West Iceland

Region

The west coast north of Reykjavík. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula has the glacier-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano, Kirkjufell mountain and black-sand beaches, Borgarnes has saga history, and the Húsafell area has lava caves and the Into the Glacier tunnel. It is an easy trip from the capital.

West Iceland SkorradalsvatnHvalvatnOk (volcano)HreðavatnPrestahnúkurHelgrindurHjörseyBrokeyEiríksstaðirLjósufjöllEldborgGrundarfossKirkjufellsfossarKerlingarfossBárðarlaugBorgarnesStykkishólmurÓlafsvíkAkranesSnæfellsjökullHraunfossarBarnafossarGlymur

West Iceland essentials

Country: Iceland
Driest months: May-Jul
Pay in: Krona (kr)
Language: Icelandic

Where to Go in West Iceland

City Stykkishólmur StykkishólmurHarbor town on Iceland's Snæfellsnes Peninsula City Akranes AkranesCoastal town in Iceland City Borgarnes BorgarnesIcelandic town and regional service centre City Ólafsvík ÓlafsvíkFishing town on Snæfellsnes Peninsula, western Iceland Island Hjörsey HjörseySmall Icelandic island in Breiðafjörður bay Island Brokey BrokeyPeninsula and coastal area near Borgarnes History Eiríksstaðir EiríksstaðirArchaeological Viking-age farm site with reconstructed longhouse Nature Snæfellsjökull SnæfellsjökullGlacier-capped volcano on Snæfellsnes peninsula, literary fame Nature Glymur GlymurOne of Iceland's tallest waterfalls in scenic canyon Nature Skorradalsvatn SkorradalsvatnIcelandic lake set within a scenic valley Nature Hraunfossar HraunfossarSeries of waterfalls streaming from lava field into river Nature Hvalvatn HvalvatnScenic Icelandic lake near Glymur waterfall
Regions & Cities
Borgarnes Explore Borgarnes A fjord town with a Saga museum, Borgarnes sits on Borgarfjörður; visitors use it as a base for Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, Reykholt’s hot springs, and coastal walks where sheep graze beside lava fields. Stykkishólmur Explore Stykkishólmur Perched on the northern shore of Snæfellsnes, Stykkishólmur is a ferry gateway to Breiðafjörður’s islands; visitors explore neat wooden houses, the volcano-scraped horizon of Snæfellsjökull, oyster and langoustine restaurants, and day trips to Flatey and coastal bird colonies. Ólafsvík Explore Ólafsvík A fishing port on Snæfellsnes, Ólafsvík offers sea-cliff walks, local cod and langoustine, and views of Snæfellsjökull glacier; anglers, birdwatchers and road-trippers use it as a base for peninsula explorations. Akranes Explore Akranes A western Iceland fishing town, Akranes offers a lighthouse, black-sand cliffs, and coastal walks; birdwatchers and anglers come for sea-air cafés, rugged headlands, and occasional whale-watching trips. Snæfellsjökull Explore Snæfellsjökull Snæfellsjökull sits on the Snæfellsnes peninsula as a glacier‑capped volcano; visitors hike or ski routes, explore lava fields and coastal cliffs, and visit sites tied to Jules Verne’s novel. Hraunfossar Explore Hraunfossar Hraunfossar in west Iceland comprises dozens of small cascades where water seeps from a lava field into the Hvítá; visitors follow boardwalks and viewpoints along the river. Barnafossar Explore Barnafossar Near Hraunfossar in west Iceland, Barnafoss features rapid falls and walking tracks; visitors combine it with nearby lava-field streams and Borgarfjörður viewpoints. Glymur Explore Glymur West of Reykjavík, Glymur plunges into a narrow canyon and requires a river crossing and steep hike to reach the waterfall rim; day-trippers prize the trail for exposed views and basalt cliffs.

West Iceland at a Glance

Local Time
12:14 AM
GMT+0
Population
17,541

Best Things to Do in West Iceland