Western Iceland Essentials

Western Iceland features diverse geological wonders, from the iconic Kirkjufell mountain to the 198-meter-tall Glymur waterfall. The region is home to Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, and Hraunfossar, where water emerges directly from a lava field. Historical landmarks include Eiríksstaðir, the reconstructed Viking longhouse of Erik the Red. Along the Snæfellsnes coast, visitors can explore the basalt columns of Gerðuberg, the black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur, and the seal colonies of Ytri Tunga.

Western Iceland Essentials — Map

Jabbi / Public domain

A

Glymur

A 198-meter tall waterfall featuring a scenic hiking trail with views of fjords, mountains, and a canyon.

Anjali Kiggal / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Kirkjufell Mountain

Kirkjufell is a 463 m high hill on the north coast of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður.

Bromr / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Kirkjufellsfoss

Waterfall.

Reykholt / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring

Deildartunguhver is the most powerful hot spring in Europe and as such, it is definitely worth visiting.

TommyBee / Public domain

E

Basalt Cliffs Gerðuberg

Come and admire the majestic basalt columns that resemble the wall of a rock castle.

Raul Hernandez / CC-BY-SA

F

Djúpalónssandur

Djúpalónssandur is a sandy beach and bay on foot of Snæfellsjökull in Iceland.

pjt56 / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Ytri Tunga Beach

A light sandy beach, well-known for the seal colony. Come here in June or July to spot them!

Jon Gretarsson / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Búðir

An iconic 19th-century black wooden church situated within the Búðahraun lava field. It stands near a rare light-colored sandy beach, contrasting with the dark volcanic surroundings.

Anjali Kiggal / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Lóndrangar Cliffs

The Lóndrangar are a pair of rock pinnacles in Iceland. They are volcanic plugs of basalt, that have been hewn out from softer surrounding…

Arian Zwegers / CC BY 2.0

J

Hraunfossar

Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 metres out of the Hallmundarhraun, a lava…

Tomasz Wisła / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Gatklettur

A distinctive natural stone arch located on the coastline near Arnarstapi. The formation, shaped by marine erosion, features a circular aperture and serves as a nesting site for various seabirds.

Hafsteinn Davíðsson / CC-BY-SA

L

Saxhóll

A 100-meter-high volcanic crater on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. A metal staircase leads to the rim, providing views of the surrounding lava fields and the Snæfellsjökull glacier.

fingalo / CC BY-SA 2.0 de

M

Eriksstadir

Eiríksstaðir is the former homestead of Eiríkr Þorvaldsson, known as Erik the Red, in Haukadalur in the Dalasýsla region of Iceland.

N

Church of Stykkishólmur

White concrete building overlooking the town. Opened in 1990, it is also used as a concert venue.

Michal Okresa / CC-BY-SA

O

Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum

This farm produces hákarl, which is fermented shark meat, a traditional local dish.