Snæfellsjökull National Park
Snæfellsjökull National Park sits at the western tip of Iceland's Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where a glacier-capped volcano rises above black pebble beaches and lava coast.
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Snæfellsjökull National Park sits at the western end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. The park's best-known feature is Snæfellsjökull, a volcano with a glacier on top that rises above the lava fields and coast. Around it you find black pebble beaches, sea cliffs where seabirds nest, and lava formations shaped by the sea. Jules Verne's 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth begins at the volcano.
The park suits people who want short walks, coastal scenery and some geology. It works as a day trip from Reykjavík or as one stop on a longer drive around the peninsula. Summer has the longest days, which suits the coastal paths best. Winter days are short, and snow and ice can slow driving. Plan at least one full day, and more if you want to walk slowly along the coast or join a guided glacier or lava-cave trip.
Snæfellsjökull National Park in five
- Pay the service fee with your parkingThe park collects one service fee through parking payment, valid until midnight across the whole park. Pay with the Parka app, the QR code at parking areas or the kiosk at Malarrif.Service fee details
- Start at a visitor centerThe National Park Center in Hellissandur and the Malarrif visitor center are both open all year. The park site shows slightly different daily hours on different pages, so check before a short winter day.Visitor centers
- Walk from Arnarstapi to HellnarA path of about 2.5 km, listed at roughly an hour, crosses the Hellnahraun lava field between the two villages, past basalt cliffs and bird colonies that the park describes as teeming from spring to autumn.
- Go down to DjúpalónssandurA 2 km trail leads from the upper parking lot through the lava to a beach of polished black pebbles. Four lifting stones lie there, weighing 154, 100, 54 and 23 kg.
- Treat the glacier as equipment terrainSnæfellsjökull is an active stratovolcano rising 1,446 m. Safetravel publishes crevasse maps for experienced travelers and warns that crevasses can appear with limited warning signs.Crevasse maps
Things to do in Snæfellsjökull National Park
See all attractions in Snæfellsjökull National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- Service fee ISK 1,100 per car, paid with parking
- Season
- Visitor centers open all year; tours and cave visits are seasonal
- Nearest town
- Hellissandur and Rif north; Arnarstapi and Hellnar south
- Getting there
- About a two-hour drive from the capital area to the peninsula
- Park size
- 183 km², established 28 June 2001
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryStorms, dark
- FebruaryStorms, lights
- MarchSnow on glacier
- AprilCool, quiet
- MayBirds arrive
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarmest, birds
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberLights return
- OctoberWet, windy
- NovemberDark, windy
- DecemberDarkest
Right now in Snæfellsjökull National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 38 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Snæfellsjökull National Park
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°8°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue9°7°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed8°7°39%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Thu9°7°77%Thursday: Rain. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Fri8°7°32%Friday: Rain. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 32%.
- Sat8°7°88%Saturday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Sun8°4°90%Sunday: Rain. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 90%.
Updated 08:30 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 121.8 ISK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Snæfellsjökull National Park
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Rules for Snæfellsjökull National Park, checked
- Service fee: motorcycle ISK 450, car (up to 5) ISK 1,100, 6 to 9 passengers ISK 1,400; paid with parking, valid until midnight park-wide.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Safetravel crevasse maps are for experienced glacier travelers; crevasses can appear with limited warning signs, so do not walk onto the ice unprepared.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Snæfellsjökull National Park
Where the western tip fits a national itinerary
Read the guideSnæfellsnes PeninsulaKirkjufell, Stykkishólmur and the villages
Read the guideWest IcelandBorgarfjörður, waterfalls and the road north
Read the guideReykjavíkBase city, about two hours away
Read the guideBest time to visit IcelandBirds, glacier tours and winter daylight
Read the guideSnæfellsjökull National Park FAQ
How much does Snæfellsjökull National Park cost?
The park lists one service fee, paid through parking and valid until midnight in the whole park. A passenger car with up to 5 people is ISK 1,100. Pay with the Parka app, the QR code at parking areas or the kiosk at Malarrif.
How long do you need in Snæfellsjökull National Park?
A half day covers Arnarstapi, Hellnar, Djúpalónssandur and Lóndrangar by car. Add another half day for the north side villages and short walks, or stay a night on the peninsula.
Is Snæfellsjökull a volcano?
Yes. The park describes it as an active stratovolcano, the central volcano of the area, and the glacier is listed at 1,446 m above sea level. Lava, craters and pumice are visible on its slopes.
Can you climb Snæfellsjökull glacier on your own?
Only with experience and equipment. Safetravel publishes crevasse maps for experienced glacier travelers and notes that crevasses can appear with limited warning. Most visitors join a guided trip or stay at the coast.
Is there a visitor center in the park?
Yes, two. The National Park Center in Hellissandur and the visitor center at Malarrif are open all year, with exhibitions, rangers and shops. Daily hours differ slightly between pages, so check the park site.