Kirkjufell & 10 Other Things to See in West Iceland
This realistic Kirkjufell West Iceland Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this region of the country.
West Iceland is a scenic region. Its Kirkjufell Mountain is among the most beautiful places in the whole country.
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Sights & Places of Interest
Western Region is a part of the country that starts just west of the capital city. It has a few fjords and peninsulas. Similar to other regions, West Iceland has waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, and lava beds.
You can explore West Iceland in any sequence. But you would want to do these things on your trip to the region.
- Hike to Glymur Waterfall
- Stop at Hraunfossar and Glanni Waterfalls
- Get photos of Kirkjufell Mountain
- Explore dormant volcanoes at Snaefellsjokull
This Kirkjufell West Iceland Guide will describe each of these things in more detail.
1. Hvalfjordur Fjord
West Iceland will welcome you with its beauty right away. Hvalfjordur fjord is a very scenic place. You can pair a drive along this fjord with a hike to Glymur Waterfall.
2. Glymur
Glymur waterfall is a must-see place in West Iceland. You cannot see this waterfall from a viewpoint off the road.
Instead, you need to complete a moderate hike to reach it. You will pass through a cave and cross a creek on your way. But the views of the second highest waterfall in Iceland are worth the effort.
You might feel like skipping Glymur in a country of waterfalls. But it would be a big mistake. The view of this waterfall in a narrow steep canyon will be a highlight of your trip to Iceland.
3. Barnafossar
Barnafossar is the next amazing stop in the West Iceland. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach this waterfall from Glymur.
You would need to take country roads to get to this waterfall. It makes it similar with Glymur.But no hiking is necessary when visiting Barnafossar. This waterfall is right off the road.
In a way, it is less of a waterfall and more of a cascade. It looks most similar to Gudbrandsjuvet in Norway, Petrohue Waterfalls in Chile, and Pedernaless Falls in Texas.
4. Hraunfossar
Barnafossar is right next to Hraunfossar. You would not even need to drive to get it.
This is a unique waterfall even for Iceland. There is not a single stream. Instead, the water flows from all over the plateau into the river.
You cannot see the source of these water streams. It looks like the water is coming from the bushes and trees. It is both puzzling and mesmerizing at the same time.
This waterfall looks best when the sun comes out. Reflections intensify its colors. Check the forecast and hope for the sun.
5. Glanni
Glanni waterfall is a great stop on the way from Hraunfossar. This waterfall is next to the Ring Road (Route 1). That makes Glanni a no-brainer stop.
Glanni is not the most scenic waterfall in the country. It looks similar to many other waterfalls you will see on the Golden Circle and Rind Road.
In fact, the name of the waterfall might be its biggest puzzle. Do not confuse it with Granni. This is another, far higher waterfall near Haifoss on the Golden Circle route.
There is also another reason to stop at Glanni. You will pass through a scenic volcanic area on your way to this waterfall.
The picturesque lava beds look like Hawaii and Sunset Crater. It will be your first taste of what is soon to come in West Iceland.
6. Selvallavatn
As you start driving on Snæfellsnes peninsula, you will have many viewpoints to choose from. If you stop at every single one, you might get to your destination hours after the original arrival time.
But there is one viewpoint you would not want to skip. Selvallavatn is a lake. Its surrounding landscape makes it a great stop.
You will see breathtaking views of the lava beds and volcanoes on the other side of the lake.
7. Selvallafoss
This viewpoint gets even better. If you go a few feet (meters) below it, you will see a waterfall. Selvallafoss is a true hidden gem. You cannot see it from the road or the viewpoint.
8. Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell Mountain is the main landmark of West Iceland. This mountain is just 1,519 ft (463 m) high. But the shape is what makes it unique.
You might think that this mountain looks familiar. And you will be right. The mountain appeared as Arrowhead Mountain in Game of Thrones series.
As a result, it is easy to see why Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in the country. Even without the appearance in Game of Thrones, it is a majestic place.
9. Kirkjufellsfoss
Just see for yourself.
- Green slopes surround the mountain from all sides.
- There is a creek flows that right next to the mountain.
- A small but powerful waterfall is on the creek.
- There is a bridge over the creek next to the waterfall.
When the sun comes out, this place lights up.
An iconic view of the mountain involves all of these elements. The northern lights are the only thing that could make it better. If you capture them you will get the ultimate view of Iceland.
A new parking fee at the viewpoint is the only downside for a visit. If you do not care about getting the same view as everyone else, you can skip this viewpoint. You can get free views of the mountain from the road or in the nearby village of Grundarfjordur.
10. Snaefellsjokull National Park
Snaefellsjokull is the next place you should visit in West Iceland. This park is one of the three national parks in Iceland. It is at the very tip of Snaefellsnes peninsula.
Your first stop in the park will be just off the main road. It is a great spot for history lovers. You can explore a few ancient finishing sheds.
If history is not your thing, you could just walk on the lava beds. Look south to get a glimpse of Snaefellsjokull glacier and volcano. Both are the main sights of this national park.
10.1. Saxholl Crater
It is quite difficult to see the glacier in this park. You would need to drive on the gravel road F570. You might have issues driving on it during most of the year.
But you can explore the volcanoes in park very easily. You just need to take one of the gravel side roads. They will bring you to dormant volcanoes.
Saxholl Crater is one of them. It looks just like Sunset Crater Volcano in Arizona. But you do not have to just admire the crater for a distance. You can hike and see the inside of the crater.
It helps if you set the right expectations before taking this uphill hike. This crater is a dormant volcano. You will not see any hot lava.
The inside will look very similar to the surrounding fields. Only you would know that this photo shows a crater.
You can see lots of similar looking craters in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Sometimes you would not even need to hike.
This national park has a scenic highway. The one-lane road is straight for as long as you can see. There are mountains on one side. The endless ocean is on the other. The lava fields separate the road from both.
10.2. Londrangar
You will get a chance to get to the ocean shore at Londrangar. You can see where the lava beds entered the ocean at this viewpoint.
The difference in temperatures forced lava to solidify instantly. You can now see terraces and islands that came from this process.
The North Atlantic Ocean shore is not the most welcoming place, no matter when you visit. It helps to wear layers. One of your layers should be waterproof.
This way, weather will not get in the way of your exploration.
10.3. Gatklettur
You can explore the cliffs in the park again in just a few miles. This time the stop is close to the park’s boundary. You can see volcanic caves and bridges from a close distance.
These chambers look quite similar to Cueva del Indio in Puerto Rico and Boca do Inferno in Portugal.
The other side of this viewpoint looks just like Hawaii Volcanoes on the Big Island.
This viewpoint has another attraction. But this time it is man-made. A giant monument welcomes the park visitors.
11. Bjarnarfoss
As you leave the park and return to the main road, do not forget to stop at Bjarnarfoss. This waterfall is in the country’s top 10 falls by height. It drops 262 ft (80 m).
You can get very close to this waterfall. Or you could just enjoy a distant view from the parking lot.
Continue with this Kirkjufell West Iceland Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.
Getting to Kirkjufell and West Iceland
West Iceland is a fairly remote region of the country. It does not look remote on a map. It is quite close to the capital city and the main airport.
But the Ring Road, the country’s main highway goes past the peninsula. It turns north in Borgarnes. The need to drive on the country roads with lower speed limits extends your trip.
It takes 2.5 hours to reach Kirkjufell from Reykjavik without stopping. But your trip will be almost twice as long if you visit Glymur, Hraunfossar, and Glanni. As usual, a drive from Keflavik Airport adds another 30 minutes to your journey.
A rental car helps a lot when exploring West Iceland. You can spend as much time as you prefer at every place. No need to follow a tour schedule.
But a tour is a good option if you would like to delegate driving to someone else. There are a few companies that offer day trips to West Iceland from the capital city.
Where to Stay in West Iceland
You will likely run into issues when trying to find places to stay in the Western Region. This is because only about 20,000 people live there.
The region’s popularity helped grow the number of places to stay. But you will have to look into guest houses off the beaten path.
Borgarnes is the only large town on your way. There are several hotels to choose from there. But it is 1.5 hours away from Kirkjufell.
Grundarfjordur is right next to Kirkjufell. It is the only village with a few places to stay on the peninsula.
Entrance Requirements & Passes
You can visit most sights on this Kirkjufell West Iceland List free of charge. The Kirkjufell parking lot is the only exception. You would need to pay about ISK 1,000 ($7) per car. You can still enjoy the mountain views without stopping at this viewpoint.
Other sights, like Hraunfossar and Barnafossar, charge small fees for using a restroom.
Most places in Western Region of Iceland are open 24 hours a day. It is best to enjoy them during the day. It could be quite long in Iceland in the summer.
Takeaways: Kirkjufell West Iceland
West Iceland is a scenic region of the country. Kirkjufell rightfully claims the title of the most photographed mountain. Its arrowhead beauty is a sight to see.
But the region has many other sights.
- You can hike to the highest waterfall in Iceland you can somewhat easily reach.
- You could try to guess the water source for Hraunfossar waterfall.
- And, of course, you could go chasing volcanoes and glaciers at Snæfellsjökull.
- As a bonus: go on a whale watching tour since West Iceland is the best place to see orcas.
Take a look at this Kirkjufell West Iceland Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkjufell claims the title of the most photographed mountain in the country. It has a unique shape. The mountain was one of the locations for Game of Thrones series.
You can finish your visit at Kirkjufell in about 15 minutes. The viewpoint is small and the path to the bridge is short. You can enjoy the mountain for longer in the nearby fishing village.
If you would like to get an iconic shot of Kirkjufell, you would need to pay a parking fee. The fee is ISK 1,000 ($7) per car. An iconic photo includes waterfall, bridge, and mountain in one frame.
You can reach Kirkjufell mountain from the capital city in about 2.5 hours. If you stop at viewpoints or take detour to other sights, you can easily spend twice this time.
Kirkjufell appeared in Game of Thrones series as Arrowhead Mountain.
Kirkjufell holds the title of the most photographed mountain in the country.
You can reach Snaefellsjokull National Park by car or on tour. A drive from the capital city would take about 3 hours each way.
West Iceland is home to Kirkjufell mountain, Snaefellsjokull glacier, Glymur and Hraunfossar waterfalls, and volcanoes. It is also the best place in the country to see orcas.
Hraunfossar waterfall is in West Iceland, about 2 hours from the capital city.
Hraunfossar is a unique waterfall. Countless water streams flow from a plateau into a river.
Safe realist travels!
