By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 17th June 2023 | Updated: 19th December 2024
When planning a trip to Iceland often visitors stick to Reykjavík and the Golden Circle Route, but why not venture a bit further and include West Iceland in your itinerary?
Only a couple of hours from Reykjavík you can escape the city and get back to nature along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and National Park. With historic fishing villages, dramatic seabird-filled coastlines, and a famous snow-topped mountain or two, West Iceland is the place to go if you want to see a completely different side of Iceland.
📍 West Iceland Itinerary: Borganes, Snæfellsjökull National Park, Arnarstapi, Saxhóll, Ólafsvík & Grundarfjörður
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
West Iceland Itinerary Map
West Iceland Itinerary Overview
📍 Length / time – 400km / 4 hours 15 minutes drive
📍 Start / end – Reykjavík to Stykkishólmur
📍 Cities / towns on the route – Borganes, Arnarstapi, Ólafsvík, Grundarfjörður & Stykkishólmur
📍 Waterfalls on the route – Bæjarfoss & Kirkjufellfoss
📍 Top sights on the route – Snæfellsjökull National Park & Saxhóll Crater
📍 Where to stay in West Iceland – Grundarfjörður HI Hostel
West Iceland Itinerary in Summer
Visiting the west of Iceland in the summer is much like visiting elsewhere in Iceland, but just be prepared for rapid weather shifts, (strong wind, rain then sun in the space of an hour kind of shifts!). Also always make sure you take the advice of signage, if something says it is shut or restricted, please don’t ignore it as it could be down to wildlife or dangerous routes.
West Iceland Itinerary in Winter
In winter visiting West Iceland means that you are much more likely to encounter difficult driving conditions such as snow, blizzards, strong winds and possible road closures due to the weather, and this is alongside any icy pathways and possible closures to tourist attractions and waterfalls if they are deemed unsafe. If you plan on visiting with a hire car then be sure to get something with studded tyres and a 4×4 for better traction on icy / snowy roads.
West Iceland Itinerary: Day 1
Starting in Reykjavík you want to hit the ring road, Route 1, north to Borganes before bearing west and following Route 54. This road leads you directly into the heart of the West Iceland region along the stunning coastline.
Upon reaching Búðir, bear left through the lava fields following Route 574 all the way into Snæfellsjökull National Park. Be sure to stop at Arnarstapi just before entering the National Park, it is one of the most beautiful places to see nesting seabirds in Iceland.
From Arnarstapi, continue into the Snæfellsjökull National Park and lace up those hiking boots to get exploring! Two walks you must do are the coastal cliffside walk and the walk up to Saxhóll crater through the lava fields.
From Snæfellsjökull National Park, continue on Route 574 around the coast before joining back up with Route 54 heading towards Ólafsvík. This small fishing town, with its own waterfall and stunning fish-shaped modern church, is the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat, all fresh from the morning’s catch.
From Ólafsvík continue on Route 54 to the final destination in West Iceland, Grundarfjörður. With its famous mountain and wonderful pebble beach, Grundarfjörður is the perfect place to relax and rest your West Iceland filled head, before hitting the road to explore more of what Iceland has to offer.
Rather than ending in Grundarfjörður, you can also head a little further along the coast to stop in Stykkishólmur, another wonderful little town on the north coast of the west Iceland region.
From here you can continue with our North Iceland Itinerary.
Top Things to do in West Iceland
There are many major attractions and less well-known things to see in the West of Iceland, but here are our top places you must visit, see and stay at on a road trip in West Iceland:
There are 3 major towns in the area, Akranes, Borganes and Stykkishólmur each with their own unique setting. However, it’s the small villages and fishing towns that you just can’t miss in the west of Iceland…
1. Explore Arnarstapi
At the base of Mount Stapfell sits the quaint fishing village of Arnarstapi. With a natural harbour brimming with seabirds and incredible cliff formations made from columns of basalt, this tiny village is one you can fully immerse in nature at. If you’re lucky you can even see the rivers and streams running off of the cliffs and straight into the sea! Arnarstapi is also a great place to stop for a refuel on coffee and cake before heading into the Snæfellsnes National Park.
2. Visit Ólafsvík
Further along, the coast on the northern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula lies the small, but wonderfully colourful, fishing town of Ólafsvík. As well as the beautiful natural world that surrounds the town, in particular, Snæfellsjökull and the towns very own waterfall Bæjarfoss, Ólafsvík has a wonderful modern church Ólafsvíkurkirkja that brings charm to the town. Made entirely from triangles, from north to south it resembles a fishing boat, from above a salted cod!
3. Stay in Grundarfjörður
Grundarfjörður is a small town situated between the mountains of Snæfellsnes and the sea. It may not be well known itself but with the famous Kirkjufell overlooking the town, you will more than likely have seen it on a postcard or two! From Grundarfjörður beach you can sit and marvel at Kirkjufell watching the sun go down surrounded by the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, what better way to watch a sunset? With a quaint church, (something you see a lot of in Iceland!), harbour and of course the beach, Grundarfjörður is well worth a visit.
West Iceland isn’t just towns and villages however, there are some pretty impressive attractions to see too. The west is one of the most geologically diverse areas in the country from the glacier-topped mountains to the waterfalls falling into the sea,
4. Explore Snæfellsnes National Park
Just a couple of hours out of Reykjavík, off Route 1 and on to Route 54, you can escape to the countryside and get back to nature along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and National Park. From the mountain tops to the seashore, Snæfellsnes National Park is full of surprises. One moment you are driving through vast flat landscape intertwined with streams of glacier runoff, before turning a corner where expansive mountains burst out of the land.
5. Climb to Saxhóll crater
Once in the National Park, there is nothing better than sitting back and enjoying the views. Snæfellsjökull, the glacier and active volcano at the heart of the park, can be seen from every angle possible and is made more breathtaking with each step you take. To get a great viewpoint over the most western edges of the park, (and Iceland!), you can climb up the side of Saxhóll, a 100-meter high volcanic crater that seems to have risen through the moss-covered lava fields just to show its guests what Iceland is all about.
6. Visit Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
On the drive into the next town along the peninsula, Grundarfjörður, the famous Kirkjufell rises out of the ocean. Well known for appearing in films and TV shows, Kirkjufell or ‘Church Mountain’, is a sight to behold, and often called the most beautiful mountain in Iceland. There is a parking area near the bottom of Kirkjufell which gives you access to look upon the mountain in awe as well as walk around Kirkjufellfoss, a tiered waterfall overlooking Kirkjufell.
Food Recommendations In West Iceland
When in Iceland, there is no shortage of fresh seafood to try, in particular, the catch of the day, but in the west of Iceland, we had the most stunning lamb too! Be sure to stop by these places and try what they have to offer:
📍 Snofells Restaurant and Bar in Arnastapi for a cuppa and delicious cookie for the road.
📍 Hrauvn in Ólafsvík for fresh locally caught fish & chips and a hot chocolate to die for.
📍 Bjargarsteinn in Grundarfjörður for the most amazing smoked award-winning lamb, (it comes out in a jar filled with smoke!).
📍 Cafe Nú in Stykkishólmur for coffee and wonderful slices of homemade cake.
Where To Stay In West Iceland
With 6 HI Hostels in West Iceland, there are many places for you to stay. We stayed at Grundarfjörður HI Hostel, located just a short walk into the main town, and with 2 buildings to pick from, a bright red one and a green one. We stayed in the red one, which was perfect for being close to the centre of Grundarfjörður, with parking and even a washing machine! If you want to book it be sure to click on the links below.
Grundarfjörður HI Hostel – The hostel in legendary landscapes
📍 Situated on Route 54
📍 Open 15th January – 15th December
📍 81 beds in dorms and private rooms
📍 Parking just up the road
📍 Multiple buildings to stay in – we stayed in the green one!
📍 Free Wifi
📍 Washing machine access
Fancy extending your trip to East Iceland and visiting some of the other regions to see what they have to offer? Check out our posts on North Iceland, South Iceland, and East Iceland.
West Iceland Itinerary FAQs
Is West Iceland worth visiting?
At only 2.5 hour’s drive from Reykjavík to the Snæfellsnes National Park, west Iceland is not only very much worth visiting but actually really accessible too. With beautiful sea cliffs, famous volcanoes, and a sea bird or two this region of Iceland is one of the prettiest and yet most overlooked by tourists.
How To Get To West Iceland
✈️ Flight – you can fly directly to Stykkishólmur Domestic Airport from Reykjavík, however it is worth noting that flights don’t always take place depending on the weather.
🚌 Bus – Strætó public buses operate across the country of Iceland and you can take the bust from the capital to the west of Iceland, just be prepared to switch bus a few times! More information here.
🚗 Car – Via car you take the Ring Road Route 1 north from Reykjavík then switch to Route 54 at Borganes.
How To Get Around West Iceland
We cover this much more in our 7 days exploring Iceland’s Ring Road post, but the best way by far to get around, especially if you are not planning on staying in Reykjavík, is by renting a car and driving. It allows you the freedom to stop where you like and literally take the road less travelled! In West Iceland, the roads are well maintained and equally well signposted so driving is a dream compared to some roads in the north…
With a car – getting around West Iceland with a car is simple as you follow along Route 54 which will take you around the entire coastline to and from Snæfellsjökull National Park, joining back up with Route 1 in the south and the north.
Without a car – if visiting the west of Iceland without a car you can take organised tours such as this one, or by hopping on board a Strætó public bus that operates around the country, although this will take you a few hours to half a day to do.
Renting a car in West Iceland
Assuming, as per the above, you are driving to West Iceland then be sure to check out Rentalcars.com for the best vehicle rental deals for your trip.
When is the best time to visit West Iceland?
We visited in the spring and it was perfect. Lovely and quiet, no tourists around and still the chance to peak a glimpse at the Northern Lights. That being said West Iceland is a great place to visit throughout the year depending on what you want from your trip.
What is West Iceland known for?
West Iceland, like most of Iceland, is known for its dramatic landscapes, endless fjords and incredible waterfalls. More recently it has become more well-known thanks to locations such as Grundarfjörður being used in filming well-known TV shows.
What is the capital of West Iceland?
The capital of the West Iceland region is the town of Akranes roughly 50km north of Reykjavik.
What is the biggest city in West Iceland?
There aren’t any cities in West Iceland, other than Reykjavik. The largest town in West Iceland is Akranes.
West Iceland Tours
You can easily do day trips from Reykjavik to West Iceland, check out some of the best on Get Your Guide here:
Conclusion: The Best West Iceland Itinerary & Top Things to do
Hopefully, that’s given you a bit of a taste for the places you must visit when in West Iceland, from the famous mountains to the lava field hikes and a bit of wildlife watching in between. Be sure to check out our other Iceland posts for even more tips and suggestions.
All Our Iceland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 Why Is Iceland So Expensive: How To Have An Affordable Iceland Trip
📍 The Perfect 1 Week Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.