Set on Iceland’s western coast, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula stretches for 55 miles into the rugged Atlantic Ocean. Like Iceland in microcosm, the peninsula is known for its glacier-capped volcano, lava and basalt landscapes and quiet, colorful fishing villages. Visiting on a day tour – either self-driving or a guided bus tour – will introduce you to all the splendor of Iceland, so if you’re short on time, this is an excellent place to focus your travels.
Here are the best things to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in Iceland.
How Do I Get to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in Iceland?
If you are self driving, drive from Reykjavik on the Ring Road (Route 1) to Route 54 in Borgarnes. You can drive around the peninsula on Route 54. To explore Snaefellsjokull National Park, use Route 574 (Utnesvegur Road). Or, take a guided bus tour and leave the driving to someone else.
What Are the Highlights of Snaefellsnes Peninsula?
If you’re making a list – and you should – here’s what not to miss in the Snaefellsnes region:
1. Marvel at the Gerouberg Basalt Cliffs
Similar to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, these jaw-dropping basalt columns look as if they were created by an ancient god. The cliffs are composed of huge hexagonal basalt columns formed by lava flows eons ago. You’ll find them off route 54, a half-hour’s drive from Borgarnes. Take a close look, if you can, to admire their geometric symmetry.
2. Drink the Water.
Really! You’ve never tasted anything quite as pure as the water at Olkelda Mineral Spring. The natural mineral spring at Olkelda Farm produces water with myriad health benefits – including an infusion of iron. There’s a public tap at which you fill up your water bottle (leave a little something in the donation box).
3. Soak in a Geothermal Bath.
Known that you’ve drunk the local mineral water, why not soak in it? After a long day of driving or hiking, treat your weary muscles to a soak at Lysuholslaug swimming pool, heated via geothermal energy and tinted a distinctive green color thanks to its rich algae content. The high mineral content is great for your skin.
4. Look for Seals at Ytri Tunga Beach.
Unlike the typical volcanic landscape of Iceland, Ytri Tunga Beach on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula’s south coast is known for its golden sand. Take a walk on the beach in hopes of seeing the stars of the show, the local seal colony that lives here and snoozes in the summertime on the black rocks.
5. Walk on a Lava Field.
It’s not every day you walk to church via a black lava field. And it’s not everyday you visit a church constructed of black wood. Don’t miss the Buoakirkja, famous for its darkly imposing look against the jagged black lava rock formations. It’s otherworldly and a bit eerie, but also looks like it could be a page in a fairytale.
6. Visit Historic Rauofeldsgja Gorge and Shout into the Songhellir Cave
Just outside Arnarstapi, off Route 574, you’ll find the Rauofeldsgja Gorge and Songhellir Cave, both of which will captivate your attention. Learn about Icelandic lore at the deep gorge, where it is said that Baroar Snaefellsass (half-man, half-troll) once ruled and now lives on as a guardian spirit. Take a hike through the ravine and see if you can feel his presence.
Keep going down the road a bit to stop at Songhellir Cave – give a shout into the cave, known for its fantastic acoustics and resulting echoes. You’ll notice graffiti that spans the centuries, including the names of two 18th-century travelers. Our friend, Mr. Snaefellsass, from the gorge, is said to have hidden out here in the cave.
7. Explore Arnarstapi Village
Again with Baroar Snaefellsass – this is where he is said to have once lived. Look for the stone statue of Boroar made by artist Ragnar Kjartansson. Once an important regional trading post, the historic village has a small population, but attracts visitors for its quaint atmosphere, charming wooden houses, the cone-shaped Stapafell mountain and Icelandic mythological significance. Look to the lava-formed cliffs, basalt columns, sea arches and caves to see arctic terns, kittiwakes and fulmars.
8. Hike on a Glacier.
At Snaefellsjokull National Park, you hike on a vast glacier, across lava fields and into caves, onto black-sand beaches, across basalt cliffs and near the Snaefellsjokull volcano. This volcano, and the surrounding landscape, is the setting for Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. Take a guided hiking tour to make the most of the national park experience. Even if you don’t choose a guided tour, don’t miss the Londrangar viewpoint, with its great vantage point on basalt sea stacks, the famous Djupalonssandur black-sand beach and the Vatnshellir Cave (an 800-year-old lava tube) and the golden-sand Skarosvik Beach.
9. Visit a Game of Thrones Shooting Locationa
Just outside Snaefellsjokull National Park, you’ll fine Kirkjufell Mountain, where parts of Game of Thrones were filmed. It’s called “Church Mountain” for its distinctive steeple shape. Hike around the area and to the waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss, which is particularly pretty against the backdrop of Church Mountain. This is also an excellent place to watch for the northern lights in the winter. After your visit, stop in Grundarfjorour for some local food and coffee.
10. Taste Fermented Shark.
It’s not everyday you get to taste hakarl (fermented shark). Give it a try at the Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum, which also operates as a food-processing business, run by a family that has been in the business for generations. The cured shark meat is typically from Greenland shark or other sleeper sharks, fermented for three months, then hung and dried for another four or five months.
11. Meet the Friendly Locals.
Having toured much of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, now it’s time to visit Stykkisholmur and hang out with the local folks. Walk along the bustling harbor and admire the traditional homes, hop on a ferry to the Westfjords, take a kayaking trip or boat tour, visit the Volcano Museum and the Library of Water – an art installation like no other, with glass tubes filled with melted Iceland glacier waters. Set on the Breioafjorour Bay, the pretty town offers an outdoor swimming pools, hotels, restaurants and more.
When Should I Visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula?
Summertime is wonderful on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, thanks to endless daylight and mild temperatures. If you don’t mind the darkness – and want a chance to see the Northern Lights – wintertime can be a great time to visits, too. The countryside is blanketed in snow and you might glimpse orca whales off the northern coast. It’s more difficult to do a self-driving tour of the peninsula at this time (October to April), so check on local road conditions before setting out.