relying on how far you need to climb.
Arnarstapi Cliffs
By this time, you’ll possible 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 automotive), or the Snjófell Restaurant on the Arnarstapi Heart. 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 environment was beautiful.
After lunch, it’s good to take a stroll alongside the cliffs. You possibly can observe the trail out to the stone large. It seems to be historic however is comparatively new, and put there in honor of a neighborhood man who was very tall. I might suggest heading left alongside the cliffs. Simply be ready to cease each few ft and marvel on the views.
There are fascinating 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 might use warning strolling throughout this if you happen to select, nevertheless it does make for a enjoyable picture alternative.
Take into account that 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.
If you happen to proceed alongside, you’ll come to a cute harbor, which is an effective 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 brief on time, they’re related experiences and you’ll simply choose one.
If you happen to 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 lodge chain that could be very dependable and never overpriced.
Lóndranga
The following cease alongside the street will likely 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 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 pictures. Nevertheless, give yourselves at the least an hour if you wish to observe the trail alongside the cliff. If you happen to stroll alongside the cliffs, keep away from strolling on the sting as it’s topic to erosion and is fragile.
After Lóndranga, you would cease and take a tour of the Vatnshellir lava cave. Nevertheless, if time is restricted, there’s a higher cave expertise nearer to Reykjavik at The Lava Tunnel.
Djúpalónssandur
There are numerous 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. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to go to a black sand seaside on the Snaefellsnes peninsula at Djúpalónssandur.
Simply remember that while 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 together with your again turned for a selfie. If you happen to see a warning signal, it’s there for good cause!
At Djúpalónssandur, there are various areas to discover however positively observe the trail right down to the seaside. Watch your step among the many rusted stays of an previous shipwreck. You’ll discover this seaside largely made from volcanic pebbles. Whereas they give the impression of being gray, if you happen to 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 least an hour at this cease, particularly if you happen to 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 car 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 had 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 broad 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 would skip this cease. Personally, I discovered the crater at Grábrókargigum in West Iceland extra fascinating. If you happen to do cease, it shouldn’t take greater than half-hour to discover.
Snaefellsjökull
Snaefellsjökull is the volcano with the glacier on prime 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 acquired 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 Heart 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 attributable to 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 a protracted day, we needed to proceed on to Stykkishólmur and examine 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 possible need to spend at the least half-hour right here.
Professional tip: Take into account that the car parking zone could be very small and if you happen to park on the road or within the discipline throughout the road, you may be ticketed. If you’re going for sundown, I might get there very early to be sure to can get into the car 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 important in a single day cease or house 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 suggest 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!)
If you happen to keep in a single day, Cafe Nú is a captivating espresso store that provides espresso, tea, pastries, and different breakfast objects earlier than you head out within the morning.
You possibly can 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 liked 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 might simply sit again and luxuriate in (or nap!) If you’re seeking to do a day tour from Reykjavik, I extremely suggest 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 and marketing 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.
