Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Trip from Reykjavík: A Self-Drive Itinerary to See Iceland in Miniature
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When I heard there was a place called “Iceland in Miniature,” I made it a mission to include it as a day trip on my itinerary for our first trip to Iceland! Said place is the beautifully-wild Snæfellsnes Peninsula, located about a two-hour drive from Reykjavík.
After having visited, I can see how the peninsula earns its nickname – it has everything from sweeping snow-capped mountains and glaciers to unique waterfalls, seaside villages, black sand beaches, unique rock formations, and quaint homes and churches.
Does Snæfellsnes deserve more than a day trip? Absolutely! But if you only have one day to give it, it’s better to spend one day there than never having visited at all. It’s worth it!
What’s even better is the Snæfellsnes Peninsula tends to receive less tourist traffic than other popular routes like the Golden Circle and the South Coast. That means you might have some of these places all to yourselves (or be sharing them with just a handful of people).
With that said, there are bus tours to the area so the more popular sights are going to have a higher concentration of visitors. For that reason, I organized our itinerary in a counter-clockwise direction to try and cut down on the chance of crowds. It worked pretty well!
If you’re looking to experience the Snæfellsnes Peninsula on a self-drive day trip from Reykjavík, this post breaks down our exact itinerary plus modification suggestions.
What This Snæfellsnes Guide Covers
This Snæfellsnes Day Trip Itinerary includes:
- Recommended stops for a self-drive itinerary optimized for 10 hours of daylight in autumn, with modifications for summer visitors
- A suggested schedule with arrival times, drive times in between stops, and time to spend at each location
- Lunch recommendation
- Tips on parking and bathroom locations
Snæfellsnes Peninsula Weather
Before we get into the itinerary, I have a fair bit of warning for you – the winds on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula can be very strong! After all, it is a piece of land in West Iceland that sticks out into the sea unprotected. Make sure you pack all of your layers for this day trip.
The weather on the peninsula can also be a little unpredictable (I mean, that’s pretty much the case for all of Iceland though). I wasn’t even sure we’d make it until the evening just before! The forecast called for high winds and possible snow and seeing as how it is a two-hour drive each way from Reykjavík, I was slightly worried about getting stranded.
Pro-tip: always have a backup plan when traveling to Iceland.
Luckily, everything worked out! I won’t lie – it was still super windy and it did start to flurry for a few minutes once we reached Mt. Kirkjufell. But overall, our day trip was a piece of cake.
Parking & Bathrooms
Essential road trip information = parking details and bathroom locations! Thankfully, parking on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is super easy with minimal charges compared to other locations around more popular routes like the Golden Circle or the South Coast.
Unfortunately, being a less-trafficked area, that also means less bathroom availability. This just means you’ll want to be very strategic about your bathroom stops on this day trip.
- Parking: Kirkjufellsfoss had a 1,200 ISK parking fee plus a 180 ISK transaction fee if paid via the EasyPark app (there is also a kiosk here to pay and avoid the transaction fee)
- All other stops on our itinerary had free parking
- Bathrooms: None of the scenic stops we visited had bathrooms. Be sure to take advantage of restaurants and gas stations for bathroom breaks!
Snæfellsnes Peninsula Itinerary
In order to maximize our time on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, I plotted out the things I wanted to see most and then added in a few extras that were either quick stops or things we could skip if we ran out of time. And because I am a super planner, I figured out drive times in between each spot and estimated times we should spend at each location.
Keep in mind we visited in October, which gave us around 10 hours of daylight. Modifying this for a summer day trip gives you much more flexibility with stops!
Itinerary Summary
- 8:30 a.m.: Depart from Reykjavík
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Breakfast in Borgarnes
- 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Gerðuberg Cliffs
- 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Selvallafoss
- 12:35 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.: Grundarfoss viewpoint
- 12:50 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.: Mt. Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Lunch at Matarlist in Ólafsvík
- Drive around Snæfellsjökull (views from the car)
- 3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.: Lóndrangar View Point
- 3:15 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.: Monument to the Bard of Snæfellsás
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
- 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Búðakirkja (the Búðir Black Church)
- 4:30 p.m.: Head back to Reykjavík
Do note this is meant to be a rough schedule. As with any road trip, you don’t want to get too rigid with exact times. Go with the flow and if you want to spend more time at one place and skip another, do it.
Were there more things I wanted to see on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula? Of course! Check out my trip modifications section below to see all the things we missed that I would have loved to include. Maybe you’ll even want to sub some things out in favor of what we saw?
I already know a second trip to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is warranted for us to see more, but this was a pretty solid itinerary for our first visit.
Depart from Reykjavík
We left Reykjavík by 8:30 a.m. as the sun was rising. I do recommend leaving as early as possible to maximize your time on the peninsula! Our intention was to leave by 8:00 a.m. but we were a little slow going that morning. If you’re traveling in summer, it will be much easier to leave early with extended daylight hours.
No matter the season, it’s ideal to leave Reykjavík as the day starts to break. Once you get out of the city, you’re going to want that daylight to shine over the landscape. It was so beautiful seeing the morning sun light up the fall-colored landscape on our drive!
Breakfast in Borgarnes
Our first stop on our Snæfellsnes day trip was in Borgarnes for breakfast – about an hour outside of Reykjavík.
I had originally wanted to hit up Brauð & Co. in Reykjavík for cinnamon rolls before heading out but since we got a slower start than I intended, we really needed to get on the road (don’t worry, we got our cinnamon rolls the next day).
To satisfy my group’s hunger, I planned a stop on the way to the peninsula at Blómasetrið – Kaffi Kyrrð – a little cafe in a homestay.
This cafe is the ultimate definition of cozy. We settled into a nook on some comfy couches and ordered breakfast – a ham and cheese bagel for me (I just wanted something simple with protein) and an Icelandic waffle for my husband (which I, of course, had to take a bite of for “research purposes”).
Icelandic waffles are thin but super tasty. It doesn’t even feel like you’re eating breakfast – this is a straight treat! Our waffle came topped with chocolate sauce, a huge pile of fresh whipped cream, and chocolate shavings. Yum.
Our friends also got a nice hot cup of coffee while we cozied up and stared out the window at the snow-capped mountains.
Before we left, we took advantage of this as a bathroom stop. Remember that those are going to be less frequent on the peninsula!
Gerðuberg Cliffs
The first scenic location we stopped at on the peninsula was Gerðuberg Cliffs – a half-mile basalt rock wall that looks awesome sticking up out of the earth!
Ever since we visited Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, I’ve been mildly obsessed with the wonder of basalt columns and how they form naturally by volcanic activity.
The road to Gerðuberg Cliffs is an unpaved gravel/dirt road but you don’t necessarily need a 4×4 vehicle to drive it (unless of course it’s covered in snow in the winter). If you’re traveling in a small vehicle, just be sure to drive slowly and carefully.
Once you’re at the cliffs, there is a small designated parking area for visitors and access to this site is free.
The columns don’t look huge from the roadside, but once you get up close to them, they are actually quite tall!
We spent about 30 minutes here admiring the cliffs, getting up close and personal with them, and taking photos. If you have more time, you can also hike up to the top of the wall.
Bonus sighting: Just down the road from the cliff is a little church called Rauðamelskirkja. We didn’t drive all the way up to it, but its bright red roof was a lovely contrast to the landscape around it.
Selvallafoss
Next up on our Snæfellsnes road trip was Selvallafoss, also known as “Sheep’s Waterfall” due to sheep that like to graze nearby (although, we didn’t see any in the area when we were there).
Selvallafoss is not actually visible from the road, so you’ll need to park at the lot overlooking the Selvallavatn Lake and do a short “hike” down a path to get to the waterfall.
Why I loved this spot: there were literally only two other people when we were here! Also, this is a waterfall that has a walking path behind it. I loved my “behind the waterfall” moments in Iceland, feeling extra close to the awesomeness of nature.
Selvallafoss feeds into the Selvallavatn lake, which is also worth the views.
Grundarfoss Viewpoint
On our way from Selvallafoss to Kirkjufell, we made a quick pit stop at the Grundarfoss Viewpoint. This spot actually has dual waterfalls with the smaller Kvernarfoss to the right of Grundarfoss (not to be confused with the South Coast’s Kvernufoss). It was so windy, the smaller waterfall was just spraying back up into the air!
You can also hike up a path from the road to get closer to these falls, but we were on limited time and you’d need to dedicate around an hour to do this.
For me, the quick stop was worth the photo op not just for the beauty of the waterfalls, but also to showcase the power of that Icelandic wind.
Mt. Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
Next up was Mt. Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss. Mt. Kirkjufell is one stop that’s going to be on everyone’s Snæfellsnes bucket list, especially if you’re a Game of Thrones fan!
This cool looking mountain reminded me of a witch’s hat, but it actually has the nickname “Church Mountain” for its sharp peak resembling a church steeple.
Mt. Kirkjufell also happens to be one of the most photographed mountains in all of Iceland! It is especially beautiful when you can get the shot of Kirkjufellsfoss (a highlight of its own) in the foreground. Sadly, the path across the waterfall was closed for maintenance while we were there so it wasn’t as easy to access (next time right?).
At this point in our day, the weather was giving peak Iceland and it started sleeting for a few minutes right as we pulled up. We hesitated to get out of the car for a few but thankfully, it passed quickly.
I had all my layers on for this stop because that Icelandic wind was no joke!
Mt. Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss are on all the tour bus routes. It was for this very reason I planned a counter-clockwise route so that there would be less chance of tour bus visitors there with us since they typically end their day tours here.
You could easily spend more than 20 minutes here, especially since it’s a main attraction. For us, it was just so windy and cold and we were ready for our indoor lunch break.
🏔️ Planning An Iceland Adventure? 🏔️
Here’s everything you need to plan a trip to Iceland!
- One-Week Iceland Itinerary: Experience the highlights of Reykjavík, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast in one week
- Iceland Travel Tips: A “know-before-you-go” list of general Iceland travel tips – especially if doing a self-drive road trip
- Iceland Food Guide: A list of my favorite places to eat around Iceland, whether in Reykjavík or one of the many towns around the country
- Iceland Packing List: My guide on everything you need to pack for a trip to Iceland (especially in the fall)
Lunch at Matarlist in Ólafsvík
After our cold and windy morning, sitting down to lunch at Matarlist was such a welcome respite! Nothing beats a hot plate of food (and maybe a warm drink) to help you defrost.
Matarlist is a restaurant in Olafsvík run by a mother-son team with a young, creative chef at the helm. Dishes here highlight local Icelandic ingredients, especially seafood and lamb, but they do also have vegetarian options as well.
Our picks: a refreshing seafood salad, pan-seared cod with the most delicious charred chipotle cabbage, cod fish and chips, and a hearty burger (according to our friend, this was actually his favorite meal of our trip!).
And if you want somethin’ a little extra to warm up with, I also highly recommend getting an Irish coffee 😉
Drive around Snæfellsjökull
From Olafsvík, we continued driving west on the peninsula around Snæfellsjökull. Snæfellsjökull is a glacier-capped stratovolcano that is classified as “active” but hasn’t erupted for more than 1,800 years. Also, fun fact, it’s the setting of the Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth!
Why you want to see this: the glacier cap has shrunk significantly and we may only have a few decades left to admire it.
There are a few stops on my Snæfellsnes bucket list along this stretch around Snæfellsjökull that we just couldn’t get to due to time, like Svöðufoss, the Svörtuloft Lighthouse (a brightly-colored lighthouse on the cliffs), Saxhóll Crater, and Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach.
If any of these interest you and you have the time (like on a long summer day), be sure to add some of these to your itinerary!
Lóndrangar View Point
Lóndrangar is a cool formation of basalt rock pillars that are remnants of a crater formed by an underwater volcano. From afar, they sort of resemble the ruins of a crumbled castle on the coast.
The pillars and surrounding area are also steeped in Icelandic folklore. I love a good story about how geological wonders form! For example, they say Lóndrangar are a couple of trolls turned into stone by the sunlight and that elves inhabit the surrounding area (even in the pillars).
This is also popular spot for bird nesting in the spring and summer, so if you’re an avid birder, you might want to consider bringing binoculars for bird watching.
An alternative Lóndrangar viewing location nearby is the Malarrif Lighthouse, which also happens to have a visitors center and bathroom. You do need to pay for parking here, however, via the Parka app.
Monument to the Bard of Snæfellsás
The Bard of Snæfellsás wasn’t my original reason for making this stop – it was actually the Arnarstapi Cliff Viewpoint and the Gatklettur scenic points; however, once I got out of the car, the cold wind changed my mind.
Seeing as how it was getting late in the day, we decided to skip the coastal viewpoints and save them for another trip. I bid a quick hello to the Bard and we continue on our way!
When turning around from the walk to the Bard, make sure you snap a photo of the nearby Stapafell mountain peak.
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
The Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge was an optional stop I had on our itinerary but once it came into view from the road, we just had to stop and check it out. I felt like I was looking at the home of Rockbiter from the NeverEnding Story or something!
While I think this moss-covered gorge looks cool from afar, you can walk up a path to the entrance of it and even go a ways inside of the gorge to see a small waterfall. My husband and I didn’t go into the gorge itself (our friends did and said it was neat), but we did hike up the path to get a little closer to it.
Some things to be aware of here: it can get a little slippery in the colder months with a small stream flowing from the gorge. If you do decide to venture into the gorge, you’ll also want to be on the lookout for any falling rocks.
Búðakirkja (the Búðir Black Church)
The last stop on our Snæfellsnes day trip was the iconic black church known as Búðakirkja. You’ll see a lot of churches painted in white or a light cream with a bright red roof, but this one gives you something much different with its black paint and white accents.
I’ll never get over just how photogenic these little churches in Iceland are. And in typical Iceland fashion, a rainbow we had been chasing on our drive hung out long enough for me to get a shot of the church underneath its arch.
After our stop at Búðakirkja, at the junction to head back to Reykjavík Snæfellsnes was like let me give you one more epic view – the Jón Kjartan Volcano paired with Bjarnafoss.
We didn’t have time to get closer as we needed to get back to the city for dinner and our Northern Lights tour, but it was a nice composition of what Snæfellsnes has to offer – a lil bit of volcanoes and mountains, some snow (we visited in the fall), and a waterfall.
Day Trip Modifications
If you’re traveling in the summer versus autumn like us, you can spend more time on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and arrive later back to Reykjavík. Since Northern Lights aren’t visible in the summer (which we did this same evening), maximize the daylight on your day trip.
Some additional stops to consider that we didn’t make it to:
- Murals of Hellissandur
- Svöðufoss
- Svörtuloft Lighthouse
- Saxhóll Crater
- Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach
- Vatnshellir Lava Cave
- Gatklettur and Arnastapi Cliffs Viewpoint
- Ytri Tunga (for seal viewing) – must pay for parking
We had such a great time on our Snæfellsnes day trip from Reykjavík and it was 100% worth the drive and long day! I can’t wait to come back and check all the other scenic stops off my Snæfellsnes bucket list.
Read Next:
- One-Week Iceland Itinerary Based in Reykjavík & Vík (Including Snæfellsnes & the South Coast)
- Iceland Travel Tips & Self-Drive Road Trip Advice
- Iceland Packing Guide: What to Pack for Iceland in the Fall + How to Do It Carry-On Only
- Where to Eat in Iceland: A Guide to My Favorite Food Finds in Reykjavík & Beyond
- Reykjavík Food Tour Review: The Best Thing to do In Reykjavík for Iceland First-Timers
