Snæfellsjökull National Park Voyage Tips and guide

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Snæfellsjökull National Park is a national park located on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. The park is home to the ice-covered volcanic crater that was the setting for Jules Verne's book Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The national park encompasses the tip of the peninsula, including the Snæfellsjökull volcano. It is perhaps the most easily accessible park from Reykjavík, only 3 hours away by car.

Expect a huge variety of natural beauty, ranging from towering sea stacks to sandy beaches. The volcano is ice-capped year round.

64°49′48″N 23°48′0″W

Map of Snæfellsjökull National Park

The northern entrance to the park is just outside Hellissandur. Ólafsvík is otherwise the main town in this part of the Peninsula.

Most of the roads on the western and south-westernmost parts of the peninsula are unpaved (to road 54). Road 574, Utnesvegur, leads around the park more or less by the coast, while road 570, Jökulhálsleið, leads east of the glacier outside of the park but close to the glacier. F575 between Utnesvegur and Jökulhálsleið leads over the highland, but requires four wheel drive.

Several companies offer tours to the summit.

• 64.748113-23.8179461 Vatnshellir Cave, ☏ +354 787 0001. 15 May–30 Sep hourly 10:00–18:00, 1 Oct–14 May hourly 11:00–15:00. An 8000-year old cave formed by the cooling lava from the eruption of Snæfellsjökull. One of the most easily accessible caves nationwide, Jules Verne decided to let the journey to the earth's core begin here. Light climbing; rain jacket necessary. Visit only possible with guided tours. Adults 3750 kr, teenagers 1500 kr, students and seniors 3000 kr. (updated Apr 2019)
• Londrangar. Sticking out like a castle on the sea, the dikes are what is left of a sunken volcanic crater. Best seen from a viewpoint a couple of kilometres away. (updated Apr 2019)
• Skarðsvík Beach. Tired of volcanoes and glaciers? Head to the beach! In contrast with black sand along most Icelandic coastline, this beach is not unlike the ones in the more temperate regions. Just don't forget, it's colder! (updated Apr 2019)

Walking, skiing or snowmobiling will take you to the top of Snæfellsjökull. Beware of crevasses.

There are hotels in Hellissandur and Ólafsvík. The Hotel Hellissandur (with a restaurant) appears more reliable than Ólafsvík.

Beware of crevasses. And of the weather.