Accommodation

10 cottages, each suitable for 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. Each cottage has a private bathroom, microwave oven, coffee maker and a fridge.

 
Board

Snjófell Restaurant at Arnarstapi Center highlights local produce in their cuisine, from the communities around Arnarstapi and other places on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The restaurant can seat 100 people. Breakfast is served for guests, but between 10:00-22:00 every day the restaurant is open for everyone.

Service and recreation

Arnarstapi and the area surrounding Snæfellsjökull glacier is one of the most popular tourist attractions in West Iceland. Here you will find multiple hiking routes from and around the village, along the seashore, to the mountains or onto the glacier. This is a nature-preserve area that belongs to the Snæfellsjökull National Park. There are countless scenic driving routes around the peninsula and many different types of activities, such as glacier tours and organized hiking tours. The closest swimming pools are Lýsuhóll (38 km) and Ólafsvík (indoor pool with outdoor hot tubs – 37 km). The closest village with shops and basic services: Ólafsvík (37 km).

 
Arnarstapi - Hiking

Arnarstapi is a small fishing village on the southern side of Snæfellsnes peninsula, 193 km from Reykjavík. The cliffs along the seashore are the perfect place for bird watchers to roam about and the village itself is a popular nesting ground for the arctic tern. Along the seashore, between Arnarstapi and Hellnar, you will find an impressive hiking path above the waterworn cliffs as well as many great paths in the countryside. 

 
Snæfellsjökull Glacier

Snæfellsjökull glacier stands proudly above the communities farthest out on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is world-renowned for its beauty and magical powers, in addition to Jules Verne‘s notion that in Snæfellsjökull there is an entrance leading to the centre of the Earth. Tours are offered from Arnarstapi to the glacier; both guided hiking tours or on snowcats and snowmobiles. The view from the glacier summit is stunning and otherworldly, especially on bright and sunny days. No one should hike the glacier on their own for safety reasons.

Snæfellsjökull National Park

Arnarstapi village is located on the edge of Snæfellsjökull National Park, which covers a large area around the glacier from the magnificent seashore to the glacier‘s highest point. The National Park offers many points of interest, stunning landscape indicating the battle between fire and ice as well as the powerful ocean waves plus remains telling the stories of how people have survived in this area through the ages. During the summer you can take a guided hiking tour, but anyone can explore this wondrous world on their own by following marked paths. The Snæfellsjökull Visitor Center is located at Malarrif (9 km from Arnarstapi).

Vatnshellir Cave

Vatnshellir is an 8000 years old lava tube that stretches over 200 meters and extends 35 meters below the surface. It is located just above the road leading down to Malarrif. The cave is very spacious with a high ceiling and has been made accessible by a spiral staircase. Access to the cave is only permitted in guided tours which are operated daily from the Visitors Center in Malarrif.

Host:  Lovísa Kristín Jóhannesdóttir