Snaefellsness 2023 (The Complete Guide)

What to do in Snaefellsnes? That’s the question on everyone’s lips.

The peninsula is incredibly beautiful. It boasts one of the most popular mountains in Iceland and is home to the Snaefellsnes glacier.

A day trip to Snaefellsnes is sure to be a highlight of your Iceland trip.

But that begs the question… what can you do there?

In this post, I’ll take a deep dive into;

What weather you can expect
How to dress for Snaefellsnes
What to do in the Snaefellsnes peninsula
What other things around the peninsula you can do

Make sure to read until the end so you can have a good understanding of what you can do in Snaefellsnes and make the most out of your time there!

Off we go!

What to do in Snaefelssnes?

There’s tons of stuff to do, but before we get into that, we need to make sure that you’re well equipped so you can enjoy your trip!

Summer in Snaefellsnes

The summer in Snaefellsnes is similar to much of the country. You can get some amazing days and some terrible ones.

You can expect a lot of wind since you don’t get any protection from…well anything. You’re right next to the ocean so you’ll get the full force of the wind right in your face!

But don’t let that discourage you! The good days, are amazing!

And if you’re going to let the weather stop you while you’re in Iceland, you won’t be doing a lot!

Just make sure to dress accordingly, cause the weather is hard to predict. I’ll touch on that further below!

So that’s the summer, what about the winter?

Winter in Snaefellsnes

Winter in Snaefelssnes is gorgeous.

As snow covers the ground, the entire landscape changes and transforms.

But it’s also very cold and windy. You can expect rain as well.

The temperature will dance around 0°C (32°F) but don’t let that fool you.

Whatever the weather will be, it’s definitely recommended that you come prepared.

But why does all this matter…

How to dress for Snaefellsnes in summer

Since you now know what weather to expect, we can get you prepared!

As I mentioned it can be sunny and it can be windy and rainy. There is no week where it’s 100% going to be better weather.

However, generally, the best weather is during June and July, though there is no guarantee.

Here are the things you should bring with you.

A windbreaker or Raincoat

Either one is fine, though the raincoat is more versatile.

You can pair a windbreaker with a poncho as well.

The reason for this is that you want to stay dry. That is the most important thing to staying warm in Iceland and enjoying your trip.

Outdoor Pants

Water-resistant outdoor pants people!

Carry them with you just in case, they will make so much difference if you end up needing them.

Maybe it’s just me, but I absolutely HATE wearing wet pants, especially jeans.

Hiking Boots

Hiking boots in summer aren’t mandatory. You can go without them.

However, that means you’ll be relying on Iceland to gift you good weather, which is a bad bet.

I recommend wearing a good pair of water-resistant shoes for your entire time in Iceland. Especially when you’re taking day trips and plan on walking a lot.

A bag

Bring a backpack or a bag so that you can store layers, jackets, and other stuff if the weather is good.

This is very important.

As an Icelander, I never go anywhere in the summer without a backpack since you never know how the weather might change.

Beanie

Definitely throw a beanie in the bag! Your ears will thank you.

Those are the main things you should bring for the summer.

But what about the winter?

How to dress for Snaefellsnes in winter

The winter is a lot harsher for sure.

Which is why you’ll need a bit more gear!

Layers

To start with, you’ll want a few layers.

I recommend a thin, breathable base layer.

It should dry quickly as well. If that base layer gets wet then you’ll want it to dry up fast.

On top of the base layer, you’ll want a good sweater, hoodie, or wool sweater.

The main key is that it’s thick.

You won’t need a lot of layers…if you wear the proper outer layer.

Outer Layer

For the outer layer, your best go-to for winter is a parka

The parka should be water and wind-resistant.

If you’re wearing a parka then you won’t need AS many layers.

That does not mean that you shouldn’t have them ready, just that you might not need as many. When I wear a parka, I usually wear a thin layer underneath.

But there’s more!

Hiking boots

Hiking boots for winter are very important.

Cold and wet feet are not ideal when traveling around Iceland. I want you to stay out as long as you possibly can.

You’ll want the boots to be breathable and water resistant.

If you’re planning on doing some activities such as;

The Golden Circle
South Coast
Snaefellsnes
ATV tours
Snowmobile
Walking around the city
Hunting the northern lights

You’ll want to be wearing good boots.

Gloves

You don’t want to be in the middle of the south coast and have frozen little fingers.

You might think that gloves won’t be necessary.

‘I’ll just put my hands in my pockets! Hah!’ you say.

But you’ll soon realize how limiting it is and we want you to be LIMITLESS while you venture out into the countryside!

That’s it!

If you wear the clothes I’ve mentioned on your trip to Snaefellsnes, you’ll be all set to make the most out of your time there!

But what about the drive there?

Daytrip to Snaefellsnes

The drive to Snaefellsnes is about 2 and half hours

And there’s plenty to do on the way!

So let’s dive into it!

Taking a tour

If you’re taking a tour then the main stop is Borgarnes.

Here is where you get the chance to buy some food and go to the toilet.

Don’t worry though, there will be other stops where you can buy more food.

But Borgarnes is the biggest one and I recommend buying in bulk there.

After that stop, you’re off to Snaefellsnes!

But what if you’re driving yourself?

Self-drive adventure

If you’re driving, then you have more freedom to stop in other places.

For example, in Borgarnes you can go to the public pool there.

Or you can go to Akranes first.

Where you can go to Guðlaug.

A hot bath that boasts a beautiful view of the ocean.

Admission is 500 ISK (for 18+) and is open all year round.

Also in Akranes is Hoppland, a platform on the pier where you can jump into the ocean.

It’s only open in the summer but it’s really fun (and cold).

It costs 1.500 ISK (for 16+)

There are plenty of restaurants and stores in Akranes if you want to stock up on food.

And there’s a cute lighthouse to check out

Closer to Borgarnes is Krauma.

A geothermal hot tub in the countryside.

It’s a bit out the way but a great stop on the way back for example.

After a long day of driving and walking, it’s super nice to relax in the hot water.

If you’re willing to go even further, you can drive to Húsafell.

There you can go to Giljaböð.

Giljaböð is nestled inside the mountain and is an amazing experience.

You could also choose to stay there overnight, at hotel Húsafell.

The area is incredibly beautiful and you won’t be disappointed.

Close by are Barnafossar and Hraunfossar.

So make sure to stop by if you’re in the area!

Now that I’ve gone over what you should wear for your Snaefellsnes trip and what you can do on the way, the final thing to talk about is…

What to do in Snaefellsnes

Here we are! There’s tons of stuff you can do on your trip to Snaefelssnes.

If you’re taking a tour, then they will drive you to the most important stops, like;

Ytri tunga

Here you can find a colony of seals.

Búðir

A lovely little place where you can find a simple and beautiful church in the middle of nowhere.

Arnarstapi

Kirkjufell

And you won’t really have to worry about anything!

Just sit back and enjoy the trip!

If you’re driving on your own, there are some other places you can check out!

Djúpalónssandur

A sandy beach bay at the foot of Snaefellsjökull

Rauðfeldsgjá

A deep, high and narrow ravine in the cliffs south of the glacier Snaefellsjökull.

Lóndrangar

Lóndrangar is a pair of rock pinnacles in Iceland.

Ólafsvík

A cute little town. They have a public pool that would be a great place to stop for a bit.

They also have two restaurants you can check out

Sker
Reks

Stykkishólmur

A lovely town.

Here you can go swimming and they’ve got a few restaurants, like Narfeyrarstofa.

Snaefellsnes national park

The national park encompasses a large area and if you have time, you should try and find some hiking trails and get lost in nature for a bit.

I recommend the app ‘Wapp’ which offers a wide variety of hiking trails.

Lýsuhóll

They have a hotel, and a restaurant, and offer horseback rides.

If you’ve got the time, you won’t regret going on a short-riding tour.

There’s plenty more to do of course, but if you fill your itinerary with the activities and places I’ve mentioned, you’re going to have a good time!

Final words