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Oeste · Iceland
Kirkjufell, basalt coast and glacial volcano in Snæfellsnes; waterfalls and hot water in the Borgarfjörður valley.
In the photo: Snæfellsjökull
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Iceland’s West allows you to combine two landscape sets in one trip. Snæfellsnes juts into the Atlantic with a glacier-covered volcano at its tip. Closer to the Route 1 corridor, the Borgarfjörður valley shows rivers, lava and geothermal springs.
Grundarfjörður is the base in front of Kirkjufell. Arnarstapi brings you close to coastal paths, Búðakirkja and the circuit through Snæfellsjökull National Park, including Djúpalónssandur. Borgarnes organizes access to the Hraunfossar waterfalls and the Deildartunguhver spring.
Plan the route by bases, because seeing the whole area requires more than a photo at each spot. Connections are by road and hikes add time.
This destination brings together 3 cities: Grundarfjörður, Arnarstapi, Borgarnes.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Contornos: National Land Survey of Iceland, via geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.
Confirm before booking. From Keflavík, follow the road via Reykjavík and Borgarnes to the peninsula.
Suggested arrival point: Grundarfjörður
Grundarfjörður lies on the north coast of Snæfellsnes, opposite Kirkjufell. The mountain and the small waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss form the nearby outing, while the village provides support between sections of the peninsula.
Arnarstapi occupies a basalt coastal stretch on the south of Snæfellsnes. The village coast, Búðakirkja, Djúpalónssandur and the land sectors of Snæfellsjökull can be split into days of sightseeing and hiking.
Borgarnes is on the corridor between Reykjavík and the West. The town serves as a base for entering the Borgarfjörður valley, where Hraunfossar, Barnafoss and Deildartunguhver allow comparison of river water and geothermal activity.
The local experience
Basalt coast with arches, small coves and trails along the cliffs.
A series of small falls that emerge from the edge of a lava field and reach the river Hvítá.
Layered mountain exposed on the edge of a fjord, viewed alongside the small waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss.
Geothermal spring in the Borgarfjörður valley, linked to the use of hot water in the region.
Dark pebble beach with rock formations and remains related to navigation and fishing.
Small dark-wood church set among lava fields, vegetation and the coast.
Volcano-and-glacier landscape at the tip of Snæfellsnes, with lava coastline and support centers.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
June to August usually offers more light for driving and hiking. December to February calls for shorter stages, with cold, rain and short days.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Four to five days allow combining the peninsula with the Borgarfjörður valley, without returning to Reykjavík each day.
Grundarfjörður favors Kirkjufell and the northern coast. Arnarstapi brings you close to the southern shore and the park. Borgarnes is a practical base for the valley and to split the journey from the capital.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
A one-day circuit shows part of the peninsula; hikes and the Borgarfjörður valley require additional nights.
The visit can focus on the coast and the park’s land trails.
It lies in the access corridor, also serving the Borgarfjörður valley.
Grundarfjörður brings you close to the mountain and waterfall viewpoints.
