My Honest Thoughts on Whether Vestrahorn Is Worth Visiting…

Of all the mountains in Iceland, Vestrahorn is probably the one I’ve seen the most photos of. However, it took me until my seventh trip to the country to actually visit. The reason why was very simply that I hadn’t made it to that part of Iceland beforehand. 

To be honest, though, the mountain was not one of our top priorities. I always saw it as something that we could quickly stop at on the way to the Eastfjords. Many other people online shared my opinion, it seemed, but we decided “why not” when we were driving in that direction.

Based on my own trip there, I’ll discuss whether I think Vestrahorn is worth visiting. More importantly, I will share my thoughts on whether it’s going out of your way for. By the end of this guide, my idea is that you’ll have the information you need to make a decision for your own trip. 

I Won’t Lie: I Was a Full-On Skeptic Before Visiting

So for some initial context, we visited Vestrahorn as part of a 10-day camping trip in Iceland. We went with Iceland Nomads and did the extended version, which I can fully recommend. 

Over the past few days before arriving here, we had stayed on and explored the South Coast. After staying overnight at Skaftafell National Park, we continued to Fjallsárlón, Jökulsárlón, and the Diamond Beach. Just for my hottest take: I think that the Diamond Beach is overrated. Thanks for reading.  

We needed to go to the Eastfjords anyway, but it was quite a long day. So, I was prepared to just head to our campsite. Well, I say that… the reality was that my camera lens condensed and I was quite annoyed. 

Nonetheless, my girlfriend insisted that we go to Vestrahorn. We had talked about potentially going, and since we were driving past it anyway, what harm would it have done to quickly stop there?… 

Vestrahorn Is Actually Well Worth Seeing, IMO

After stopping for some food and to do our grocery shopping in Höfn, we made the short drive to Vestrahorn. I was expecting to have the same thoughts as I do about the Blue Lagoon, and by that, I mean for it to be a “cool, but I don’t need to go back” experience. I am fine with admitting when I’ve been proven wrong, and on this occasion, I was. 

Even though much of the mountain was covered by clouds, I really enjoyed visiting Vestrahorn. In fact, I thought it looked even cooler with clouds covering the top. However, I’d definitely like to revisit when it’s a bit clearer. 

The black beach here was more impressive than Reynisfjara, in my opinion. My camera lens also started to decondense, which admittedly made me enjoy the place even more. In a country full of photogenic spots, I can say with confidence that Vestrahorn is one of my favorites. 

I was actually surprised that the area wasn’t very crowded. We weren’t the only people, but there weren’t huge crowds like I’ve experienced at some other places in Iceland. I guess that the parking fees, along with Vestrahorn being *just* beyond the South Coast, play a role. 

The only time I’d reconsider visiting is if the mountain is completely covered in fog. In that case, you may feel that it’s a waste of your time. 

Oh, and a Quick Note on the Parking Fees 🙂

Before visiting, I read a lot of reviews about Vestrahorn. The most common complaint I saw was, by far, the parking fee. Some people were also annoyed about the fact they couldn’t just drive past the part that explicitly tells you that you need to pay for parking. 

This is where I get really blunt for a moment for the people who get irate about that. Vestrahorn is on private property, and the landowner is well within their rights to charge for strangers visiting their land. 

I have the same opinion about hiking fees on the Faroe Islands. Far too many people think they’re entitled to everything, in my opinion. I also don’t agree with the “you can’t privatize nature”, because let’s look at things this way. Would you allow random people to visit your garden and trample all over it? I certainly wouldn’t. It just so happens that this happens to be a very beautiful garden. 

When we went to Vestrahorn, the fee was 1,000 ISK (c. $8 in USD). This is very much in line with parking fees that you’ll pay throughout Iceland at many of the major attractions. So, it’s not absurdly expensive, in my opinion. If I thought that it was, I would have just not visited and spent my money elsewhere. Everyone can decide if that is the case for them, though. 😄

The Stokksnes Peninsula in General Is Also Worth Your Time

When you pay for parking, you can also see some more of the Stokksnes Peninsula. I would definitely recommend allocating some time to walking along the trail. The views of Vestrahorn away from the beach are great, and beyond that, I loved just standing here and watching the sea. 

The Stokksnes Peninsula is also a decent spot for birdwatching. We saw quite a lot of terns and fulmars around the area, which was a nice bonus. You’ll see these throughout Iceland, too, but it did add something to the atmosphere, in my opinion. 

I will say, however, that we got lucky with the weather. It wasn’t windy at all when we visited, but I can imagine that it can be in some instances. So, you should bring a windbreaker jacket, in my opinion. 

At Vestrahorn, you will also find a handful of hiking trails. We sadly didn’t have the time for these, but I’ll 100% go back and do at least one of these in the future. By the way, you can—if you’re lucky—see seals from the Stokksnes Peninsula. 

Would I Go Out of My Way to See the Vestrahorn Mountain, or Treat it as a Quick Stop?

“Go out of my way” would depend on where I’m coming from. If I was driving all the way from Reykjavík, then no, I wouldn’t go out of my way to see Vestrahorn. The simple reason why is that it’s a very long journey without staying overnight in Höfn. By “very long journey”, I mean a six-hour one-way drive. Moreover, it’s one of many attractions along the South Coast and in Southeastern Iceland—rather than being a standout.

Similarly, I wouldn’t necessarily prioritize visiting Vestrahorn if I only had a week in Iceland. The reason why is because I would recommend spending the bulk of your time on the South Coast, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and in or close to Reykjavík. Vestrahorn is simply too far away; even from Jökulsárlón, it’s still a one-hour drive. 

I would, however, absolutely visit Vestrahorn if I was going to or coming from the Eastfjords. It’s not a very long detour, and I think that it’s scenic enough to warrant a quick visit. 

While Vestrahorn Is Worth Visiting, I Personally Wouldn’t Bother With the Viking Village

In addition to Vestrahorn and the Stokksnes Peninsula, your ticket also provides access to the Viking Village. To be totally honest, we skipped this entirely, and I did not feel like I missed out. You can go if you really want to, but I didn’t think it was worth my time. 

If it was the ruins from a genuine village during the Viking Era, I would happily have visited. However, the village was created for movies rather than being real. I’m happy that we dedicated our time to other parts of the peninsula instead. I guess one reason to go there would be to get up closer to Vestrahorn, which you can decide is worth it for you.

Beware That Most of the Road to Vestrahorn Is Also Unpaved

While Vestrahorn isn’t a million miles from the Ring Road, the road to the car pack is mostly unpaved. It was pretty bumpy, too, and also quite narrow. 

Despite that, you would only need a 4WD to get here if it has been particularly snowy. In the summer, you almost certainly can get here with an ordinary 2WD. Although it was bumpy, and there were some puddles and holes, we have driven on much worse roads in Iceland. 

So Yes, in Short, I Enjoyed Visiting Vestrahorn

Vestrahorn was a nice stop on our way to the Eastfjords, even though I wasn’t particularly interested in visiting beforehand. While you do need to pay a fee for parking, it’s not out of line with what you’ll pay at other attractions in Iceland. 

While I wouldn’t visit Vestrahorn if you only have a short time in Iceland, it is a great choice if you’re in the country for 10 days or longer. And if you plan to visit the Eastfjords or drive around the Ring Road, I very much think it’s worth your time. I stand even more by this claim if you, like me, love photography. 

If you have any other questions, you’re more than welcome to drop a comment and I’ll get back to you. To plan your trip further, I recommend next reading my tips on visiting Iceland for the first time.