Snæfellsnes Peninsula is often called “Iceland in Miniature” because it packs the country’s most breathtaking landscapes into one region. I’ve explored its glacier-capped volcanoes, dramatic sea cliffs, black sand beaches, and charming fishing villages, and I can confidently say it’s a must-visit for any traveler.
Whether you’re chasing the eerie beauty of Snæfellsjökull National Park, the raw power of Kirkjufell Mountain, or the rugged coastlines of Arnarstapi and Hellnar, this peninsula offers some of the most stunning sights in Iceland.
Driving the Snæfellsnes Peninsula takes about two hours without stops, but trust me, you’ll want a full day—or even two—to truly experience its magic. This region is steeped in Viking history, folklore, and the mystical energy of Snæfellsjökull Glacier, which inspired Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. Along the way, you’ll find lava fields, basalt sea stacks, hot springs, and even a hidden golden beach that many tourists miss.
In this guide, I’ll take you through the absolute best places to visit in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, covering famous landmarks, hidden gems, and the best times to visit. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, nature lover, or photographer, this list will help you plan an unforgettable Icelandic road trip.
10 Top Things to See on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, fishing villages, black sand beaches and even seals! This corner of Iceland does not disappoint travellers looking for adventure and dreamlike landscapes.
In addition, its location not too far north of Reykjavik, and its accessibility, make it a very popular 1-day excursion from the capital. We visited it on our 10-day route through Iceland , and spent a night in the Vatnsás 10 cabins , in the small town of Stykkishólmur (highly recommended!).
How long does it take to see the Snaefellsnes Peninsula? We think that 2 days are more than enough to explore this area of Iceland, although in a single day you can visit its main points of interest and visit a few curious places, even drive inside a volcano hehe, but no spoilers! Don't want to rent a car? From Reykjavik you have this 1-day tour to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula , perfect for those travelers who plan to base themselves in the capital.
Ready to start a route that will take you to discover the best of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in Iceland ? Let's go!
1. Stykkishólmur, one of the most beautiful villages in Iceland
Small but picturesque, bathed by the cold waters of the North Atlantic, Stykkishólmur is one of the prettiest and most peaceful villages we saw on our trip around Iceland. It is located in the north of the Peninsula, with views of the fjord, colorful houses and a handful of places where you can have a hot drink.
Some of the things to do here are to go and see its curious lighthouse that looks more like a big red post box, look at the town church with its rather surprising architecture (if they tell you it's a bunker to fight off a Martian invasion, you'll believe them), take a look at the historic Norway House built in 1832 (with wood from Norway) and which currently functions as a museum, and end the day with a dip in the town's thermal pools (less than €10). We'll tell you which are the best thermal baths and pools in Iceland .
If your travel plans include visiting the Western Fjords , from this town you can take a ferry to Brjánslaekur, a very cool panoramic crossing that lasts about 3 hours and will allow you to save a good stretch of roads (not all of them paved).
2. Kirkjufellfoss waterfall
It is one of the most iconic images of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and indeed of all Iceland. And the reason is not the size of the waterfall, nor its flow, nor even its surroundings, its greatest attraction is the composition of the scene , with the small waterfall in the foreground and behind it, the appearance of the cone-shaped Kirkjufell mountain (paid parking: 1,000 ISK).
Is it cool? Yes. Is it impressive? Not so much, and after having seen loads of waterfalls spread across the country, this one doesn't seem to be one of the best. But it's close to the road and it's still one of the top places to see in Iceland, don't miss it! We also read that it's a very popular place for photography lovers, especially on freezing winter nights, when the chances of taking a great photo with the Northern Lights are high.
As I said, the waterfall is not much, but the image is quite unusual. Even the Vikings revered this place and considered it sacred . We don't know if they took this into account when choosing it as a setting for Game of Thrones , but don't worry because the last white walker was spotted lurking around there a long time ago 😉
Top tip : In the nearby, quiet village of Grundarfjörður, we had a great value lunch at Kaffi 59 , which included a set menu for around 2,700 ISK (less than €18). The lunch buffet included soup, main course, potatoes/salads, bread, homemade cake and coffee (if it's carrot afternoon when you go, don't even think about it). It ended up being one of our favourite restaurants in Iceland.
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3. Urban Art in Hellissandur
We were surprised to discover that in this remote corner of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula there is a world of colour and a little bit of madness . The sleepy fishing village of Hellissandur has made its walls available to urban artists , who with their creations have turned it into the street art capital of Iceland . And we like decorated walls more than a bear loves honey (at least in cartoons), so off we went.
A walk around the small town will take you no more than 10-20 minutes and yes, there are some nice murals. We also saw some typical grass-roofed houses which turned out to be the maritime museum , which houses an exhibition about fishing and nature (back to the boring stuff).
4. Saxhóll Crater
Climb up to the crater of a volcano? Why not? And even more so when they make it so easy for you that there is even a handy little staircase that takes you to the top! There are about 300 steps that separate you from the top of this extinct volcano, but they are quite short and the climb is done in a flash. Once at the top, enjoy the views of the enormous snow-capped peaks that surround you , and if the day is clear, you can even see the Snaefellsjökull glacier in the distance .
Note : Only go up if the weather conditions are good, as the wind can be very strong up there.
The volcanoes don't end here, not even the volcanoes that can be easily visited... Pay attention, there's a surprise coming... A few km away is the Hólahólar Crater , which, in addition to its curious name, can be accessed by car! Yes, yes, we drove inside a volcano crater, and that doesn't happen very often in life 😉
5. Snaefellsjökull National Park
This park with an unpronounceable name is nature in its purest form. Its greatest jewel is the Snaefellsjökull stratovolcano and glacier , always covered in snow and so enormous that it can be seen from the entire peninsula, and even from the capital on clear days. But that is not its only attraction, the national park is full of lava fields , dizzying cliffs , other volcanoes of larger or smaller size, and for lovers of ornithology, many species of birds live here (some friendlier than others hehe).
We understand that the trails are open in summer , but to reach the top of the glacier you need to book a guided tour. In any case, our advice is to go to one of the two Visitor Centers and ask about all the available options. More information .
Fun fact : it is said that Jules Verne was inspired by this National Park to write his most famous book, ' Journey to the Centre of the Earth '. In fact, he decided to place the door “to the centre of the Earth” right in the Snaefellsjökull glacier. It is also the setting for the novel ' Under the Glacier ', written by the Icelandic Nobel Prize winner Halldor Laxness.
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6. Djúpalónssandur and Lóndrangar Beach
Djúpalónssandur is a black sand beach dotted with rock formations and cliffs . It is supposedly a famous spot for having the remains of a fishing boat that was wrecked here, but in reality they are just a few pieces of metal which, in our opinion, are not that great. The best thing about the beach is… the beach itself, which obviously looks better in summer on a sunny day. If you fancy a refreshing swim, think carefully: the currents are strong and swimming here is dangerous. You have been warned.
A few kilometres further on is the coastal area of Lóndangar , with its impressive basalt towers and cliffs reaching 75 metres in height. There are a couple of viewing points to observe the beauty of this wild stretch of coastline, with hundreds of seagulls and other nesting birds (the cute puffins could pass by!).
7. Arnarstapi village and surroundings
Another fishing village to stop at on your route through Snaefellsnes is Arnastapi. We made a note of it after some friends recommended us to try the crepes at Samkomuhsid Arnastapa , so we recycled their advice. In addition, the surroundings of the village are very pretty, with cliffs and formations (the Gatklettur stands out , shaped like an arch, or the Stone Bridge , this one shaped like a bridge). And the statue of Bárður Snæfellsás , a monument of stacked stones that remembers the troll Bardur who, according to mythology, populated and ruled these lands.
If the weather is nice and you fancy stretching your legs a bit, this area is perfect for some nice walks along the cliffs , especially in summer when everything is covered in green. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful coastal stretches in the entire Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
8. Búðakirkja Church
You've probably seen it in a photo before, and this black wooden church is one of the icons of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It was built in 1848 and functioned —and still does— as an Evangelical Lutheran Church, with its pastor and everything. Unfortunately, it is currently closed, unless you want to rent it to celebrate an event or ceremony (don't you fancy an Icelandic wedding?) at the modest price of €400 for 3 hours.
Hey, it's only a short stop, so we recommend making it.
9. Ytri Tunga Beach
One of the best things to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is to visit this beach, not just to take a dip, but to enjoy a natural spectacle that is a bit stinky but wonderful: seeing seals in the wild . The best thing is that the seals stay in this territory all year round , so no matter when you go, you will have the opportunity to see them. It is worth remembering that you should not approach them, feed them, or interact with them.
Parking costs 750 ISK and is just a few steps from the beach, then you can walk back and forth "hunting" for seals, who will surely look at you with curious eyes as soon as they notice your presence.
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10. Gerðuberg Cliffs
It is basically a stone wall made up of dozens and dozens of hexagonal basalt columns that were formed millions of years ago, after the contraction and cooling of magma and the erosion of water and wind. Mind you, they are known as "cliffs" but they are actually inside, and we have to admit that they left us a little meh. But hey... we were at the end of the trip and we already knew it: Iceland sets the bar very high!
Parking is free and is located practically next to the rock wall, from where you can see it clearly.
More things to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Do you have more time and still want to explore other places on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula? Then take note of these ideas:
- Being a coastal area, there are plenty of photogenic lighthouses scattered around the cliffs, where you can stop to move your legs a bit and take some photos. The prettiest are those at Ondberdarnes and Svörtuloft.
- To access Vatnshellir Cave you have to sign up for a tour, but it is definitely worth it. During the tour you will discover all the nooks and crannies of this lava tube that is thousands of years old. The activity lasts just under an hour and costs around €36.
- Something original to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is an orca watching tour that departs from Ólafsvík between May and September.
- There is a very nice abandoned fishing boat on a beach (you can even climb on it to recreate your version of the Titanic hehe, like our friends Claudia and Jairo did). You can find it on Google by searching for lagði af stað skip SANDGERÐI .
- There are several waterfalls (of course) in this region, among which we highlight Selvallafoss , a stop for many tours. We also flew the drone next to a volcano, on road 56 before arriving, and it was beautiful! Another beautiful waterfall to see in the area is Grundarfoss , which we were content with seeing from the road.
Tips for visiting the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Here are some extra recommendations to make your visit as good as possible:
- Depending on whether you drive the Ring Road clockwise or counter-clockwise, your visit to this peninsula will be the last or the first before/after Reykjavik, as it is located just north of the capital , about 2 hours by car away. Keep in mind that to get there/leave you have to go through the Hvalfjadargöng tunnel (free), which has a curious feature: it is more than 150 meters below sea level!
- There are not many accommodation options in this area, so the best advice we can give you is to book in advance ! We chose Vatnsás 10 and we were very comfortable: the village is one of the prettiest in the region and the apartments are well appointed.
- There aren't too many gas stations either , so don't let your tank drop below half full.
- On the way to Reykjavik you can make a short detour to visit the Hvammsvik thermal baths ( more information ), right next to a fjord. They are not very expensive, there are different prices (from 35€) depending exclusively on the type of clothing, but access to the pools is the same. You can also go on a day trip from Reykjavik.
Map of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
To help you plan your route around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, here is a map with the location of the best places to visit and points of interest to keep in mind:
As you can see, there are quite a few places to visit on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula , so we hope you take note of this post and plan a nice route through this part of Iceland. Do you know of any more things to see on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula ?
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