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National Parks
Snæfellsjökull National Park
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About Snæfellsjökull National Park
Snæfellsjökull National Park covers the western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland. Established in 2001, it was the first national park in Iceland to stretch from a mountain summit all the way down to the sea. At its centre is Snæfellsjökull, a glacier-capped stratovolcano that Jules Verne used as the entrance to the underworld in Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Below it lie lava fields, sea cliffs, craters and beaches, with several of the peninsula's best-known stops inside the park boundary.
The main sights are spread along the coastal road around the glacier. Djúpalónssandur is a black pebble beach with lifting stones weighing 23 to 154 kg and the iron wreckage of an English trawler lost in 1948; it has an accessible viewing platform and toilets by the car park. Lóndrangar is a pair of basalt rock pillars, Vatnshellir is an 8,000-year-old lava tube more than 200 metres long that can be visited on guided tours, and Skarðsvík has a beach of yellow shell sand. Svalþúfa and Þúfubjarg are bird cliffs, and the Bárður Snæfellsás walking trail links Arnarstapi and the old fishing village of Hellnar.
The park is open all year. There are two visitor centres, both open daily: the National Park Centre at Hellissandur (09:30 to 17:00) and the visitor centre at Malarrif (10:30 to 16:30); check hours out of season. Since August 2026 the park charges service fees, collected through parking fees at its car parks, so expect to pay when you park at the main sites.
Summer gives the longest days and the best access, while winter brings short daylight and changeable road conditions. Reaching the glacier summit requires a guided glacier hike with crampons and ropes. Many day tours from Reykjavík cover the park's coastal sights in a long day.
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Good to know
Is there an entrance fee for Snæfellsjökull National Park?
There is no entry gate, but since August 2026 service fees are collected through parking fees at the park's car parks.
When was Snæfellsjökull National Park established?
It was established in 2001 and was Iceland's first national park to reach from a mountain summit down to the sea.
Is Snæfellsjökull National Park open in winter?
Yes, the park is open all year, though winter brings short daylight and changeable road conditions.
Where are the visitor centres in Snæfellsjökull National Park?
There is a National Park Centre at Hellissandur, open 09:30 to 17:00, and a visitor centre at Malarrif, open 10:30 to 16:30.
Can you climb Snæfellsjökull?
Yes, but only on a guided glacier hike with crampons, ice axe, harness and rope.
What are the main sights in Snæfellsjökull National Park?
Highlights include Djúpalónssandur beach, the Lóndrangar rock pillars, Vatnshellir lava cave, Skarðsvík beach and the Snæfellsjökull glacier itself.
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