My Iceland: Magical Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Today's guest blogger is Guðrún, one of our wonderful travel experts at Nordic Visitor in Iceland. Below she tells us about her absolute favourite place in Iceland, Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Since childhood I visited Snæfellsnes regularly on school holidays, and as an adult it has become my favourite place to visit in Iceland. From my hometown, Reykjavik, it is even possible to get a view of the snow-capped peak of Snaefellsjökull (seen in the blog's cover image) on a clear day.

Guðrún (the cute little girl on the right) with family members in Snæfellsjökull National Park at the tip of the peninsula -- long before she joined Nordic Visitor.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home to the beautiful Snæfellsjökull glacier, is an absolute paradise. The glacier covers a dormant volcano that is known from the novel "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne. The contrasts in the landscape is incredible — from yellow sand and lava rock formations to green hills and tumbling waterfalls.

Keeping the tradition going! Guðrún and her daughter at Arnarstapi, just below Snæfellsjökull. From here you can join organized trips up the glacier.

To get to Snæfellsnes from Reykjavik, you first drive through the beautiful regions of Borgarfjörður and Mýrar. A stop at the Eldborg crater is ideal before heading to the south coast of the peninsula where you can visit Búðir with its charming little church, Arnastapi with its natural harbour and Hellnar with its nice beach cafe.

The old black church at Búðir -- a gorgeous spot especially for wedding photos.

On the way to the north coast, the Vatnshellir cave is a unique place to visit, especially for geology fans. Further along you will experience moon-like landscapes with lava fields, mountains and the Lóndrangar and Malarrif rock formations. 

On the north side of the peninsula you will pass the old fishing village of Ólfasvik and the town of Grundafjörður, which is next to the picture-perfect Mt. Kirkjufell and the waterfalls next to it.

Kirkjufell near the town of Grundarfjörður. Do yourself a favour and see it!

The harbour in Stykkishólmur, with the Súgandisey cliff in the background (at left). Follow the stairway up to the top there for great views all the way to the West Fjords to the north.

Towards the eastern end of the north coast is Stykkishólmur, must-visit town. It is known for its quaint houses, cosy restaurants and great view over Breiðarfjörður Bay. From here it is also possible to take a day trip by ferry to Flatey Island or join guided bird watching or "Viking sushi" tours.

Guðrún encourages travellers to visit northern and western Iceland to experience some of the more secluded, off-the-beaten-path places.

My final thoughts? The breathtaking beauty of Snæfellsnes is not to be missed when visiting Iceland!

Want to experience the magic of Snæfellsnes like Guðrún?

We recommend a self-drive tour that includes a drive around this peninsula, such as Nordic Visitor's best-selling Iceland Full Circle tour. Get more ideas for your trip at our Iceland at a Glance guide on our website.

This post was part of our "My Destination" series, in which our staff members take turns blogging about their local experiences and favourite places in our Nordic destinations.