Snæfellsnes is a peninsula about a two-hour drive north of Reykjavík; Visit Iceland describes a day trip as possible but with roughly five to six hours of driving in total, and recommends two to three days for a relaxed pace (visiticeland.com, read 7 November 2026). The full loop is 260 km, starting and ending in Borgarnes. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no cost to you.
Highlights
Arnarstapi and Hellnar
Two fishing hamlets linked by a 2.5 km (1.5-mile) coastal path past Gatklettur, a natural stone arch.
Kirkjufell
A steeple-shaped mountain photographed beside the two-tiered Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall near Grundarfjörður; see the Kirkjufell page.
Djúpalónssandur
A black pebble beach with the lifting stones and the rusted remains of the Epine shipwreck.
Snæfellsjökull National Park
Anchored by the 1,446 m (4,744 ft) ice-capped volcano, with the Vatnshellir lava cave reaching 35 m below ground; see Vatnshellir.
The day tour
The small-group Snæfellsnes day trip from Reykjavik is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 273 reviews on 8 November 2026; the price depends on the date and the group.
Practical info
Tips
- The choice is between driving the loop yourself and taking a day tour. Driving gives you the stops in your own order but means five to six hours behind the wheel in a day; a tour removes the driving and still covers the peninsula in one day. With two or three days you can stay on the peninsula and fit in the cave tour, whose details are on the Vatnshellir page. The Golden Circle is the alternative day out from Reykjavík, compared in best day trips from Reykjavik. For the car side see Iceland car rental.
How to get there
About two hours' drive north of Reykjavík; the loop begins and ends at Borgarnes. Rental car, or a day tour from Reykjavík.
Opening hours
Nearby
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