Snæfellsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík (My Experience + Review)

Snæfellsnes is my favorite region in Iceland, and it’s super easy to get to if you’re basing yourself in Reykjavík. Whether you’re on your first trip to the country or your 20th, it is—in my opinion—an absolute must-see. 

I had the opportunity to visit the Snæfellsnes peninsula as part of a guided tour on a previous trip to Iceland. To be totally honest, it was a last-minute choice because my original itinerary changed. Useful note when you visit Iceland: The weather won’t always be on your side, so keep your plans flexible. 🤣

I took this Snæfellsnes day tour from Reykjavík, and based on my experiences, I wanted to write this complete review. I’ll share what I liked, what I didn’t like, and who I think should (and should not) join this tour. Once you’ve read everything, you’ll have a better idea of whether this is the right way to explore Snæfellsnes for you.

*I paid for this tour with my own money, and all opinions are my own. 

The Snæfellsnes Day Tour Was a Last-Minute Decision…

I had already visited Iceland a few times before this particular trip, and the idea this time was to start in Reykjavík and then visit the north. I booked my visit in September to minimize the weather getting in my way, and… the weather still got in my way. 🥲

On the day that we were supposed to fly to Akureyri, our flight was canceled due to a snowstorm. As a result, my mom and I chose to base ourselves in Reykjavík for the rest of the trip. Since we didn’t have a car, and we had already visited the Golden Circle and South Coast, we browsed tours that departed from the Icelandic capital. And preferably, tours that wouldn’t be impacted by the weather. 

We decided to visit the Snæfellsnes day tour, and as it goes, we didn’t need to worry about the weather. It was perfectly sunny, albeit windy, for the entire time we were on the peninsula. 

What Does the Snæfellsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík Include?

When you book the Snæfellsnes day tour, you’ll be picked up from Reykjavík. You can choose from multiple locations where you want to be picked up from. I recommend spending some time in the Icelandic capital if you’re visiting without a car, so this is pretty ideal. 

The minibus is for a small group, and your guide will take you around the Snæfellsnes peninsula. You’ll visit a number of the main sights in this part of the country, including Kirkjufell (the iconic Game of Thrones mountain). The tour lasts all day, and you’ll return to Reykjavík in the evening. 

My Experience Doing the Snæfellsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík

Luckily, we managed to find accommodation close to Reykjavík’s city center at the last minute after our canceled Akureyri flight. On the day of this tour, our guide picked us up early in the morning from a bus stop next to the Tjörnin pond. We then went to gather some more people for the tour before heading out to Snæfellsnes. 

The landscapes started to get more beautiful as we left Reykjavík and continued onward. This was particularly true when we actually got onto the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Our guide played Icelandic music along the way and told us lots about not just the surroundings, but also Icelandic culture. As a side note, Icelandic music is elite-tier. 

We actually started on the northern part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and made our way anti-clockwise. We spent around 25 minutes at Kirkjufell, which I will absolutely spend more time at on a future trip. 

As we traveled around the northern part of Snæfellsnes, we actually got some amazing views toward the Westfjords. I was amazed that there was a snowstorm up north when here, it seemed like the total opposite. This was a nice bonus, and you’d also need to have a clear day to see the mountains there. 

Most of our sightseeing was actually in the afternoon. After getting lunch at a nice restaurant in Ólafsvík, we spent a decent chunk of time at multiple sights within Snæfellsjökull National Park. We also got to walk down to a beach and spend a large amount of time outside. I have to say that it was *very* windy, even for Iceland… but with views like what we had, who cares? 🤷🏾‍♂️

As we made our way back to Reykjavík, we were met with one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I didn’t get so many photos of it, but it was one of my most magical travel moments. We then arrived back in the Icelandic capital; this day trip was the highlight of that particular adventure in Iceland.

The Pros and Cons of Doing the Snæfellsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík

While I’ve already given you a spoiler that I absolutely loved this day trip, there are pros and cons to everything. So, if you’re still undecided, I’ll list the benefits and drawbacks to help you make the right choice. 

Pros

Let’s first start with the top benefits of joining the Snæfellsnes day tour from Reykjavík.

1. The Tour Bus Is Small

This was one of the biggest advantages, in my opinion. I’ve taken multiple tours in Iceland on big tour buses, and while I still had fun, I definitely prefer taking trips in smaller groups. Even if I don’t speak to anyone, I feel like the guides have the capacity to give a more personalized experience. 

I also found that because the tour was small, it was easier to get the answers to any questions I had. I’m naturally a very curious person, and I happen to have a massive interest in Iceland, so this was pretty nice. 🙂

Another advantage is that it took less time to pick everyone up for the tour. As a result of not needing to stop in so many places, we could get out into nature faster than we otherwise would have. 

2. Our Tour Guide Was Very Engaging and Knowledgeable

I love having tour guides who try to keep you entertained throughout the trip, and our guide did precisely that. He was super knowledgeable about Iceland and, in my opinion, put a lot of extra effort into ensuring that we all had a great trip. Even simple touches like playing Icelandic music, and taking us to extra destinations, made a huge difference.

Since it was incredibly windy on Snæfellsnes, having someone who knew how to navigate these roads was a massive help. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

Besides just showing us the different spots on our itinerary, he got us involved in fun activities. For example, we had to try to move what was a pretty immovable boulder on one of the beaches. I hadn’t started CrossFit (or telling everyone that I do CrossFit) at that point, so maybe I should try again now. 🙂

3. It’s a Very Easy Day Trip From Reykjavík

Snæfellsnes is hardly undiscovered, but it is underrated. It always amazes me how so many people don’t include this part of the country on their Iceland itinerary, which I guess is partly because it’s not on the Ring Road. 

I’m so happy I got to visit the Snæfellsnes peninsula, and this tour in particular is a super easy day trip from Reykjavík. We didn’t have to wake up super early, nor did we return to the city particularly late. It’s just a few hours from the capital and small enough to see in a day, though I will definitely stay overnight when I return. 

4. We Could Choose Where We Got Picked Up From

Many of the best tours in Iceland let you choose where you’ll be picked up from, and the Snæfellsnes day tour from Reykjavík is no different. Since we were staying close to the Tjörnin pond, this was a logical pickup point for us. However, we could also have chosen to start the tour from 20+ other spots in the city. 

In addition to starting the tour from close to our accommodation, we could also have gone to the BSÍ Bus Terminal if that had been easier. While Reykjavík isn’t huge, you obviously want to be picked up from somewhere close to where you’re staying—which this tour allows for. 

5. The Tour Is Pretty Affordable for Iceland

I’ve said this several times, and it’s very true, but… Iceland is expensive. There is no getting around this. It also means that many tours you take will cost a decent chunk of money. 

This tour wasn’t cheap, but for Iceland, it is pretty affordable. You also get very good value for money, in my opinion. So, even if you don’t have a huge budget for your trip, I would still recommend taking this tour. 

6. There Was More Walking Involved Than Some Iceland Tours I’ve Taken

On many tours I’ve taken in Iceland, there’s some element of walking involved but not a huge amount. Compared to many of the tours I’ve been on here, the Snæfellsnes day tour had quite a lot of walking. We got to get out of the bus on multiple occasions, which was also nice for just stretching the legs. 

I’m personally a very active person and love to be outdoors. While I knew that I wouldn’t be hiking on this tour, getting to be outside more than I expected was a nice bonus. This may be a drawback to some, but for me, it was a pro.

7. The Tour Runs Year-Round

I visited during what was supposed to be the backend of summer, but—well—it’s Iceland, as you saw with my snowstorm story. But even if I had been to Iceland at another time of the year, I could still have taken this tour. 

The Snæfellsnes day tour from Reykjavík runs throughout the year, including in the winter. Since the roads on the peninsula can be tricky (to say the least) during the colder months, joining a tour is a good idea for taking the stress out of this. 

Cons

While I enjoyed doing the Snæfellsnes day tour from Reykjavík, you should keep a couple of drawbacks in mind. Here are the most important ones to consider. 

1. You’ll Have to Pay for Your Own Food

While transport and a guide are included in the tour fee, you will have to pay for your own food. Since the places you’ll stop at are largely quite expensive (apart from the gas station), I’d recommend either budgeting for the food or bringing your own sandwiches and snacks. 

Another option is to book a tour that specifically includes food. For example, this alternative tour includes a cooked meal. 

2. The Tour Is Only Available in English

I’m a native English speaker, so this was not an issue for me. But if you want to follow along with the guide and you want to speak a different language, then this will be a problem. 

You can find tours to Snæfellsnes and other parts of the country in different languages, so I’d recommend looking at these if you would prefer one of those. 

3. I’d Have Liked to Spend Longer in Certain Places

Am I contradicting myself here a bit, considering that I said I didn’t feel rushed earlier? Maybe. But I guess that two things can be right at the same time. 

I did not feel rushed on the tour; this is true. However, I would have liked to spend longer in certain places. For example, I would have happily spent a bit longer at the Búðakirkja church (it’s the famous black church). 

Again, though, this is always the trade-off of being on a tour. I’m not expecting the guide to shift their itinerary just to accommodate me 😅. Still, you may want to rent your own car instead if you want to spend as much time as possible.

Who the Snæfesllsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík Is For

I recommend the Snæfellsnes day tour from Reykjavík for two particular groups of travelers. You absolutely should join this tour if you’re visiting Iceland and won’t rent a car. I would go as far as saying that this should be at the very least equal on your priorities list as the Golden Circle. 

In my opinion, Snæfellsnes is the perfect introduction to Icelandic nature. There’s a reason it’s called Iceland in a nutshell, and you should 100% see it for yourself. It’s also super easy to reach from Reykjavík via a tour.

Who the Snæfellsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík Is *Not* For

I would also recommend self-driving if you’re both renting a car and want to stay overnight. While you can see most of Snæfellesnes in a day, staying a little longer means that you can go at a more relaxed pace and really take everything in.

… Overall, I Think that the Snæfellsnes Day Tour From Reykjavík Is Very Much Worth It

If you’re part of one of the groups that I mentioned should take this day tour, it’s very much worth doing. Snæfellsnes is such a nice part of Iceland, and on the trip that I did this, it ended up being the unexpected highlight. The landscapes are beautiful, and joining a small tour is also super nice. 

Besides the area itself being stunning, the tour is not difficult at all. You’ll get back to Reykjavík at a sensible time, and it also doesn’t cost a huge amount of money. Plus, our guide was super informative. 

Having read this guide, you should now have all the details you need to book this tour. If you have any further questions, though, you can leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you. 

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