In a nutshell
- The tour runs for 11 hours and is listed with coach legs between the stops. Plan for long stretches in your seat.[1]
- Pickup is available and 28 drop-off locations are listed. Check availability for the options that suit you.[1]
- Ground at the coastal stops is loose and uneven in places. The Arnarstapi coastal trail alone takes about 2 hours return.[2]
- Weather on Snæfellsnes is overall quite good through the year but can change quickly, so keep your plan flexible, especially in winter.[3]
- Free cancellation is listed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.[1]
- Top choice Full-Day Snæfellsnes Tour from US$145 Duration11 hours[1]Rating4.72 from 3,765 reviews[1]Live guideEnglish[1]PickupAvailable; check options[1]CancellationFree up to 24 hours before[1] Check availability
- Snaefellsnes Minibus Tour from US$161 Duration11 hours[4]Rating4.77 from 789 reviews[4]Live guideEnglish[4]PickupPickup included; check details[4]CancellationFree up to 24 hours before[4] See this tour
- Small-Group Peninsula Tour from US$148 Duration11 hours[5]Rating4.75 from 208 reviews[5]Live guideSpanish, English[5]PickupPickup included; check details[5]CancellationFree up to 24 hours before[5] See this tour
There is a small hiking trail that starts very close to the statue of Bardur in Arnarstapi, and it's an easy walk. It takes about 2 hours (return trip) along the coastline, a great way to admire the basalt columns, rock arches, and all kinds of birds who live there.
Is the coach day right for you?
Things to check
Coach accessibility and seating comfort
Your day starts at the pickup location and finishes at one of 28 drop-off locations.[1] In between, the itinerary is listed as a run of coach legs with stops strung along the coast, and the whole thing is scheduled to take 11 hours.[1] Pickup is available, and the options are confirmed when you check availability for your date.[1]
If you are weighing up Snæfellsnes peninsula tour bus travel against driving yourself, the trade is simple: you swap time at the wheel for time in a seat, and you get a live guide who speaks English.[1] Seats on a full coach are shared space. If you want a spot near the front, a little more legroom or somewhere to stow a folded walking aid, ask the operator before you travel rather than on the morning, and be ready to board a few minutes early at the pickup point.
Two comforts worth knowing. Free cancellation is listed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which means you can hold a date and watch the forecast before committing.[1] Take a small cushion or a rolled jacket if your back prefers support on long drives, and keep a bottle of water within reach.
Long days in a vehicle are the main thing to plan around. A neck pillow, a light blanket and something to listen to make the motorway stretches pass more easily, and the coach seats are a good place to dry out wet gloves between stops.
Ytri Tunga: shore stop and terrain notes
Ytri Tunga is the last stop on the listed route before the coach turns back towards Reykjavik.[1] It is an open beach of dark sand and grey rock, with a short, gentle walk from where the coach parks. The stones near the waterline stay wet and slick, so keep to the firmer sand and watch your footing near the tide line.
Look for seals on the skerries just offshore, and bring binoculars if you have them. The stop comes late in the day. Treat it as a slow wander rather than a hike, walk as far as feels comfortable, and turn back early if you would rather save your energy for the drive home.
Wet sand is firmer than dry, and the flat middle of the beach is the easiest line to follow. The wind off the sea is the main discomfort, and a hood plus a windproof layer makes the stop far more pleasant. Keep the coach in sight on the way back so you are not the last one hurrying.
Pebbles, basalt and a long horizon on the Snæfellsnes coast
Búðakirkja: church and coastal ground
Búðakirkja is a small wooden church on the south side of the peninsula, and it is one of the stops on this route.[1][6] The ground around it is flat and easy, with a short walk from the parking area. It works well for anyone who wants a gentle stretch of the legs between the beaches.
The black sand beach below Búðir is a few minutes further on foot, and the surface softens as you go, moving from gravel and grass to sand. If the wind is up, the church wall is the calmest place to stand and wait for the group. The small black church against the surrounding lava field is the shot people come for, and you can get a good one without leaving the flat ground by the gate.
The church is a landmark rather than a hike, and the stop is short. If you would rather stay on the coach, the lava field around Búðir is viewable from the window on the way in and out.
Arnarstapi: coastal paths and uneven ground
Arnarstapi is the walking highlight of the day. There is a small hiking trail that starts very close to the statue of Bárður in Arnarstapi, and it is an easy walk, taking about 2 hours return along the coastline.[2] On a coach day with a fixed schedule, plan on walking part of it and turning back when your time is up.
The path mixes gravel, trodden grass and bare rock, and it passes basalt columns, rock arches and seabird colonies. It is not a mountain hike, but it is not a pavement either. Grippy shoes, a hand free for balance and a slower pace on the wet sections will see most people through comfortably.
There is a story in the ground here too. According to Bárðar Saga Snæfellsáss, Bárður Snæfellsás was the settler of this area, half a troll and half a man, his father being half a titan and his mother human.[7] The statue at the start of the trail marks him.
Arnarstapi village itself is on the flat, with a short harbour area and paths between the buildings. If the coastal trail is busy or the weather turns, a loop around the village gives you the same sea views with far less ground to cover.
from US$145
The full-day coach tour from Reykjavik is listed from US$145, runs 11 hours and has a live English-speaking guide.[1]
Djúpalónssandur: black sand and pebble beach
Djúpalónssandur is known for its four historic lifting stones, the remains of the British trawler Epine GY7 wrecked here in 1948, the natural rock arch Gatklettur, and its black pebble beach at the foot of Snæfellsjökull glacier.[8] It is also the stop where footing matters most.
Pebbles shift underfoot, and the way down to the water is uneven and often damp. Take the flatter lines rather than the steepest, use a stick if you have one, and give yourself more time than you think you need for the return. The lifting stones sit near the path, and the view back along the coast is worth the pause.
Black sand and pebbles reflect little light, and the beach can feel colder than the car park. A windproof layer and a spare pair of socks waiting in the coach are small comforts that pay off here.
Kirkjufell mountain and viewpoint
Kirkjufell stands at 463 meters (1,519 feet) and is one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland.[9] The stop here is a viewing stop, with flat walking from the car park to the viewpoints at the water's edge. You can see a great deal without going far, which suits anyone who wants a big view with small effort.
Snæfellsjökull, the glacier-capped volcano above the peninsula, is 1,446 meters high, and Snæfellsjökull National Park was established in 2001.[10] Ólafsvík is also on the listed route, and the whale watching tour on Snæfellsnes runs from there.[1][11] The peninsula sits 136 km (85 mi) from Reykjavík, roughly a 2-hour drive via Route 1 and Route 54.[12]
Kirkjufell is the shape everyone recognises, a steep cone with a hat-like top, and the light around it changes fast. Afternoon and evening light is worth waiting for, and the walk from the car park is short.
Planning your stops and pacing your day
Eleven hours is a full day, and the listed route takes in Vatnaleið, Kirkjufell, Ólafsvík, Djúpalónssandur, Londrangar, Arnarstapi, Búðakirkja and Ytri Tunga.[1] Pick one or two stops to walk properly and let the rest be views from the coach door. In late spring and summer, puffins nest at Londrangar, along with guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes.[13]
Weather on Snæfellsnes is overall quite good throughout the year, but it can change quickly, and a flexible travel plan is a good idea, especially in winter.[3] Dress in layers, keep a windproof outer layer on the top of your bag, and pack a hat and gloves even in midsummer. Bring water and snacks for the coach legs, and a charged phone for photographs of the coast.
If a full day in a vehicle is too much, there are shorter ways to see the peninsula. The guided Vatnshellir lava cave tour lasts 45 minutes.[14][15] Stóri-Kambur offers horse riding tours that take riders into the heart of Snæfellsnes in West Iceland.[16] Lýsulaugar has geothermal baths including two hot tubs, a large geothermal swimming pool and a cold tub.[17] Some travellers stay on the peninsula instead: Hotel Snæfellsnes is in the middle of it, 32 km from Stykkishólmur, 38 km from Grundarfjörður, 57 km from Ólafsvík, 35 km from Búðir, 54 km from Arnarstapi and 58 km from Hellnar.[18]
Distances from Hotel Snæfellsnes
Every distance is listed from Hotel Snæfellsnes, which sits in the middle of the peninsula.[18]
What a Snæfellsnes day tour costs
All amounts are from-prices per person.[1][4][19][20][21]
When to go
Pacing your coach day
Confirm your pickup
Pickup is available for this tour; check availability for the options that fit your address.[1]
Eat before you travel
The day runs 11 hours. A proper breakfast and a bottle of water make the first coach leg easier.[1]
Dress for standing still
Wind at the coast bites harder than it does in town. Layers, a hood and gloves earn their place in your bag.
Walk early, rest later
Do your longest walk at Arnarstapi or Djúpalónssandur while your legs are fresh, and take the last stops gently.
Keep the trail short
The Arnarstapi coastal walk takes about 2 hours return if you do the whole thing. Walking a section and turning back is a good compromise.[2]
See the full-day coach tour and its pickup options
from US$146Reserve now & pay later
