Snaefellnes Peninsula
On a clear day in Reykjavik, the majestic Snaefellsjokull glacier can be seen across the sea in the distance. When the sun sets, its silhouette is surrounded by beautiful peach and pink hues.
Though this glacier is nowhere near in size to some of Iceland’s others, it is by far the most mysterious and popular. It was this glacier that French Author Jules Verne chose as his doorway into inner space in his fantastical book, Journey to the Center of the Earth. Snaefellsjokull’s bright, mysterious beauty seems to embody the entire peninsula to which it has given its name.
One of the reasons why Icelanders love the Snaefellsnes Peninsula so much is that it is a veritable heartland of history. Some of the best and most important sagas took place here, and it is said that Christopher Columbus once spent a winter in Ingjaldsholl, where he heard stories of lands to the west.
The peninsula is only a two-hour drive from Reykjavik and while it is possible to explore on a long day trip, spending a night or two on the peninsula is recommended. The enchanting landscape of Snaefellnes is brimming with lava caves, waterfalls and mineral hot springs.
The peninsula’s towns and villages are also worth a visit. The town of Stykkisholmur is the starting point for the ferry across Breidafjordur to the West Fjords. You can go whale watching from the village of Olafsvik. Cruise vessels often stop in Grundarfjordur. There are also small isolated hotels where your only company are the birds and crashing sound of the waves smashing against the cliffs.
