Snæfellsnes is a 90 km long peninsula located about 150 km or 2 hours from Reykjavík. It is known for its diversity of natural features found there. The three main attractions in Snæfellsnes Peninsula are Stykkishólmur, Ólafsvík, and Arnarstapi. An interesting thing about these towns is that they were all little fishing villages. So if you come to Snæfellsnes It is guaranteed that you will be able to taste fermented shark. All three destinations are all very different and beautiful in their own way.
A great attraction in Snæfellsnes is Lýsuhóll, a small family business. Accommodation offered in cosy little cottages and a guesthouse with double and single rooms. There is a restaurant there. Additionally Lýsuhóll offers horseback riding tours. During summer you can rent six cosy little summer cottages which consist of a bedroom, a living-room, a small kitchen, shower and toilet which are ideal for two or four people, especially families. From all the cottages you have a fantastic view of the glacier Snæfellsjökull, the mountains and the sea. They also have an extraordinary geothermal bath called Lýsuhólslaugar, filled with naturally hot mineral water, which is very good for the skin.
Another fun attraction is Arnarstapi, an old town with a hotel, camping area, guesthouses and restaurants. In Arnarstapi, you can walk on Snæfellsnes glacier and along the coast between Arnarstapi and Hellir which used to be a riding route. There you can see beautiful birds and magnificent lava formations. The seaside and the cliffs between Arnarstapi and Hellir have been a natural reserve since 1979. In Arnarstapi there is a large stonemason called Bárður Snæfellsás, built by sculptor Ragnar Kjartansson. Many believe that Bárður is watching over the area under the glacier.
You can also see Kirkjufell, a 463 meter high mountain located in Grundarfjörður, is the most photographed landmark in Iceland, it was even a shooting location in Game of thrones. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Snæfellsnes, due to its uniqueness. In a walking distance from Kirkjufell is Kirkjufellsfoss, a beautiful waterfall. A great thing about Kirkjufell is that you cannot just look at it, but also hike it. There is a fairly steep trail to the top of Kirkjufell, from which there are magnificent panoramas of the surrounding fields, coastlines and rivers. The mountain takes roughly an hour and a half to ascend, with another one and a half hours needed to get back to the bottom.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a great place to visit when taking sustainable tourism into account. In 2003, the municipalities, including Snæfellsjökull National Park, began working towards solution-oriented work and more sustainable environmental and social performance. On June 8, 2008 Snæfellsnes was the first place in Europe to receive an environmental certification from EarthCheck, which is an international benchmarking system for sustainable travel and tourism. In 2011, Stykkishólmur was nominated as an EDEN-quality destination for the preservation and renewal of cultural heritage and ambitious strategy for sustainable development in tourism.
Getting to Snæfellsnes is very easy. Iceland gets a lot of tourists every year, so finding a bus that goes to Snæfellsnes shouldn’t be a problem. You can rent a car or a campervan and drive there which takes about two and a half hours. The advantage of renting a car is that it’s easier to visit attractions in Snæfellsnes. If you want to be sustainable, you can always rent a bike, even though it makes the thrip about 6-10 hours.
If you want to take a one-day tour to Snæfellsnes, you can schedule a tour with Hidden Iceland. The tour starts at 8:30 in Reykjavík and takes about 12 hours. The first stop is Selvallavatn, surrounded by beautiful mountains, waterfalls, lakes and lava fields. After that you drive through the town of Stykkishólmur and eat at Narfeyrarstofa. From there you can see the iconic Kirkjufell, a beautiful mountain rising 500 m above the town of Grundafjörður. A fun fact about kirkjufell is that an episode of Game of Thrones was filmed there. The next stop will be Snæfellsjökull volcano and then the beautiful fishing town of Arnarstapi. The tour ends with a nice dinner in Reykjavík.
Car rental recommendations:
https://hiddeniceland.is/snaefellsnes-peninsula-tour-iceland
https://www.icelandcarrental.is
Campervan recommendations:
https://www.campervaniceland.com
https://www.gocampers.ishttps://www.kukucampers.is/
Bike renting:
https://icebikeadventures.com/about/rental-bikes
Hidden Iceland tour:
https://hiddeniceland.is/snaefellsnes-peninsula-tour-iceland/
There are many places to stay during your Snæfellsnes visit. In the summer a great option is camping. If you don’t have your own tent you can rent one in Reykjavík before you begin your trip. It is also possible to camp during winter time. You can rent a campervan from companies like ‘Kuku Campers’ and ‘Campervan Iceland’. Another option, which is great for those who don’t like camping, is renting a house, cabin, or an apartment through Airbnb. You can also always stay at a nice hotel e.g. Hotel Stundarfriður, a small hotel cabin or Akkeri guesthouse located in the heart of Stykkishólmur.
https://www.campervaniceland.com
https://www.airbnb.com/snaefellsnes-iceland/stays
https://www.west.is/en/inspiration/services/akkeri-guesthouse
If you’re looking for a place to eat, Gilbakki is the right place. Gilbakki is a small café/restaurant in Hellissandur, run by Anna Þóra Böðvardóttir, a local who specializes in creamed fish soups.
Another great place to eat is Narfeyrastofa, located in the heart of Stykkishólmur. Cooperation between local makers of tableware as well as fishermen and farmers in the neighbourhood is important to them. The menus are thus based on local foods and products.
Perlan
Perlan is a beautiful building in Reykjavík, it rests on top of six district heating tanks that hold 24 million litres of hot water.
In Perlan you can see many shows, such as the northern lights show, a lava show, the Icelandic water show, the nature show, a glacier show, and many more.
For the children visiting you can check out the ice cream shop and the largest bouncy castle in the world! Inside is a beautiful restaurant where you can have a real Icelandic food experience.
https://bit.ly/3iXg6XC
Nauthólsvík
Nauthólsvík is a geothermal beach and great for people who like swimming in the ocean. The beach is equipped with changing facilities and showers, steam baths, and hot tubs. Hot water is pumped into the man-made lagoon and the outcome is a refreshing swimming area.
https://bit.ly/3lPbq8f
Harpan
Harpan is a concert hall and conference centre in the centre of Reykjavík. All detergents used in Harpa have the Swan label, an Eco labelling used in the Nordic countries.
The Iceland symphony orchestra has been active since 1950 and is the resident orchestra in the Harpa concert hall.
The restaurants in Harpa sell traditional Icelandic food. Epal is a well-known Icelandic store which has a great selection of famous Icelandic, Nordic and European designs.
https://bit.ly/3dtA8ru
Flyover Iceland
Flyover Iceland is an amazing way to experience Iceland. Flyover Iceland is an indoor ride where you are shown videos of the country filmed in a helicopter, that way the footage, The ride, moves along with the video so it feels like you are flying over Iceland.
This is more than just a ride, there are pre-ride shows that explore the roles of nature, humankind, and more. To enhance your experience on the ride, some special effects are added, such as wind, scent, and mist.
https://bit.ly/311whgz
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja is a 73 meters high church in mid-Reykjavik and attracts a lot of tourists. Right in front of the church is the street Skólavörðustígur where people can take a walk and shop.
The church is named after the man Hallgrímur Pétursson who was an Icelandic poet. Hallgrímur was best known for his hymns which have been translated into a lot of languages.
In front of the church is a big statue of Leifur Eiríksson which was it a gift from the USA. Leifur Eiríksson is a known hero from the Viking Age and the first European to arrive in America.
https://bit.ly/3k445AS
The glacier show at Perlan is amazing, you can experience the glaciers without driving to an actual glacier and releasing gas into the atmosphere.
The facade of Harpa is made of glass, resulting in a lower electrical use . All waste in Harpa is sorted and recycled if recyclable. In November 2015, the Director of Harpa signed the Climate Declaration that was presented at the UN Climate Conference in Paris in December 2015.
With Flyover Iceland you don’t have to drive many hours to each location and waste money on gas. Of course, it might be more appealing to drive around the country and seeing the sights in real life, but going to Flyover Iceland is a more sustainable and a quicker way to see Iceland. You are helping by not releasing as much gas into the atmosphere and you will also have more time to explore our beautiful Reykjavík.
Old Iceland focuses on using local food and growing their own herbs and spices. That is more earth-friendly and sustainable.
The best way to get around is by taking Strætó, which are yellow busses that are good for transportation. Strætó goes all over Iceland but mainly in Reykjavík. It costs c.a. 1,5 EUR or 240 ISK for children from the age of 6 to 17 but about 3 EUR or 480 ISK for adults 18 and over. Strætó is a great way of transport if you don’t have a car or you’re too young. There are about 27 Strætó’s in Reykjavík but about also better for the atmosphere because instead of 20 people in 20 different cars there are 20 people in one big car. You can also use electric scooters that can be hired all over Reykjavík city. They are a fun and different way to get between shorter distances downtown.
Canopy Hilton Hotel
The Canopy Hilton Hotel is located in the heart of Reykjavík. It’s on Smiðjustígur and is just a couple of minutes’ walk to Laugavegur, the shopping street of Reykjavík. The hotel offers rental bikes and is only a minute’s walk from the closest bus stop. Renting a car will be unnecessary when you stay at this hotel.
Geiri smart restaurant is located within the hotel, their menus reflect what local farmers and fishermen have to offer. All the food in the restaurant serves fresh and locally sourced food.
The rooms are nature-themed so you can see the beauty of nature inside. Canopy is a green hotel and operates according to the international environmental management standard.
Kex hostel
Kex is a social hostel in Reykjavík city centre, you can book all kinds of rooms but a standard two person room is priced from 9,900 Kr. Kex is located at an old biscuit factory at Skúlagata.
Old Iceland
Old Iceland is a local food restaurant located on Laugavegur 72. The restaurant is a family-owned business and focuses on serving fresh Icelandic fish and meat. They also use Icelandic herbs and spices that grow in the wild. Old Iceland is open every day from 17 – 22.
Forréttabarinn
Forrétabarinn opened in 2011 and is located in Nýlendugata 14. Forrétabarinn offers a range of appetizers and desserts of various sizes. The menu focuses on fresh, Icelandic ingredients with a southern European influence. It also offers a range of vegetarian dishes and a choice of four-course set meals.
Reykjanes is a peninsula in South West Iceland. There are a few towns, Keflavík, where you land at your arrival in Iceland, Njarðvík, Grindavík and other lesser known towns. Reykjanes is 829 square kilometres, the population is close to 28000 people. There are a lot of tourist attractions in Reykjanes for example The Blue Lagoon, Krýsuvík, Reykjanes Geopark and many beautiful hotels. It is popular amongst tourists to start their journey in Reykjanes. Reykjanes uses a lot of sustainable energy and spreads to other regions of Iceland.
Reykjanes has many fun and interesting places to visit. You can go to a luxury spa, named Blue Lagoon, you can go to the North American Eurasian plate, skiing in Bláfjöll and see lava caves and volcanoes. You can also go on sea kayaks and horse riding, diving and snorkelling.
The Blue lagoon is very nice and relaxing geothermal seawater and spa, where you can bathe in all natural and skin healing water. The Blue Lagoon also has a skin care line which mostly consists of masks and creams.
The North American and Eurasian plates are in Thingvellir national park, they are two tectonic plates, on one side there is Europe and the other North America which you can cross over with a bridge.
Reykjanes also consists of The Blue Mountains (Bláfjöll) one of the ski resorts in Iceland, it is only open to the public from November to April considering there is snow at the time. It is very popular amongst groups of teenagers or families to take the bus to Bláfjöll after school or in their vacations.
Kayak tours
Reykjanes sea kayak tours are a fun kayak tour located between Keflavik and Reykjavik from Þórustaðir, Vatnsleysuströnd to the Gerðistangi lighthouse and back. The trip is 2 hours and for 2-8 persons at a time. They supply dry suits, rubber shoes and life jackets and you can wear anything underneath preferably warm and cozy. The price is 12.000 kr per person for the 2 hour trip. https://seakayak.is/
Lava caves and volcanoes
The lava caves and volcanoes tour in Reykjanes Iceland, include SUV rides from Reykjavik and a look around lava caves, mid Atlantic ridge, Kleifarvatn, Seltún hot springs and mudpots. Reviewers of the tour have all been extremely happy, “Fabulous experience”, “tour guides knew answers to every question posed.” The start of the tour you will find an amazing moss covered field of lava, filled with smooth lava. Next, the group will see a ridge that splits Eurasia and America and also Kleifarvatn (the black lake).
Krýsuvík, the multi-colored steaming vents and hot springs are a magical sight as you walk on a boardwalk above a volcano’s magma chamber. You get to see groundwater being turned to steam just 4 kilometres below you. There you really gain perspective on how powerful nature really is.
Last but not least Leiðarendi, a lava cave created by Leitahraun´s eruption around 5200 years ago, about 900 metres in length. Magenta, ruby, amber and turquoise coloured rocks and the unbelievable inner working of a volcanic eruption.
Buggy rides and ATV in Reykjanes
You can go on an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) ride only 5 minutes away from the Blue lagoon. It is a fun adventure in Reykjanes on a 1 hour trip for 14.000 Icelandic kronas for 2 people on one bike.
The Blue lagoon
The Blue lagoon is a geothermal seawater and it is ⅔ saltwater and ⅓ freshwater. The lagoon you bathe in is 8700 square meters and there are about 9 million litres of seawater that fill it up. There is a continuous flow through the lagoon and all the water is renewed in 40 hours. The Blue lagoon is not just a lagoon, it is also a luxury spa, cosmetic shop ,hotel and you can also find an amazing restaurant there. The Blue lagoon cosmetics are a special type of skincare because they use their own material from the lagoon and they also have patent over the material.
You can go on a 4 hour exclusive entry to the retreat spa. For only 290 Euros per changing room. You can also just go normally to the lagoon for 53 Euros per person.
North American Eurasian plate in Reykjanes
The bridge between the continents of North America and Europe is a 15 meter footbridge in the Reykjanes peninsula spanning a gaping rift between the continents of Europe and North America’s tectonic plates. The two plates constantly move further away from each other about 2-4 centimetres a year. That verifies that you can indeed walk from Europe to North America in a matter of seconds.
Svartsengi is a geothermal power plant. Svartsengi is located in the Svartsengi geothermal field. It is the world’s first geothermal power plant for electric power generation and hot water production for district heating. The electric power station was built in 1976 on lava from a volcanic eruption that happened the year 1226. Up to 500 meter deep holes are dug to find hot water ( 200° C) and then transformed into energy. The water was first used to heat houses in Njarðvík and Grindavík in November 1976.
The best way to get to Reykjanes is definitely by car whether it’s a bus, a taxi or your own car. You can however walk or bike but that is not very safe since there are no sidewalks. You can take a bus from BSÍ to Keflavík, a town in Reykjanes. Our international airport is in fact in Keflavík so if you only want to stay in Reykjanes you don’t even have to go far.
You can stay at the Blue Lagoon hotel at the lagoon suite which has a private lagoon, breakfast, access to the spa, Blue Lagoon skincare, access to fitness centre, minibar, yoga and more if you want the most luxury and it costs around 2000 euros per night but you can also stay at other rooms for lower prices. The prices of the rooms are between 300-2000 euros per night. There are other hotels and inns as well, Hotel Keflavík (70 rooms, 4 ½ stars), the Diamond retreat, the first five star hotel in Iceland with exceptional suites.
Blue lagoon hotel
You can stay at the Blue Lagoon hotel at the lagoon suit which has a private lagoon, breakfast, access to the spa, blue lagoon skincare, access to fitness centre, minibar, yoga and more if you want the most luxury and it costs around 2000 euros per night but you can also stay at other rooms for lower prices. The prices of the rooms are between 300-2000 euros per night.
https://www.bluelagoon.com/accommodation/retreat-hotel/suites/lagoon-suite
Another hotel option
You can also stay at the Diamond suite boutique hotel, a beautiful 5 star hotel, at the Diamond suite. The Diamond suite is the most luxurious suite and is a 3000 square foot apartment with 5 bedrooms, 2 Jacuzzis and a living room and dining room area. The hotel has a bar, dining and breakfast. The price is around 100,000 Icelandic kronas per night but can go higher and lower depending on the rooms.
A cheaper sleeping place
Another nice guest house is Svitan guesthouse and apartments and a room for 2 people is 16.000 Icelandic kronas per night. This guesthouse is a 5 minute drive from the Keflavik airport and has a very nice guest rating of 9.3. It is a bed and breakfast guesthouse. The prices of the rooms can be from 10.000 to 30.000 Icelandic kronas per night for 2 to 4 persons.
Borgarfjörður is a fjord in southwest Iceland that is 67km from Reykjavík and approximately one hour drive from there. It is known for the many activities there, taking day tours there is popular among the families from Reykjavík. It’s a very beautiful place and gets its name from Skalla-Gríms Kveldúfsson’s farm called Borg. Across the fjord lies Hringvegurinn which is a road that runs through all of Iceland and connects most cities and farms in the country.
https://www.west.is/is/west/town/borgarfjordur
In Borgarfjörður there are waterfalls located about an hour and a half from Reykjavík. They are called Hraunafoss and Barnafoss, They are two very beautiful waterfalls with a lot of history.
Hraun means lava and fossar mean waterfalls so the name basically means Lava Waterfalls. The waterfalls come down from under a Lava field called Hallmundarhraun so the name is very fitting.
Near Borgarfjörður are many activities that are fun and sustainable. You can go cave exploring, go on horse riding tours and bathe in geothermal baths. There’s a lava cave known as The Cave which offers an easy access tour into the beautiful cave Víðgelmir, you get a helmet and headlight and follow an expert around the cave and learn about it.
Then there is the Icelandic goat centre, which has a lot to offer. The Icelandic goat is an endangered species that the Goat Centre is working towards maintaining and protecting. The goats are very friendly and when visitors come there, they get a warm welcome from the goats, which are people-friendly.
The Icelandic Goat Center Háafell
Toilet facilities available. Local Food store. Goat products, bath products, creams, soaps, leather and handcrafts.
Borgarfjörður also offers many horseback riding tours that are beginner safe, the horses are always well tamed so no need to worry.
In Húsafell there are walking tours that show you the diversity of the landscape, getting a tour guide can be really fun and educating. By going on the hiking tracks and staying there you are helping tons just by not messing with the nature around, creating multiple tracks is not good.
Nearby there are geothermal baths called Krauma, which recently opened, you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. They have many baths and two steam baths. A little family business called Iceland’s little secret (you can find them on Facebook) Offers electric fat bike tours of a forest and the area around.
https://www.west.is/en/west
Being sustainable isn’t always easy but it pays off in many ways. In this project we focus on local businesses and supporting them, it helps the economy way more when you buy local and not from big corporation chains and you make your co2 footprint smaller.
Staying on track when you visit nature is very important so as not to cause harm to the environment, all of Iceland’s nature is fragile and we must do what we can to preserve it, not littering, staying on track and being respectful of the environment is key to being a good tourist in Iceland. Most of the businesses are family owned.
From Reykjavík you can take a bus, it takes about an hour to get there. During the summer you can cycle there but that is only recommended to experienced road cyclists. To get there you just have to go north of Reykjavík and follow road 1.
It’s good to check the weather before you go because the weather here can be quite terrifying and you should always be prepared. Sometimes some roads are temporarily closed because of danger so if you are going to be travelling in Iceland you should check out.
The Icelandair Hótel Hamar is located on the golf course Hamarsvöllur in Borgarnes. The hotel has many things to offer, a restaurant and bar, where you can dine on food from the district, an outdoor geothermal heated hot tub with explicit views, a golf course, great sources of exercising like hiking on mountains near or a walk around the beautiful area and Borgarnes is only a 5-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel is sustainable in some ways, they pledge to reduce plastic and increase recycling, use nature-friendly products and services, emphasize using local products and Icelandic ingredients, to follow the current environmental legislation and aim to exceed it and educate employees and service providers about environmental issues.
Hraunsnef is a country hotel. The hotel has farm animals around the hotel, they are very friendly and will let you pet them.
For those who want to camp there is a camping site near Borgarnes and near the main road called Granastaðir, they have electricity and toilets. By choosing to camp you are being very sustainable.
Icelandair Hótel Hamar
https://www.icelandairhotels.com/is/hotel/vesturland/icelandair-hotel-hamar
The Icelandic Goat Center Háafell
Hraunfossar restaurant is a good restaurant to have lunch. It is open all year round They have a lot to offer such as lamb stew, soup, cod stroganoff, hamburgers, salad, homemade cakes and more. They also have a gift shop and sell local art. It’s a one minute walk from the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.
https://hraunfossar-restaurant.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Grillhúsið in Borgarnes is a great place for you and your family to go and eat. It has food for both kids and adults, for example, they have hamburgers, fish, sandwiches, salads and a lot more. They have a good menu for kids.
South-west Iceland has many unique and fun attractions.
Laugarvatn Fontana for example is a spa and a geothermal bakery. The natural baths that have been built primarily offer to experience the unique steam directly over the famous steam hot springs. It is also possible to bathe in health bathwater in a three-part bath, stay in a hot tub, take a dip in the warm sand and take a dip in Laugarvatn, the lake, itself or relax in the beautiful garden. You can also schedule a walk to a geothermal bakery from the reception. Guests are invited to experience the geothermal bakery first hand and take part in baking bread in the ground. It takes 24 hours for the earth to bake the bread, the slow cooking makes the dark rye bread very tasty and memorable for everyone sampling it. After the informative walk and entertaining demonstration,everyone is invited to sample the freshly baked bread. Ideal in combination with the geothermal bathing.
Fridheimar is a tomato farm and restaurant, they create a pleasant food experience where lunch is enjoyed among the tomato plants. They also offer a Greenhouse visit where guests are informed about how Icelanders can grow vegetables the whole year round with help from nature. A Horse show is available where the history and gates of the Icelandic horse are introduced in a light and professional way in a nice environment.
The Golden circle is a tourist route in southern Iceland, it’s a tour around Gullfoss, Geysir, and Þingvellir. Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found in the Hvítá river canyon in Southwest Iceland.
Gullfoss
Geysirs
Geysir is a geyser in Haukadalur, Iceland. Geysir is one of the most famous geysers in the world. There are many more hot springs in the Geysir area, for example, Strokkur, Smiður, and little-Strokkur.
Þingvellir
Þingvellir is flat, grassy green fields north of Þingvallavatn on the banks of Öxará, which flows along with the fields into Þingvallavatn, which is the largest lake in Iceland. The national park Þingvellir was opened by law in 1930. Þingvellir by Öxará shall be a protected sanctuary for all Icelanders and the land may never be sold or mortgaged.
In the south of Iceland we have two hydro powered and geothermal. Hellisheidarvirkjun is 1 of 5 geothermal plants in Iceland. According to a 2010 report power plants make up 26.2% of the country’s energy while the rest of it is nearly all hydro-powered. Hellisheiðarvirkjun is a geothermal power plant owned and operated by Orka náttúrunn, a subsidiary of Orkuveita Reykjavíkur. The station is connected to the geothermal area in Hverahlíð in Hellisheidi with a steam pipeline that was taken into use in 2016. The electricity in Iceland has almost no carbon footprint and that is a remarkable thing that we are very proud to have accomplished. The geothermal plant also has tours so that people can see how they do what they do. They have specialists that explain what and how the geothermal plant works in simpler terms so that everybody can in some way shape or form understand how it works.
The energy exhibition in Ljósafoss power station creates energy in everything and it constantly changes form. At the show, visitors can unleash this energy by using their weight, strength, and power.
The easiest and best way to come to South-West Iceland is by taking a bus or renting a car. You can even bike there but we don’t recommend it because it’s such a long way. Here is a link of a tour from Reykjavík to The Golden circle and Laugarvatn Fontana.
In southern Iceland there are a lot of options on accommodation. Hótel Geysir is good if you’re going to travel around because it’s easy to go from there. You can also find some options on farm accommodation for example Vorsabær 2 and Hali. There are also some places you can go camping.