If you are looking to enjoy as many different landscapes as possible in a short amount of time, add Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula to your list. This region is located just south of the West Fjords and is home to lava rock-covered fields, a dormant volcano, lava tubes waiting to be explored, cliffs full of birds, and some of the most picturesque churches you will ever see.
While you can drive most of the region in a day, it’s only 55 miles long, to get it right you’ll want to stay overnight. There are many places to stay, from the iconic Hotel Budir to the amazing Hotel Egilsen. The beginning of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is about a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, making it the perfect stop on your way to the west fjords. It’s also a great alternative for those encountering bad weather on their way to the west fjords (roads to the region are known to be closed frequently during the winter months).
With such a diverse region, it can be difficult to narrow down the best things to see and do during your time, whether you have a day or a long weekend. We bring together the 10 things you don’t want to miss. In fact, just consider this your guide to the best Snaefellsnes Peninsula road trip.
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Budirkirkja
Direction
Garðsbrún 6, Höfn in Hornafjörður, IcelandGet directions
You have most likely seen this church on Instagram. Its black walls stand out between the fields behind it and the mountain ranges in front of it. After taking your photos, be sure to take some time to explore the vast fields behind the church. Walk back until you reach the cliffs overlooking the water; This is the best place for bird watching.
Also notable is an old estate cellar located behind the church’s cemetery. While there are no signs pointing to it or calling it out, it is a fun place to visit.
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Kirkjufell
Direction
Kirkjufell, IcelandGet directions
If you are an avid Game of Thrones watcher, you will recognize this iconic location. Kirkjufell, which means ‘Church of the Mountain’, is located just outside the small fishing village Grundarfjörður. You can hike around the base of the mountain, but experienced hikers can take a chance on the steep summit.
Don’t miss the waterfalls located less than a minute down the road. They get very crowded, so get there early to see stunning shots of the waterfalls and the mountain at sunrise.
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Gerðuberg basalt formations
Direction
West, IcelandGet directions
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If you’ve been to Vik’s black sand beaches, you’ve seen some of these rock formations before. The Gerðuberg columns form a massive wall across the valley, adding just another scenic backdrop to your road trip. The basalt columns on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula are much easier to see on a large scale, considering that the Vik are on the beach and can only be explored when the tide is out.
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Cueva Vatnshellir
Direction
Road 574, 356 Snæfellsbær, IcelandGet directions
Telephone
+354 787 0001
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You’ll need a tour guide to take you to this 8,000-year-old lava tube, but the admission price is well worth it – you’ll travel 115 feet underground! Tours are offered between 10 am and 6 pm during the summer and twice a day during the winter (see the Summit Adventure Guides website for tour times). To get there, you have to drive 10 minutes west from the town of Arnarstapi.
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Stykkishólmur
Direction
Stykkishólmur, IcelandGet directions
This fishing-focused city is located in the northern region of the peninsula. With a volcano museum, old houses that have been carefully cared for, and a restaurant housed in a former fish packing house, this is the place to visit if you are looking for a little trip back in time. The local church is also a sight to see: designed by Jon Haraldsson, it was intended to resemble a whale vertebra. It certainly stands out amongst its less modern surroundings.
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Súgandisey
Direction
Stykkishólmur, IcelandGet directions
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To get to this island, you will have to walk or drive along the causeway that connects this small piece of land from the port of Stykkishólmur. Once there, you can explore Basalt Island’s picturesque red lighthouse and panoramic views of Breiðafjörður, along with some easy hiking trails.
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Rauðfeldsgjá
Direction
IcelandGet directions
Just south of the peninsula’s glacier, Snæfellsjökull, you’ll find a deep, narrow ravine called Rauðfeldsgjá surrounded by lava fields. It’s places like this that can really put the geological activity going on under the country into physical perspective. Don’t let the view from the road turn you off; the rift is large enough to enter and explore.
If you go far enough into the ravine and follow the water source, you will come across a rope where you can climb a small waterfall and explore the rock formation more deeply. Make it to the end and you will find yourself surrounded by cliffs. This region has a very important role in the Icelandic sagas, specifically with the brothers Rauðfeldur and Sölvi.
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ÓlafsvÃk Church
Direction
Kirkjutún 2, 355 ÓlafsvÃk, IcelandGet directions
Telephone
+354 436 1375
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This church – professional council: “kirkja” means “church” – is made entirely of triangular shapes. And while its exterior is enough to warrant a stop, try to visit during a time when the church is open to visitors. You can’t miss the triangular view from the inside.
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Glacier Snæfellsjökull
Direction
Snæfellsjökull, IcelandGet directions
This 700,000-year-old glacier is located in the westernmost part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Driving on the glacier will give you some amazing views, but there are many tour guides who will take you to the glacier for a walk or climb to the summit on a snowy peak. Although the last eruption occurred more than 1,800 years ago, this stratovolcano is still active. This is the volcano on which Jules Verne centered his story “A journey to the center of the Earth.”
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Djúpalón Beach
Direction
Unnamed road Iceland, IcelandGet directions
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Also known as The Black Pearl Beach, Djúpalón Beach is a short walk down the NautastÃgur path, which takes you to shore from the nearby parking lot. You will get a closer look at the lava rock formations as you walk to the beach. Look out for Gatklettur, a strange rock with a hole. Take a look and you will notice a perfect setting around the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Behind the road are two freshwater lagoons called deep lagoons, or Djupulón. The locals believe that these lagoons have healing properties.
If you see pieces of orange metal along the beach, don’t worry, and don’t touch them. These are pieces of remains from the British trawler The Epine GY7, which passed away in the cove on March 13, 1948. The remaining remains are left in place to honor those who lost their lives.
