One Day in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland: The Perfect Day Trip Itinerary

A trip to Iceland wouldn’t be complete without exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula — often referred to as “Iceland in Miniature” due to it’s vast range of features.

From volcanoes, black sand beaches, and lava fields to glaciers, waterfalls, coastal towns, and of course, Snæfellsjökull National Park — Snæfellsnes Peninsula has it all.

Although the peninsula deserves more time, it’s definitely possible to see all the highlights within one day.

With a drive of 2.5 hours each way, visiting Snæfellsnes is an easy day trip from Reykjavik.

If you’re visiting Iceland for less than a week, a one-day Snæfellsnes Peninsula itinerary offers the perfect balance of adventure and convenience.

Alternatively, if you have a little more time in Iceland, you may prefer this 2-day Snæfellsnes Peninsula itinerary, as it covers even more hidden spots, scenic stops, and local favorites.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Trip from Reykjavik

Although you could book a guided tour to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, you’ll see much more if you explore on your own terms.

Renting a car will give you the flexibility to not only explore the peninsula at a leisurely pace, but the rest of Iceland however you’d like.

It will take you about 2 1/2 hours to drive to the peninsula from Reykjavik, or about 3 hours from Keflavik airport.

Visiting the Snæfellsness Peninsula doesn’t require renting a 4×4 vehicle, with exceptions for the winter months (November – February), as the main road is paved and well maintained.

However, I’d recommend getting a 4×4 vehicle just in case you want to explore somewhere off-the-beaten-path in other parts of Iceland.

Which Direction Should you Drive the Snæfellsnes Peninsula?

Since the peninsula is a loop, you can drive it either clockwise or counterclockwise.

However, for many reasons, driving it counterclockwise is the best option.

Counterclockwise allows for the best pacing between sites, keeps the sun behind you — offering the best lighting for photographs and saving the most dramatic sights for last.

However, there are a few reasons why you may want to drive the peninsula clockwise instead.

For one, if you’re visiting during the winter season when there is a short amount of daylight, you may want to drive clockwise to ensure you see the best sights first.

Another reason would be that you’d prefer to see Kirkjufell mountain at sunset. Note that the time of sunset differs depending on the month, but in the winter season it’s usually between 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm.

When to Visit Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is beautiful year-round, but your experience will vary greatly depending on the season.

For this itinerary, we’ll focus on the warmer months (May–September) when roads are clear, daylight is long, and the weather is more predictable. Believe it or not, this will provide you with up to 18–20 hours of daylight, making it much easier to explore at a relaxed pace and fit in all the major sights.

If you visit in winter (November–February), expect limited daylight (sometimes only 4–5 hours), icy road conditions, and a few attractions that may be less accessible.

On the upside, it’s also an incredible time for Northern Lights viewing and dramatic winter landscapes.

For those visiting in spring or fall, you’ll enjoy fewer crowds and a mix of mild weather and manageable daylight — a great balance for photography and road trips.

One-Day Itinerary to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

These times are for reference only, just make sure you are pacing yourself appropriately as you have a lot of ground to cover in one day!

06:30 – Depart Reykjavik

Leaving as early as possible is essential to really maximize your day and to try to beat some of the crowds.

• Ensure you have a full tank of gas. If not, stop in the town of Borgarnes (an hour from Reykjavik) to fill up your tank. This is also a great time to grab something to eat for breakfast if you haven’t already.
• Take snacks as places to eat on the peninsula are few and far between.
• It will take about 2.5 hours from Reykjavik to reach the 1st destination on the agenda.

09:00 am – Selvallafoss

The first place on the itinerary is of course, a waterfall.

And not just any waterfall.

This waterfall is one of the few in Iceland that you can walk behind.

Selvallafoss has been nicknamed as “sheeps waterfall” due to the flock of sheep that often visit to graze on the lush green grass that grows around the falls. See if you can spot any! 🐑

This waterfall is less-visited and is more off-the-beaten-path. It’s likely you won’t have a big crowd this early in the morning.

Spend about 30 minutes here.

09:45 – Berserkjahraun Lava Field

Next stop is one that shouldn’t be missed.

The Berserkjahraun Lava Fields were created after four scoria craters erupted around 4,000 years ago.

One of those craters, Grákúla (pictured above), was the last one to erupt.

The lava fields are amazing to drive through as you’ll see miles of lava fields covered with mosses of every shade.

The road through the fields is gravel but you shouldn’t need a 4×4 vehicle unless it’s icy or muddy.

The road to Bersekjahraun Lava Fields is on your left directly off of Road 54, where you’ll turn onto road 554 – approximately 5 minutes after leaving Selvallafoss.

Expect about 30-45 minutes here.

10:30 – Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss

Next is the jewel of Snæfellsnes – Mount Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss. Often referred to as Arrowhead Mountain or Church Mountain.

As it’s the most photographed mountain in Iceland, expect higher crowds here, especially during the peak season.

Mount Kirkjufell is hard to miss, as it’s a lonely mountain that climbs about 416m (1,519 feet) above sea level.

If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, this mountain made a few appearances in the hit series.

Depending on what time of year you visit, the mountain may appear bright green to bright white. And during the winter, it’s one of the prime locations in Iceland to view the Northern Lights.

11:30 – Lunch in Grundarfjörður

When you’re ready to leave Kirkjufell, the nearby town of Grundarfjörður has some good options for lunch.

1. Harbour Cafe — Icelandic cuisine. 4.7 ⭐️
2. Græna kompaníið — Cafe with soups and sandwiches and vegan desserts. 4.7 ⭐️
3. Kaffi 59 — Serves mostly pizza and burgers. 4.2 ⭐️
4. Mæstro – Street food — Food truck with top-rated fish& chips. However it’s not always open and they do not update online. 4.8⭐️

1:00 PM – Svöðufoss & Kerlingarfoss

Svödufoss is a beautiful waterfall that makes for a great photo opportunity on a sunny day as the falls sit almost directly in front of the Snaefellsjokull glacier.

While we were here, the skies were gray and cloudy so we didn’t get to see the glacier, but the waterfall was beautiful nonetheless.

It takes about a 30 minute walk to reach the falls, but there is a well-maintained path and it’s easy to navigate.

You can also climb to the top of the falls for a different angle if you’d prefer.

About a mile down the same road, you’ll find Kerlingarfoss.

Although it’s not as stunning as it’s other counterparts, it’s still worth visiting, especially as you’ll already be in the area.

As it takes about 30 min to reach the falls from the parking lot, expect to spent about an hour and a half here.

2:30 PM – Saxhóll Crater

Ready to climb to the top of an old volcanic crater?

Don’t worry, the climb is relatively easy as there is a metal staircase leading all the way to the top.

From the top you’ll be able to peer into the crater and take in the views around you from the lava fields to the ocean.

Spend about 30 minutes here.

3:15 PM – Djúpalónssandur Beach

The Black Lava Pearl Beach or Djúpalónssandur Beach is one you don’t want to miss.

Imagine white waves crashing onto the black beach surrounded by moss covered lava formations and rusty remnants of an old ship wreck. That would be Djúpalónssandur Beach.

From the parking lot, you’ll walk along a path through the lava formations called the Path of the Bull.

Look for the famous arched rock called Gatklettur. Looking through the hole will get you a unique perspective of Snæfellsjökull glacier — the crown of Snæfellsjökull National Park.

Although the black smooth pebbles of the beach are pretty and unique, they are not permitted to be taken.

Spend about 30 minutes to an hour here.

4:00 PM – Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

Raudfeldsgja Gorge is a moss covered canyon where you can explore and feel like you’re in a scene from Lord of the Rings.

The climb to the entrance is on rocky terrain but isn’t too difficult unless it’s muddy from a recent rain or snow melt.

Once inside, you’ll need to navigate up a stream and over small waterfalls to continue deeper into the canyon.

If you aren’t feeling up to exploring inside, the views from the top are amazing as well.

You’ll probably spend about 30 minutes here, longer if you are an explorer at heart.

5:00 PM – Bjarnarfoss

Bjarnarfoss is a cant-miss waterfall and is also on my list of waterfalls near Reykjavik worth visiting.

Really, you cant-miss it. Meaning you can see it from the road way before you even reach it.

It’s worth stopping and getting up close to the falls, however, as you’ll see many birds flying around and nesting in the basalt cliffs near the waterfall.

Expect to spend about 30 minutes here.

5:45 pm – Ytri Tunga Beach

Finish off the day on Snæfellsnes Peninsula at Ytri Tunga Beach, known for it’s seal colonies and golden sands.

You’ll likely see these creatures taking naps along the bay or swimming nearby.

Please respect their space and stay at least 50-100 yards away as the seals can become stressed, or even aggressive, if approached.

Take a long range camera or a pair of binoculars to be able to see the seals up close. They are cute, after all!

Stay as long as you’d like. The next stop is in Borgarnes (about an hour drive) where I’d recommend you stop for dinner.

7:30 pm – Dinner in Borgarnes

There is one clear winner on where to eat in Borgarnes – Bara Borgarnes, 4.9 ⭐️.

We had a fantastic dinner here, one of the best we had in Iceland. I had fish & chips and my husband had some of the best lamb we’ve ever had.

However, there are a few other places in the area to eat if you’d prefer:

• Englendingavík — fresh icelandic dishes 4.5 ⭐️
• Settlement Centre Restaurant — icelandic cuisine 4.4 ⭐️

9:30 PM – Reykjavik

It takes about an hour drive to get back to Reykjavik from Borgarnes.

Final Thoughts

Driving the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in a day is 100% doable.

You’ll see the top sites from mountains, beaches, cliffs, lava fields, waterfalls — and all the views from your car in between.

However, if you’d prefer a slower pace and to have the opportunity to see more hidden gems, consider spending two days on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

And if you’d like to experience more of Iceland in general, also ready my guide about the pros & cons for basing your stay in Reykjavik.

If you have any questions about Snæfellsnes, leave me a comment below!