Best Places To Stay In North Iceland
Just about on the edge of the Arctic Circle, North Iceland is home to natural jewels like Europes most powerful waterfall and Icelands best whale watching. Myvatn is famous for its natural beauty and youll find the lesser visited and natural hot water pools of the Myvatn Nature Baths.
A few days is not enough to see all the North Iceland has to offer, but we recommend spending at least 3-4 days exploring. Akureyri is the capital of North Iceland and like a smaller scale Reykjavik with shops, museums, restaurants and cafes. When staying in North Iceland, we personally prefer Myvatn for its natural beauty and Northern Lights watching opportunities in the fall and winter months. Tours often depart out of either Akureyri or Myvatn, so either is a good choice for a base for where to stay in North Iceland.
The weather is also more stable in North Iceland, making it one of the best places to stay in Iceland in winter. Youll encounter less of the erratically changing weather and wind that the south has, often the best chances for seeing the Northern Lights, and far fewer tourists.
Compare Hotels And Short
Using the map below, you can compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in Stykkisholmur. You can also zoom out to see accommodations in other places in Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and youll see whats available for your stay. This map pulls information from various accommodation booking websites in one place and can help you find a place to stay even when the availability is very limited.
Snfellsnes Day Trip Itinerary
Planning a complete Snæfellsnes day trip itinerary is possible, although if you have time, I suggest spending the night here, especially if youre traveling during Northern Lights season.
We always travel clockwise around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula map so we can end at Kirkjufell around sunset. Then, we plan our route so we can hit all the Snæfellsnes Peninsula must-sees during the day.
I suggest starting your journey at the Gerðuberg cliffs. If youre traveling between May and July, you can stop at Ytri Tunga to see the seals. Then, continue along the coast until you reach Arnarstapi, taking a short pitstop to photograph the famous black Búdakirkja Church.
From Arnarstapi, you can drive to Hellnar and see the cliffs and the Gatklettur Arch. After some lunch, continue on Route 54, making a quick stop at the Lóndrangar Cliffs before taking the Vatnshellir cave tour. Just be sure to book in advance, as the last group leaves at 3:00 PM.
Snæfellsnes day trip itinerary
After that, I suggest heading to the Djúpalónssandur black sand beach, followed by the Snæfellsjökull volcano and glacier. From there, you can make your way to Kirkjufell. If you have time to spare before sunset, check out the Saxhóll crater, Skarðsvík beach, and the Svörtuloft and Öndverdarnes lighthouses.
Now, you have all the information you need to organize your trip to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula! If you have any questions, just leave me a comment, and Ill do my best to help.
5% off
Read Also: Places To Stay In Breckenridge
Visit The Vatnshellir Cave The Best Thing To Do In Snfellsnes
Visiting the Vatnshellir lava cave is one of the most interesting things to do on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland, and something you wont soon forget. This cave is about 8,000 years old and is the setting in Jules Vernes Journey to the Center of the Earth.
The cave is in the Snæfellsjökull National Park, about a 10-minute drive from Hellnar. You can book this cave tour, which takes you about 115 feet underground.
4. Visit the Vatnshellir Cave, the best thing to do in Snæfellsnes
Vatnshellir opened to the public about a decade ago, and the immense lava tube extends over 650 feet. The Snaefellsnes cave tours include a helmet and headlamp since there is very little visibility in the cave. This way, you can see the stalagmites and pretty colors on the walls.
Doing this Snæfellsnes Peninsula and cave exploration tour is a fun family activity, too. Its suitable for kids over five years old and will be a memorable experience to share.
Best Places To Stay On The Golden Circle
Icelands Golden Circle is the circular route near Reykjavik that encompasses some of Icelands most famous sights. Its 190 miles long and technically you can hit all of the attractions on a Golden Circle day trip from Reykjavik. But its worth staying along the Golden Circle to beat the crowds and tour buses. Plus, if youre traveling during the Northern Lights season from September through April, the Golden Circle is away from the light pollution of Reykjavik and makes for better Northern Lights hunting. One of the most unique places to stay in Iceland is also found along the Golden Circle.
The Golden Circle is one of the best areas to stay in Iceland particularly if youre visiting Iceland for 5 days or less, yet still want to get out in the Icelandic nature.
Read Also: Where To Stay In San Juan Puerto Rico
Hali Country Hotel Hornafjrur
We picked the Hali Country Hotel because of its location just 12 kilometers from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. We were hoping for a clear night and to see the Northern Lights dance over the icebergs dotting the lagoon. While a winter storm came in just after our arrival, we had a lovely stay on the family run farm. Þorbjörg and Fjölnir, the proprietors of the hotel, were fantastic hosts kindly showing us around the lovely on-site museum and regularly checking road conditions for our drive up north.
Hali Country Hotel offers a variety of room types from private rooms with bathrooms, to private rooms with shared bathrooms, and dorm-style sleeping bag accommodations. The building also has a lovely common room with a fully equipped kitchen for the option of making meals in. In winter, a double room with private bathroom and breakfast is around $135 per night.
We enjoyed dinner at the restaurant, which serves arctic char freshly caught from the farms pond and lamb also from their farm. We tried the smoked arctic char as an appetizer, Tim had lamb, and I had a combo that included steamed arctic char, Icelandic lobster tails , and salted cod. Everything was delicious!
The Best Places To Stay In The Westfjords
The Westfjords are the least visited and the most remote part of Iceland. Home to the Látrabjarg cliffs where millions of nesting sea birds like puffins make their temporary home and natural wonders like the multi-tiered Dynjandi waterfall, the Westfjords are really best visited in the summer and early fall.
One of our favorite areas to explore by camper van, there are still some family run hotels and guest houses sprinkled throughout the mostly uninhabited Westfjords.
Read Also: Where To Stay In New York Tourist
Where To Stay In Snaefellsnes Peninsula
I have an Airbnb booked in Hellisandur, is this a good location to stay? Where do you guys think is the best spot location wise to stay 2 nights and explore the peninsula?
We stayed in Stykkisholmur for 3 nights.
I visited the Snaefellsnes peninsula as a day trip from Reykjavik and basically drove around the whole thing, so you’d probably be fine just spending 1 night if you want to go slower and explore more things. If you spend 2 nights on the western side of the peninsula, you’re going to have to back track over places you already drove eventually. Be sure to visit the berserkjahraun lava field!
A few things you may want to check out while over there!
-
Ytri Tunga
Svrtuloft And Ndverdarnes Two Popular Lighthouses On The Snfellsnes Peninsula
Iceland has many colorful lighthouses, but Svörtuloft and Öndverdarnes are two Snæfellsnes lighthouses that stand out thanks to their vibrant orange color. Best of all, theyre only a 10-minute drive from each other, in the northwestern corner of the Snæfellsjökull National Park.
9. Svörtuloft and Öndverdarnes, two popular lighthouses on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Svörtuloft is about 20 feet tall, while Öndverdarnes is about half the size. Both overlook an incredible cliff area, making them quite a sight in Snæfellsnes. Their boxy shapes may seem a bit strange to some travelers, but thats another thing that makes them unique.
While Svörtuloft and Öndverdarnes are in the same general area, theyre quite secluded from other attractions on Icelands Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Still, theyre well worth seeing, especially since theyre surrounded by lava fields on one side and the sea on the other, so you get to experience two landscapes at once.
Also Check: Best Cheap Hotels To Stay In New York City
Snaefellsnes Peninsula Day Trip From Reykjavk
From Reykjavík, it takes two and a half hours to drive to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula .
You can visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula on a day trip from Reykjavík. You will have to be choosey on what you see, since you will have limited time. Most people visit Kirkjufell and the sights on the southern coast .
Here are several highly rated tours of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavík .
What We Did
On day 1, we drove from Reykjavík, hiked to Glymur Waterfall, and arrived on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the early afternoon. We visited Kirkjufell and Grundarfjördur, had dinner at Bjargarsteinn, and spent one night in Grundarfjördur.
On day 2, we drove counterclockwise around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, visiting the remainder of the sights on this list. In the early evening, we checked into our hotel in Fludir, which was our home base for the Golden Circle and Landmannalaugar.
The Best Places To Stay In Iceland
Iceland has a ton of accommodation options from sweet suites in the capital to guest houses with either private or shared accommodations to even Icelandic farm stays. You might even opt for a camper van for the freedom to explore Iceland without needing to find accommodation for each day of your trip. Accommodation options outside of the Reykjavik area are more limited in winter since not as many tourists visit and family run establishments tend to close for the season. Weve tried out a multitude of different accommodation types on our multiple trips and short stint living in Iceland, and have compiled this guide of where to stay in Iceland:
Use the map to select our recommendations by area and book on our Booking.com partner website. Our short reviews of each of the places we feel are the best places to stay in Iceland are each below grouped by region or use the links below to jump to a region.
Recommended Reading: Places To Stay In College Station
Hellissandur A Beautiful Town To Visit In Iceland
In the northwestern part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, youll find the village of Hellissandur. This town once relied heavily on the fishing industry, but today it thrives on tourism. Its right next to the northern entrance of the Snaefellsjökull National Park, so its easy to get to.
13. Hellissandur, a beautiful town to visit in Iceland
The coolest thing about Hellissandur, and one of the first things youll notice, is the Ingjaldshóll Church. The stark red and white building is over 100 years old and stands out among the towns natural, hilly landscape. The juxtaposition creates a gorgeous photo opportunity, and the church is a common attraction on many Snæfellsnes Peninsula day tours.
You can always visit Hellissandur and the church on your own, too. While youre there, I recommend visiting the , where you can see old maritime artifacts, including an 1826 rowboat. Youll also see authentic Icelandic homes with grass-covered roofs, known as Turf Houses or Torfbæir.
Lsuhlslaug The Best Hot Springs In Snfellsnes
Although its not one of the most popular hot springs in Iceland, the Lýsuhólslaug thermal bath is the perfect way to end your day in Snæfellsnes.
These geothermal baths include one pool and two hot tubs. Like other Snæfellsnes hot springs, Lýsuhólslaugs waters contain green algae, calcium, and magnesium, which are said to be healing for the skin. The water temperature ranges from 98.6°F to 102.2°F.
20. Lýsuhólslaug, the best hot springs in Snæfellsnes
Also, these hot springs have clean changing rooms and facilities, and you can even rent a swimsuit if you forget yours. The baths close during bad weather, so I recommend checking ahead here, where you can also see the current admission prices.
Weve only been to Lýsuhólslaug once, but it was one of the Snæfellsnes highlights I wont forget. I know it may seem strange to bathe in green water, but dont worry because its regularly filtered and replaced.
Also Check: Best Area To Stay In Athens For Tourists
Best Things To Do On The Snaefellsnes Peninsula
This list is ordered as if you were to road trip around the peninsula. We start with Stykkishólmur in the north, travel counterclockwise to Kirkjufell and the western coast of the peninsula, and end on the southern coast.
At the end of this article, we give recommendations on where to stay and how to plan your time.
Fosshotel Hellnar Snfellsjkull Glacier
Part of the relatively new Fosshotel chain of hotels that has popped up around Iceland, Fosshotel Hellnar is located right under the Snæfellsjökull Glacier and quite near to the famous Kirkjufell mountain. Its on the coast where Orcas are often spotted swimming by in the ocean and seals lounge on the rocks, and the Snæfellsjökull Glacier National Park Visitor Center is next door to the hotel. Its definitely a top choice on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and often fully booked, so book well in advance of your trip.
Unlike Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon, Fosshotel Hellnar has a boutique hotel feel to it and is much smaller and intimate. The rooms are bright and airy with light colors and linens. Some rooms even have balconies with ocean views. Private bathrooms, wifi and modern amenities like flat screen tvs with satellite channels are stand in all of the rooms.
The onsite restaurant is also very good and sources local produce for its menu creations.
Also Check: Where To Stay In Isla Holbox Mexico
Is The Golden Circle Worth It
The Golden Circle is a fantastic trip to take if youre in Iceland for a short period of time, or if your traveling options within Iceland are limited and you need to rely on adventures close to Reykjavik. However, it might not be possible for you to travel around the whole island during your stay in Iceland.
Things To Do On The Snaefellsnes Peninsula: On A Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
Don’t Miss: Where To Stay In Newport Oregon
Best Places To Stay On Icelands South Coast
The South Coast is one of the most spectacularly beautiful parts of Iceland. Theres countless waterfalls pouring over towering cliffs as you travel along Route 1, or Icelands Ring Road. The basalt lava stacks and black sand beaches make for the perfect backdrop for photos. The DC3 plane crash on a remote black sand beach is an almost eerie sight that seems like something straight out of a movie. And no trip to Iceland is complete without visiting Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon full of blue icebergs.
While ambitious travelers to Iceland often make day trips from Reykjavik all the way to Jökulsárlón and back in a day , it does take about 5 hours to drive each way without factoring in the countless stops youll want to make. You can more easily day trip the South Coast from Reykjavik during the summer when Iceland experiences long days and the Midnight Sun. If youre traveling in winter, its not even possible to make the drive one way as days are short with as little as 5 hours of daylight in December and January.
Iceland South Coast Attractions You Shouldnt Miss
Theres just so many sights on Icelands South Coast that its really best to stay somewhere along Route 1. Breaking up your trip with at least a 1-night stay affords you the luxury to take your time exploring this beautiful stretch of Icelandic coast.
Hotel Vestmannaeyjar Westman Islands
While it is possible to take a day trip to Vestmannaeyjar, its definitely worth staying at least one or two nights to explore Icelands Westman Islands. Hotel Vestmannaeyjar is located right in the heart of Vestmannaeyjar, with easy access to all that this island has to offer. The rooms are cozy with views of Eldfell, the infamous volcano that nearly covered the main town in 1973 when an violent eruption started unexpectedly in the middle of the night.
One of the main activities on the island is to hike to the top of Eldfell. Youll definitely appreciate Hotel Vestmannaeyjars onsite spa with jacuzzi and sauna to soothe your aching legs after trudging up the steep sand and ash volcano.
Also Check: Places To Stay In Reykjavik
Where Are The Puffins In Iceland
Icelands largest puffin colony lives in the Westman Islands, some 10 kilometers off Icelands south shore. One-fifth of the worlds total puffin population nests here every year, this means you will find the largest single colony in the world here! In addition, thirty other bird species have nests around the islands.
Londrangar Cliffs The Nicest Views On Snfellsnes Peninsula
The Londrangar cliffs are huge basaltic formations made of volcanic rock. The cliffs extend over the sea and, due to erosion, have taken on peculiar shapes over the years. This place is unlike any other Ive seen in Snæfellsnes, Iceland, so I recommend checking it out.
If you look at the Snæfellsnes attractions map, youll see that Londrangar is close to Snæfellsjökull National Park and the Vatnshellir cave, so it wont be hard to find. Plus, the crystalline blue waters against the black basalt cliffs paints quite the picture.
19. Londrangar Cliffs, the nicest views on Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Once youre there, take a look around, and youll see the surrounding lava fields and the Thufubjarg cliffs below. Legend says that this area belongs to the magical elves of Iceland, and I must admit, the place does seem like a fairytale setting.
Another legend claims that the Icelandic poet Kolbeinn Joklaskald had an encounter with the Devil under this cliff. Regardless of these tall tales, there is no denying the otherworldly appearance of these sea stacks, and theyre a must-see in Snæfellsnes.
You May Like: Best Places To Stay In Fort Myers Beach