The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its stunning landscapes and diverse natural sights. From volcanoes and waterfalls to scenic beaches and dramatic cliffs, there’s plenty to explore. Whether you’re travelling around Iceland or spending a few days in Reykjavík, a day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a must. In this article, we share our sample itinerary for a perfect day trip from Reykjavík.
How to Get to Snaefellsnes Peninsula
The easiest way to explore Snaefellsnes Peninsula is by car. Rental cars are widely available in Reykjavík, and driving gives you the flexibility to stop wherever you like along the way. From Reykjavik, follow the Ring Road (Route 1) north until you reach Borgarnes, then turn onto Route 54. The drive to the western part of the peninsula takes around 2.5 hours.
Always check road conditions and weather alerts, especially in the colder months. The websites road.is and safetravel.is provide up-to-date information on conditions and weather alerts. Remember to keep your headlights on at all times, as this is required year-round in Iceland.
Alternatively, you can visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula on a group bus tour. Here are few options to pick from:
We visited Snæfellsnes Peninsula in summer as part of our Road Trip Around Iceland. Thanks to the long daylight hours, we were able to see everything on our itinerary within just one day. If you plan to stay overnight in the peninsula, be sure to book well in advance – accommodation options are limited and fill quickly.
Here are our top recommendations for things to see and do on a perfect day trip to Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss
One of the most popular sights on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is the mountain of Kirkjufell. Rising 463 meters above the north coast near the town of Grundarfjörður, it’s one of Iceland’s most photographed landmarks – featured on countless postcards, souvenirs, and travel ads.
The name Kirkjufell translates as ‘Church Mountain’, as apparently its shape resembles a church. In earlier times, Danish sailors referred to it as “the sugar top”.
The base of Kirkjufell is believed to have formed more than a million years ago, early in the Ice Age. It contains fossils of organisms that lived during that time, offering a glimpse into Iceland’s ancient past. The upper part of the mountain formed during later periods of the Ice Age with lava layers stacking on top of each other, and later formed by glacier erosion.
Park your car at the Kirkjufellsfoss Parking Lot and take a short walk to Kirkjufellsfoss – a small waterfall just beside the mountain. There are few nice viewpoints to Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss – great for taking photos or just enjoying the view.
It’s a wonderful place to walk around and simply admire the views and the nature. We arrived at Kirkjufell early in the morning, when only a handful of other visitors were there. We enjoyed our morning coffee in that beautiful spot, spent some time walking around and taking photos, and then continued on to our next stop of the one-day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Ondverdarnes.
Ondverdarnes, Svortuloft Lighthouse and Skarðsvík Beach
Ondverdarnes is the westernmost point of Snaefellsnes Peninsula. In earlier times, it was an important centre for the local fishing industry. Today, this narrow stretch of land is strikingly scenic, with vast lava fields on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
At the southern point of Ondverdarnes stands Svortuloft Lighthouse – a 6 meter tall bright orange building. The road leading to the lighthouse is narrow and winding – take extra care when driving – and ends with a tiny parking lot. From there, walk to the Svortuloft Lighthouse, where you can enjoy the views of the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean.
Another highlight in Ondverdarnes is Skarðsvík Beach. It’s one of the few beaches in Iceland with yellow sand. Make a stop there to stretch your legs on the way to Svortuloft Lighthouse.
Djupalonssandur Beach
On Google Maps, Djupalonssandur is marked as “black-sand beach with a shipwreck”. In reality, it’s much more than that. The beach is dotted with cool rock formations, stretches of black sand and smooth pebbles, a small lagoon, and dramatic cliffs that frame the coastline.
From the carpark, follow the narrow pathway among the rocky formations down to the beach. Along the way you’ll come across Gatklettur, a lava rock with a natural hole in the middle
You can follow a pathway to the right, which leads to the beach from the side of a small lagoon called Djúpulón (“Deep Lagoon”). From there, turn back to admire the views over the lagoons and lava formations, with the Snæfellsjökull volcano rising in the distance:
As you step onto the beach, you’ll notice four distinctive stones of varying sizes laying together. They are the Aflraunasteinar – also known as Steinatök or Icelandic lifting-stones. In the past, fishermen tested their strength by lifting these heavy stones, a tradition that determined whether they were considered fit for work at sea.
Scattered across the beach you’ll see old, rusted pieces of metal. These are the remains of a British trawler that was wrecked here in 1948.
If you’re visiting with children they’ll enjoy playing with the smooth pebbles and exploring the unusual rock formations on the beach.
We truly enjoyed our time at Djupalonssandur, and it easily became one of our favourite spots on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Londrangar
The next point of interest is Londrangar. Londrangar is a pair of volcanic rock pillars rising from the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Park your car at the Lóndrangar Parking and take a short walk to the viewing platform above the cliffs. From here, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the dramatic coastline and its basalt formations.
The Londrangar pillars and the surrounding cliffs are inhabited by a variety of seabirds. Local legends claim that the area around Londrangar is also inhabited by elves. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any elves during our visit, but we did enjoy watching the birds from the viewing platform.
Another way to see Londrangar pillars is to park at Snaefellsjokull National Park D.I.O and walk towards Malarrif lighthouse. From there, you will see the pillars from their western side. If you’d like a closer look, continue along the trail all the way to Lóndrangar itself.
Arnarstapi
Arnarstapi is a small village a short drive from Londrangar. It’s known for its dramatic coastal scenery and unusual rock formations. One of the most striking is Gatklettur – a natural stone arch formed by centuries of erosion.
While in Arnarstapi, check out a statue made of stacked up rocks – Bárðar Saga Snæfellsáss Statue, that honours the legendary guardian spirit of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You’ll also find a monument to Jules Verne. Did you know that Jules Verne chose Arnarstapi and the nearby Snæfellsjökull volcano as the entrance to the Earth’s core in his classic novel “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”?
We stopped in Arnarstapi for a quick coffee and snack break. The village has a handful of cafes and restaurants, and if you’re planning to spend the night on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, you’ll also find a few accommodation options here.
Rauðfeldsgjá Ravine
Rauðfeldsgjá Ravine is a high, narrow gorge located not far from the village of Arnarstapi. The dramatic opening in the mountainside is both tall and wide, and it can be seen from the road as you approach.
Park at the designated carpark and walk towards the Rauðfeldsgjá Ravine. We would recommend waterproof shoes when visiting this place as you have to walk over a water stream to get inside the ravine.
To get inside, we had to jump from stone to stone in the stream of water flowing out of the ravine. Passing through the narrow opening, we entered the first chamber, enclosed by towering rock walls. To continue deeper inside, you need to climb a few meters along the water’s path. As we weren’t prepared to get soaked, and the climb didn’t seem suitable with children, we decided not to go further.
Even if you don’t plan to go deeper into Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, the place and the views to the valley below are still worth a visit.
Bjarnarfoss Waterfall
Bjarnarfoss is a tall, cascading waterfall in the southern part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Visibile from the main road, it makes an easy stop. Park at the nearby carpark and follow the walking path to the base of the falls.
For a closer view, it’s possible to climb up to the basalt pillars beside the waterfall. A little further down the hill you will find a few picnic tables – perfect for a short rest.
Ytri Tunga Beach
If you’d like to see Icelandic seals in the wild, head to Ytri Tunga beach next.
Here, on the rocky beach a short walk from the carpark, you can watch seals resting in the distance. Please don’t try to approach the seals – both to respect the wildlife and because seals may attack if startled. It’s a good idea to bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens when visiting Ytri Tunga beach.
A visit to Ytri Tunga beach marks the end of the trip around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. From here, begin making your way back to Reykjavik.
The Basalt Columns of Gerðuberg
On the way back to Reykjavik, make a stop at Gerðuberg. Gerðuberg is a cliff lined with impressive stretch of basalt column formations.
From the main road, turn left towards the Gerðuberg car park and continue driving for a few more minutes along a gravel track. The basalt columns of Gerðuberg are visible from the road, but for a closer look you can climb the hill and admire them up close.
That was our itinerary for a one-day trip to Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This beautiful region of Iceland offers so many sights and experiences, making it a perfect day trip from Reykjavik – especially in the summer months when the long daylight hours let you fit in more stops.
If you’re planning further adventures, you might enjoy our guide to the Top Things to Do in Reykjavik or explore our detailed itinerary for a 10‑Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary.
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Wow! Great road trip!! I did this peninsula on a tour and there’s just so much I missed! Loved the Jules Verne reference, how cool!
We knew we are not going back to Iceland any time soon, so we decided to make our visit thorough and go to as many places as we can (without rushing through them though) 🙂
What a great trip love the rocky landscape. Seeing the seals in the wild would be worth the trip alone.
I’d love to take a day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, what beautiful scenery. I’d make a point of visiting Ytri Tunga beach to see the Icelandic seals.
I love just how wild Iceland is. Fortune favoured you too with the weather. It’s a shame we didn’t get that direction on our trip. Next time eh. Be using this as a pointer. Thanks.
Wow! What a beautiful place. Lovely pics. I especially loved the ravine. Thanks for the itinerary!