Snæfellsnes: Iceland in miniature
A glacier-topped volcano, a black church, basalt columns and the most photographed mountain in Iceland, all within a few hours of Reykjavík.
- Distance
- 282 km (175 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 53 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Iceland
- Updated
- July 8, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 282 km (175 mi) with 8 stops, from Reykjavík to Stykkishólmur. About 3 h 53 min of driving in total.
Route description
From Reykjavík take route 1 north through the tunnel under Hvalfjörður to Borgarnes, where the Settlement Center tells the story of the Viking sagas. Then turn onto route 54 towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula, stopping at the basalt columns of Gerðuberg.
The south coast of the peninsula runs along long beaches and lava fields to Búðir, where the black church stands alone. At Arnarstapi a coastal path leads over sea arches and cliffs full of nesting birds to Hellnar, about an hour away on foot.
Round the tip of the peninsula through Snæfellsjökull National Park, stopping at Djúpalónssandur and, if the weather is clear, looking up at the glacier. Then follow the north coast to Kirkjufell near Grundarfjörður.
End in Stykkishólmur, a harbour town of old wooden houses and the port for the ferry to the Westfjords. The main roads are paved, but the weather changes fast; check road.is and vedur.is before setting off, especially outside summer.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Reykjavík
Iceland - 254 km
Borgarnes
Iceland - 352 km
Gerðuberg
NatureBorgarnes, IcelandA long wall of regular basalt columns rising from the moor just off route 54. A two-minute detour on a gravel track.
- 460 km
Búðir Church
ViewsBúðir, IcelandA small black wooden church alone in a lava field by the sea, with Snæfellsjökull behind. One of the most photographed buildings in Iceland.
- 516 km
Arnarstapi
Iceland - 617 km
Djúpalónssandur
NatureSnæfellsjökull National Park, IcelandA black pebble beach with rusted pieces of a trawler wrecked in 1948 and four lifting stones once used to test fishermen’s strength. Stay well back from the waves.
- 744 km
Kirkjufell
ViewsGrundarfjörður, IcelandA steep cone-shaped mountain by the sea, usually photographed from the small Kirkjufellsfoss falls across the road. Park at the signed car park, not on the verge.
- 839 km
Stykkishólmur
Iceland
