The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a scenic region in West Iceland, boasting a diverse landscape of glaciers, mountains, lava fields, and coastal beauty. It’s also home to the Snaefellsjokull National Park, the home of the Sneafellsjokull volcano that towers over the peninsula.

In clear weather, the Snaefellsnes peninsula and Sneafellsjokull can be seen from Reykjavik, making views across the Faxafloi bay from the capital particularly beautiful. Snaefellsnes is just a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, and you can easily see its main attractions on a day trip with a rental car. There are also several small towns on the peninsula that offer restaurants and other amenities.

Snaefellsjökull glacier is only the 13th largest glacier in Iceland, and sadly it is rapidly decreasing in size. It is nonetheless one of Iceland’s most famous glaciers, mostly due to its location. It is situated on the tip of Snæfellsnes peninsula and can be seen from Reykjavík on a clear day, like a crown across the Faxaflói bay.

Berserkjahraun is a 4000-year-old lava field situated on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It covers the western part of Helgafell, between the towns of Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður.

The most famous feature of Snaefellsnes is Kirkjufell mountain (Church Mountain). In addition to being the “most photographed mountain in Iceland”, it is also known as as “the mountain shaped like an arrowhead” in the Game of Thrones. Kirkjufell takes its name from its resemblance to a church steeple, sharpened at the top with long curved sides.

At 1519 feet (463 meters), Kirkjufell is a striking sight from across the peninsula. Kirkjufell is surprisingly easy to access, in between two car parks that are each a few hundred yards from the viewing areas. Just down the path from Kirkjufell is the serene and perfectly located waterfall, or ‘Church Mountain Falls’, an excellent subject for photographers who can easily frame the mountain in the background. Despite its relatively small size, Kirkjufellsfoss’ three steps, gentle flow, and location make it as impressive as some of Iceland’s larger waterfalls.

Búðakirkja (Budir Black Church) is a small wooden church located on the south side of Snæfellsnes Peninsula near Budir, Iceland. It is a local parish church that was first established in 1703 but the current church was built in 1848. The church is still used to this day, both for traditional church events for the parish, but also for other events like destination weddings and music events.