Iceland Road Trip: The Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Golden Circle

Reykjavik is a city famous for its colourful houses, hipster cafes, and a growing population of men wearing cosy knitwear and showcasing full Icelandic beards.

However, look beyond the hipster, and you’ll find a city brimming with arts, culture, and history, all of which can be explored at any one of the numerous museums and galleries found across town.  

Your first activity on this Golden Circle Drive in Iceland is bathing in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon and banishing all jet lag. From here, take the short drive into town and brush up on Iceland’s 1,200 years of human history at the National Museum, take a stroll around Lake Tjornin, and swing by Sandholt for a coffee.

If you’re feeling adventurous, take to the skies for a birds-eye view of the city on a Reykjavik Summit helicopter tour! 

Your Golden Circle Drive in Iceland continues north out of the city and up to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula where you’ll find the small fishing village, and former trading post, of Arnarstapi.

The town, which hugs the southern coastline, is home to a number of old houses and is considered to be the gateway to the beautiful Snaefellsnes National Park and a number of coastal walks.

On your road trip to Arnarstapi stop at the iconic Budhir Church, a small black church that sits isolated on a rocky lava field and overlooks the ocean. Continue to the town and park your campervan before heading off on the Arnarstapi to Hellnar coastal walk.

This two-hour round trip takes you past the Hellnar Viewpoint, the Arnarstapi Sea Cliff rock formation, and the Primus Kaffi (perfect for those seeking a hot beverage or hearty bowl of soup).

The small town of Grundarfjordur sits on the north coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula and has become famous the world over for its majestic Kirkjufell Mountain. 

As such, this small fishing village makes the perfect base camp for a road trip around the peninsula and allows easy access to nearby hiking trails and waterfalls. Get your cameras at the ready! 

While Kirkjufell Mountain is the most popular attraction accessible from Grundarfjordur, your day can also be spent at sea embarking on a whale watching tour off the shores of the peninsula. Sea-angling and bird watching tours are also available in various months across the year.

When departing Grundarfjordur, and continuing your Golden Circle Drive to Thingvellir, be sure to stop at Sturlureykir Visiting Horse to greet and ride Icelandic horses. 

From Grundarfjordur your road trip heads back south to join the famous Golden Circle, a circular route home to some of Iceland’s most visited attractions.

The gateway to the Golden Circle and the first stop on the route is the glorious Thingvellir National Park, a protected historical site and popular filming location for HBO’s Game of Thrones. If you’re ready for an outdoor adventure to boot, Thingvellir is just the ticket!

Thingvellir is home to two impressive natural attractions, Oxarafoss Falls and Silfra. While the first is a mighty cascading waterfall, the latter is one of the world’s most unique scuba dive sites located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

From here your Golden Circle Drive in Iceland heads east to visit Gullfoss Falls and Stokkur Geysir, two bucket-list Iceland attractions. At the end of your road trip, head back to Reykjavik via the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths.