Five exploring days, with travel around them
Allow arrival arrangements before the first full outing and a departure after the Keflavík overnight. This is not a five-day airport-to-airport loop.
ICELAND / WEST & SNÆFELLSNES
Five Exploring Days in West Iceland, with a Þórsmörk Tour
Black beaches. A glacier. A hot spring on the way back to town. Leave a little room for the cinnamon rolls.
A western Iceland road trip through Snæfellsnes, with an opening Þórsmörk adventure and a Reykjavík finish.
A trip from Alisha & MattPlanned with couples in mind.
A road trip with a few more reasons to pull over.
YOUR TIME5 exploring days
THE ROUTEÞórsmörk → Snæfellsnes → Reykjavík
TRAVEL STYLERoad trip + walks
THE FINAL STOPKeflavík before departure
THE TRIP, IN A FEW WORDS
One peninsula.
So many reasons to stop.
Start with a super jeep tour, then head west for basalt cliffs, waterfalls, coastal walks, and the villages of Snæfellsnes.
Finish with Hvammsvík Hot Springs and time in Reykjavík. This route focuses on western Iceland, with time to enjoy the peninsula.
See how the route fits together ↘A LITTLE ORIENTATION
Around the peninsula.
Back to the city.
An opening adventure in the south, two days around Snæfellsnes, then Reykjavík and the airport area.
ROUTE DIAGRAM · NOT TO SCALEÞórsmörkOpening adventure
SnæfellsnesHellnar + Grundarfjörður
ReykjavíkHot springs + city time
KeflavíkAirport overnight
FIVE EXPLORING DAYS · AIRPORT OVERNIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE
Planning your Iceland stay
Check the opening transfer first
The Þórsmörk tour is a southern outing before the western peninsula. Confirm the tour return and complete drive to Borgarnes before booking both on the same day; add a night if the connection is too tight.
Your Iceland route and overnight stays
| Day | Route or focus | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ÞÓRSMÖRK → BORGARNES | Hotel Vesturland. |
| 2 | GERÐUBERG → BÚÐIR → HELLNAR | Fosshotel Hellnar. |
| 3 | HELLNAR → GRUNDARFJÖRÐUR | Nónsteinn in Grundarfjörður. |
| 4 | GRUNDARFJÖRÐUR → REYKJAVÍK | The Reykjavík EDITION. |
| 5 | REYKJAVÍK → KEFLAVÍK | Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavík Keflavík Airport. |
THE PLAN
Your Iceland itinerary, day by day
Open a day for the details. Keep the whole route close.
5 exploring daysA ROUTE TO MAKE YOUR OWN
ICELAND · THE ROUTE
DAY1An adventure before the peninsula.
ÞÓRSMÖRK → BORGARNES
Begin with a super jeep tour, then move west. Treat the driving and tour combination as the part to confirm first.
- Þórsmörk super jeep tourMidgard Adventure is the operator in this route. Bring lunch for the outing.
- Continue toward SnæfellsnesConfirm the tour return time and full driving time before committing to this overnight.
- Borgarnes stopDirty Burger & Ribs and a grocery run appear.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Hotel Vesturland.
DAY2The south coast of Snæfellsnes.
GERÐUBERG → BÚÐIR → HELLNAR
Basalt columns, a seal-viewing stop, a black church, and a coastal walk. There is plenty to see before you get back to the hotel.
- Gerðuberg & Ytri-TungaBegin with the basalt columns and the beach. Check tides for your own visit.
- Bjarnarfoss & BúðirPair the waterfall with lunch at Hotel Búðir and a visit to Búðakirkja.
- Rauðfeldsgjá GorgeCheck access and conditions, and bring appropriate footwear and waterproof layers.
- Arnarstapi & HellnarSee the port and Gatklettur, then choose how much of the coastal walk to do.
- Dinner near ArnarstapiFRISTA or Stapinn were ideas in this route; check current opening.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Fosshotel Hellnar.
DAY3A glacier, then Kirkjufell.
HELLNAR → GRUNDARFJÖRÐUR
Work around the snowcat excursion, then continue around the western and northern peninsula.
- Lóndrangar & DjúpalónssandurCoastal viewpoints and the black-sand beach start the day.
- Snæfellsjökull snowcat tourArctic Adventures is the operator in this route. Confirm operation and meeting details before your visit.
- Saxhóll & SkarðsvíkChoose these stops around weather and time.
- Hellissandur, Ingjaldshóll & SvöðufossStreet art, a church stop, and a waterfall are on the northern route.
- Dinner & KirkjufellsfossThe plan names Bjargarsteinn Mathús before the waterfall viewpoint.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Nónsteinn in Grundarfjörður.
DAY4Waterfalls to warm water.
GRUNDARFJÖRÐUR → REYKJAVÍK
A last look around the peninsula, then lunch and a soak on the way to the city.
- Kirkjufellsfoss & GrundarfossMake room for another waterfall visit in the morning.
- Berserkjahraun & StykkishólmurCheck road suitability before the lava-field detour, then explore the harbor town.
- Stormur Bistro & HvammsvíkPair lunch with the hot springs. Confirm your own entry arrangements.
- Continue to ReykjavíkCheck in at the EDITION; Tides is a dinner option.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
The Reykjavík EDITION.
DAY5A city day. With pastries.
REYKJAVÍK → KEFLAVÍK
Keep the mostly open Reykjavík day as breathing room, followed by a move to the airport hotel.
- Brauð & CoStart with a pastry stop before exploring Reykjavík.
- Unscheduled city timeLeave most of the day open. No additional sightseeing is assumed.
- Lunch & an early dinnerHafnartorg food hall and Pizza Popolare Pósthús appear on the route.
- Airport-area overnightStay near Keflavík before your onward flight.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavík Keflavík Airport.
MAKE ROOM FOR THISOne more stop.
One more stop.
Bring your swimsuit.
The route back to Reykjavík makes room for Hvammsvík. After the coastal walks and road time, a hot spring is a pretty good change of pace.
A GOOD PLACE TO LAND
Where to put your feet up.
Places to stay along the route.
A BASE TO EXPLORE.
BORGARNES
Hotel Vesturland
The opening overnight, before continuing onto Snæfellsnes.
Find it on the mapHELLNAR
Fosshotel Hellnar
Your base for the southern peninsula and the walk between Hellnar and Arnarstapi.
Find it on the mapGRUNDARFJÖRÐUR
Nónsteinn
An Airbnb base in Grundarfjörður, with Kirkjufellsfoss on the evening plan.
Find it on the mapREYKJAVÍK
The Reykjavík EDITION
The city base, followed by an airport-area overnight before departure.
Find it on the mapThe final airport overnight is Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavík Keflavík Airport.
A NOTE FROM ALISHA & MATT
Leave room
for the weather.
And the view.
This route is full of viewpoints, short walks, and places to stop. Keep the route flexible enough to enjoy them.
Alisha & MattGive the opening day a reality check.
The Þórsmörk super jeep tour and the drive west share the opening segment. Confirm the return time and the full drive before committing to that overnight.
Keep the coast days flexible.
Ytri-Tunga, Rauðfeldsgjá, and the Hellnar–Arnarstapi walk all appear. Recheck tides, weather, access, and trail conditions for your dates.
Keep the optional ideas optional.
The helicopter outing was conditional on volcanic activity. The Reykjadalur thermal river was another possibility, not a confirmed part of this route.
BEFORE YOU GO
A few good questions.
Is this a full Iceland itinerary?
This guide covers a five-day western Iceland route: an opening Þórsmörk adventure, Snæfellsnes, and Reykjavík, with an airport overnight before flying onward.
Is the glacier snowcat tour included in the route?
Yes, as an activity from this route. Check the operator’s current departures, meeting point, and weather policy before arranging your dates.
How much time is there in Reykjavík?
The route has an evening arrival followed by a mostly open day in the city, then an airport hotel. Keep that flexible day or use it for your own city plans.
How do we keep a copy?
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THERE’S MORE TO SEE, TOGETHER.
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