Must-see attractions in West Iceland

  • Snæfellsjökull national park lies in the westernmost part of Snæfellsnes peninsula ; 
Snæfellsjökull National Park 
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    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Snæfellsjökull National Park encompasses much of the western tip of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and wraps around the rugged slopes of the glacier…

  • Kirkjufell mountain, Western Iceland, as the aurora really starts to pump out, illuminating the frozen landscape. ....From a superb trip with David Clapp and Antony Spencer

    Breiðafjörður

    West Iceland

    Stykkishólmur’s jagged peninsula pushes north into stunning Breiðafjörður, a broad waterway separating the Snæfellsnes from the looming cliffs of the…

  • Djúpalón Beach

    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    On the southwest coast, Rte 572 leads off Rte 574 to wild black-sand beach Djúpalónssandur. It’s a dramatic place to walk, with rock formations (an elf…

  • Snæfellsjökull

    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    It’s easy to see why Jules Verne selected Snæfell for his adventure Journey to the Centre of the Earth: the peak was torn apart when the volcano beneath…

  • Erpsstaðir

    West Iceland

    When the peanut gallery starts moaning, ‘Are we there yet?’, you know it’s time to head to Erpsstaðir, the perfect place to stretch your legs. Like a…

  • Glymur

    West Iceland

    At the head of Hvalfjörður, and up Botnsdalur valley, lies Glymur, Iceland’s highest waterfall (198m). From the trailhead, it’ll take a couple of hours to…

  • Norska Húsið

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Stykkishólmur’s quaint maritime charm comes from the cluster of wooden warehouses, shops and homes around the town’s harbour. Most date back about 150…

  • Kirkjufell

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Kirkjufell (463m), guardian of Grundarfjörður’s northwestern vista, is said to be one of the most photographed spots in Iceland, appearing in Game of…

  • Súgandisey

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    The basalt island Súgandisey features a scenic lighthouse and grand views across Breiðafjörður. Reach it via the causeway at Stykkishólmur harbour.

  • Dried fish-Flatey Breiðafjörður Iceland

    Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    The farmstead at Bjarnarhöfn is the region’s leading producer of hákarl (fermented shark meat), a traditional Icelandic dish. The museum has exhibits on…

  • Eiríksstaðir Reconstruction

    West Iceland

    The farm Eiríksstaðir was home to Eiríkur Rauðe (Erik the Red), father of Leifur Eiríksson, the first European to visit America. Although only a faint…

  • Helgafell

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    About 5km south of Stykkishólmur, the holy mountain Helgafell (73m) was once venerated by worshippers of the god Þór. Although quite small, the mountain…

  • Malarrif

    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    About 2km south of Djúpalónssandur, a paved road leads down to the rocket-shaped lighthouse at Malarrif, from where you can walk 1km east along the cliffs…

  • Rauðfeldsgjá

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Just north of Arnarstapi and Stapafell, on Rte 574, a small track branches off to the stunning Rauðfeldsgjá (pronounced roith-felds-gyow), a steep, narrow…

  • Dalir Heritage Museum

    West Iceland

    This neat museum's curator is a wonderful character who knows a great deal about Dalir’s brilliant history, and if you make your way through the…

  • Akranes Folk Museum

    West Iceland

    Akranes' sprawling Museum Centre is full of nautical relics, crystals, fossils and tales of local sporting heroes. The folk museum wing displays antiques…

  • Saxhöll Crater

    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    Southeast of the Öndverðarnes area, on Rte 574, follow the marked turn-off to the roadside scoria crater Saxhöll, which was responsible for some of the…

  • Library of Water

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    For relaxing views of town and bay, head up the hill to the Library of Water. This window-lined space showcases an installation by American artist Roni…

  • Saga Centre

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    The Saga Centre is a tourist information centre, cafe, library, internet point and small museum rolled into one. The museum displays an old fishing boat…

  • Berserkjahraun

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    About 15km west of the intersection of Rte 54 and Rte 56 lies the dramatic, spiky lava field at Berserkjahraun (Berserkers’ lava field). Crowned by…

  • Guðrúnarlaug

    West Iceland

    This hot pot with a view across the Dalir region is close to the original pool (now buried under a landslide) where the woman at the centre of the…

  • Sjóminjasafnið

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    This small maritime museum houses Bliki, the oldest fishing boat in Iceland, and a cool replica of a fisher's turf house, plus loads of old photos and…

  • Saurbæjarkirkja

    West Iceland

    The church at the Saurbær farmstead is worth a look for its beautiful stained-glass work by Gerður Helgadóttir. It is named for Reverend Hallgrímur…

  • War & Peace Museum

    West Iceland

    During WWII Hvalfjörður contained a submarine and warship station and over 20,000 American and British soldiers passed through. This museum houses…

  • Volcano Museum

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    The Volcano Museum, housed in Stykkishólmur's old cinema, is the brainchild of vulcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson, and features art depicting volcanoes,…

  • Vatnshellir

    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    This 8000-year-old lava tube with multiple caverns lies 32m below the earth’s surface, 1km north of Malarrif. The pull-out is visible from Rte 574, and…

  • Stykkishólmskirkja

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Stykkishólmur's futuristic church, designed by Jón Haraldsson, has a sweeping bell tower that looks like a whale vertebra. The interior features hundreds…

  • Gerðuberg

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Just where Rte 54 curves between the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the mainland, you'll find the dramatic basalt towers of Gerðuberg rising from the plain.

  • Pakkhúsið

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Mildly interesting display telling the story of the town’s development as a trading centre, and has an on-site handicraft shop and cafe (coffee included…

  • Viewing Disc

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Get a 360 degree view of town and the fjords from this viewing disc marked with local landmarks.

  • Ólafsvíkurkirkja

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Ólafsvík's modern church is made entirely of triangular pieces.