Snæfellsjökull National Park

About Snæfellsjökull National Park

Snæfellsjökull National Park is a protected area at the western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, about 2.5 to 3 hours' drive from Reykjavík. Set up in 2001, it runs from the top of a glacier-capped volcano all the way down to the surf.

The glacier is the backdrop, but most of a visit happens along the coast road that loops around it. Djúpalónssandur has black pebbles, old lifting stones and rusting wreckage from a British trawler lost in 1948, while the basalt pillars of Lóndrangar rise from the sea a short walk from the Malarrif lighthouse.

On the north side, Skarðsvík is a rare beach of pale shell sand, and Saxhóll is a cinder crater with a staircase to its rim. Seabird colonies crowd the cliffs at Svalþúfa in summer.

There is no entrance gate, but since August 2026 the park collects a service fee through the parking charge at its main stops, so expect to pay at each lot. Two visitor centers help you plan the route: the National Park Center in Hellissandur and the smaller one at Malarrif. Until October 31 they open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. respectively, after which winter hours apply.

Snæfellsjökull National Park is open all year. Summer brings long days and the best chance of seeing the glacier, while winter offers snow, empty beaches and only a few hours of usable light.

Allow a full day to see the main sights on your own, or join one of the Snæfellsnes day tours from Reykjavík that cover the park's coast. Roads and paths sometimes close for repairs, so check the park's news page before you set out.