Get the appSign inSign up
Trip ideas  /  Europe  /  Iceland  /  Stykkisholmur, West Iceland  /  3-day itinerary
Archie
Adventure
Stykkisholmur, West Iceland: 3 days on Snaefellsnes and in the WestfjordsPhoto: Bob T, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Adventure ThrillOff the Beaten Path FindTrip idea · Stykkisholmur, West Iceland

3 days on Snaefellsnes and in the Westfjords

The 8-day plan, rearranged for 3 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

3 daysAnyoneEarly July9 places
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Stykkisholmur
Photo: Gordon Leggett, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 8 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

July to August are the most comfortable months for walking around.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The loop starts north of the capital, so use the first hours to collect the car and settle into the long light.Details
Landing at Keflavik
The international airport is at Keflavik, on the Reykjanes peninsula. Buses and taxis run to Reykjavik, but Borgarnes lies north of the capital, so you can collect a rental car at the airport and start from there without staying in the city.
The rental car
Book early and read the rental terms on gravel roads, river crossings and wind damage before you sign. Many roads on this loop are gravel, and roads marked F are mountain tracks that an ordinary rental car does not belong on. Never drive off the road.
Roads, weather and the season
Weather changes fast here, and some mountain roads and tracks are closed in winter. Check the road conditions at road.is and the safety advice at safetravel.is every morning, and be ready to change the day.
First evening
Keep it short: an easy drive, a walk in the open air and an early night. Day 1 begins at Borgarnes, with the peninsula ahead, so fuel up and buy snacks before you leave the larger towns.

Day 1. Dynjandi and the fjords and Isafjordur and the Isafjardardjup

3 stops · 104.6 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Isafjordur

    The main town of the Westfjords, on a narrow spit of land beneath steep mountains. Walk through the old part with its small wooden houses and down to the harbor.

    Go when Morning, before the boat trip.

    Local tip Walk the old part of town and the harbor, and ask locally about the weather before you plan the boat.

    About 48 min by car38.5 km
  2. 2
    MiddayWorth the time

    Dynjandi

    A waterfall that falls in several steps and fans out wide at the bottom, the grandest in the Westfjords. A path climbs beside the lower falls. The rocks are wet, so take care.

    Go when Midday, when the spray catches the sun.

    Local tip Walk up the path beside the lower falls, and take care on the wet rock. The road over the mountain is closed in winter, so check ahead.

    Dynjandi, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Lunch

    A picnic of bread and cheese

    Pack rye bread, cheese, fruit and a flask for the road. In the Westfjords services are far apart, and a picnic by a fjord is a pleasure.

    Local tip Buy supplies the evening before, and bring more water than you think you need.

    About 1 h 9 min by car66.0 km
  4. 3
    AfternoonWorth the time

    Latrabjarg

    Huge sea cliffs at the westernmost point of Iceland, crowded with seabirds, with puffins in the season. The edges are unprotected and crumbly, so stay back from them and keep children close.

    Go when Afternoon, in a spell of clear weather.

    Local tip The edges are unprotected and crumbly. Keep well back, never lean over for a photograph, keep children close, and mind the wind.

    Latrabjarg, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Progresschrome, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Day 2. Snaefellsjokull and the north coast and the southwest Westfjords

3 stops · 228.9 kmAbout 3 h 49 min driving

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from LatrabjargAbout 1 h 23 min by car85.3 km
    Where Day 1 ended.
  2. 1
    MiddayBest on a clear day

    Snaefellsjokull

    A volcano capped with a glacier at the tip of the peninsula, the setting for the start of a famous Jules Verne novel. The ice is best seen from the road on a clear day, since clouds often hide the summit.

    Go when Midday, if the summit is out of the cloud.

    Local tip View the ice from the road and from a short walk. Walking on the glacier itself is for guided groups only, so check ahead.

    Snaefellsjokull, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Axel Kristinsson, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 1 h 16 min by car75.7 km
  3. 2
    MiddayWorth the time

    Raudasandur

    A very long beach with sand of a rosy color from crushed shells, reached by a winding gravel road over a pass. The tide changes the whole look of the shore. Check ahead on the road.

    Go when Midday, with the tide going out.

    Local tip Check ahead on the gravel road over the pass, drive slowly and watch for sheep. Fog can close the road quickly.

    Raudasandur, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Xypete, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    Smoked char on rye bread

    Arctic char, smoked and laid on dark rye bread with a little butter. A light lunch to eat on a bench with a view of the sea.

    Local tip Take it with you in a bag, because there are few places to eat on the road ahead.

    About 1 h 10 min by car67.9 km
  5. 3
    EveningWorth the time

    Kirkjufell

    A pointed, church-shaped mountain by the sea with a small waterfall in front of it. Walk the short path to the fall and look back at the peak.

    Go when Evening, when the light is low.

    Local tip The famous photograph is taken from the small bridge below the falls. Do not climb the mountain, which is steep and loose.

    Kirkjufell, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Anjali Kiggal, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  6. Dinner

    Plokkfiskur

    A comforting mash of white fish, potatoes and onion in a white sauce, served warm with rye bread. The kind of dish a grandmother makes.

    Local tip Eat it with a slice of buttered rye bread, which is the classic way.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Day 3. The south coast of Snaefellsnes and Snaefellsjokull and the north coast

3 stops · 57.3 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from KirkjufellAbout 46 min by car35.2 km
    Where Day 2 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Djupalonssandur

    A black pebble beach in a bay of lava, with four old lifting stones. Fishermen once lifted them to show that they were strong enough for the boats, and visitors still try the lighter ones.

    Go when Morning, when the beach is quiet.

    Local tip Try the lighter stones with a straight back and care. Leave the beach as you found it, including the iron pieces from an old wreck.

    About 29 min by car or transit13.3 km
  3. 2
    AfternoonWorth the time

    Arnarstapi

    A tiny fishing village on a rocky shore, with a statue, basalt cliffs and a sea arch. Walk out along the cliff edge on the path and watch the seabirds.

    Go when Early afternoon, once you have eaten.

    Local tip Walk the cliff path east and west of the village to see the arch and the nesting birds. Stay well back from the edge and keep dogs and children close.

    Arnarstapi, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Steinninn, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    A bowl of fish soup

    A creamy fish soup, served with a slice of dark bread. A warm, simple lunch after the cool air on the cliffs.

    Local tip Ask for the soup of the day, and have a second bowl if you are hungry.

    About 21 min by car or transit8.8 km
  5. 3
    EveningWorth the time

    Londrangar

    Two tall basalt towers rising from the shore, the remains of an old volcanic crater. A short walk from the road leads to a viewpoint above the sea cliffs.

    Go when Late in the day, when the low light catches the rock.

    Local tip Walk to the viewpoint and look down on the towers from above. Keep to the path, because the cliff edge is loose.

    Londrangar, Stykkisholmur
    Photo: Salvör Gissurardóttir on Wikimedia Commons
  6. Dinner

    Icelandic lamb soup

    Kjotsupa is a lamb soup with root vegetables and rice, a comfort food that Icelanders eat all year. Look for it at a small cafe or guesthouse.

    Local tip Order a bowl and a slice of bread, and ask for a refill if it is on offer.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. The loop ends in Reykjavik, so plan the way to the airport the night before.Details
Returning the car
Fill the tank and check the car for scratches, chips and stone marks before you hand it back, since gravel leaves its marks. Take photographs and keep your rental paperwork.
To the airport
The airport is out on the Reykjanes peninsula, well outside Reykjavik. Buses and taxis make the trip, and a flight in the morning is easier if you sleep the last night near the airport.
Leave room for weather
Fog and wind can slow the roads on the last day. If you are driving south from the Westfjords for a morning flight, add a full day of buffer in the plan and do not leave the last stretch to chance.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Stykkisholmur?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, July to August are the most comfortable months for walking around Stykkisholmur. This plan is built for early July, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 3 days in Stykkisholmur, planned for early July. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 22.2 to 143.6 kilometers between its stops, and 270.3 kilometers in all across 3 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Keep exploring

Nearby trips

More like this

More Adventure trips ›More trips in Iceland ›

Make this plan yours

Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.

A trip idea · Updated October 2026

Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.