sightseeing
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Jökulsárgljúfur: Iceland’s answer to the Grand Canyon
Jökulsárgljúfur, located in the north of the main island, is Iceland’s largest canyon. It hosts several interesting features, including three waterfalls, and has some excellent hiking opporunities. Geology and Formation Jökulsárgljúfur was formed during a catastrophic flood of the river Jökulsá, creating a 25-km / 15.5-mile long, 0.5-km / 0.3-mile wide canyon that sometimes has…
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Akureyri Rainbow Footpath: One of Iceland’s Famous Three Rainbows
In Iceland:s northern area lies its second city: Akureyri. With a population of 20,000 people in 2025, it is a bustling metropolis for this island nation of 404,000 people. Within the city is the Museum of Art, which the Akureyri Rainbow Footpath. As a staunch defender and supporter of equal rights for all genders and…
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Goðafoss: Waterfall of the Gods (Iceland)
Located in northern Iceland, Goðafoss is one of the most famous in Iceland with ties not only to the original Norse settlers in the 8th and 9th centuries but also to the conversion of Iceland from paganism to Christianity. History and Religion Iceland was first settled in 874 AD by Norse settlers who came from…
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Hvitserkur: Dragon, Rhino or Camel? (Iceland)
Located in northern Iceland, Hvitserkur is one of the famous shaped rocks in Iceland alongside others like Elephant Rock on Vestmannaeyjabær. But what exactly is its shape? A dragon? A rhino? A camel? I will let you decide that for yourself. Hvitserkur is a 15-metre / 49-foot basalt rock that sits off the Vatnsnes Peninsula.…
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Kálfshamarsvik: Beautiful Lighthouse with Horizontal Basalt Columns (Iceland)
Located in northern Iceland, Kálfshamarsvik refers to a historic lighthouse that sits on this coast warning ships of the peninsula. But what makes this special you ask. There are many lighthouses on Iceland (e.g. Svörtuloft Lighthouse and Malariff Lighthouse to name a few), so what is so great about this one? Well, the answer lies…
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Seals in Þingeyri (Iceland)
Up the in Westfjords of Iceland sits the village of Þingeyri. A fishing village, there is not much there that would attract international toursts. However there is a seal colony there, so lovers of the animals can come and watch the seals hunt, bask in the sun and get into arguments. We discovered the seals…
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Dynjandi: Waterfall in the Shape of a Bridal Veil (Iceland)
In Iceland’s remote Westfjord region is Dynjandi, a waterfall that does something most waterfalls do not. Instead of simply falling straight off the rock face, the water fans out, creating a bridal veil-like shape. It also sits at the top of 6 other waterfalls, each either their own names: Hæstahjallafoss, Strompgljúfrafoss, Göngumannafoss, Hrísvaðsfoss, Kvíslarfoss and…
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Northern Coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula: A roadtrip
On a trip to Iceland I was fortunate to be able to spend two weeks there. Part of the two weeks included the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, some of which I have posted about in previous posts. This post is focused more on the scenery and the driving, especially of the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula,…
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Kirkjufell: “Arrow Mountain” from Game of Thrones
Situated on the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is Kirkjufell, a mountain that even many people who have never come to Iceland are familiar with. To these people, it is known as Arrow Mountain. Kirkjufell is a nearly perfectly triangular (from certain angles, or cylindrical from others) mountain that is its own peninsula off…
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Ytri Tunga: A Permanent Seal Colony in Iceland
When you think of Iceland and animals, do you think of seals? Well you should because on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland lives one of Iceland’s permanent seal colonies: Ytri Tunga. Located near Guesthouse Hof (our accommodation), Ytri Tunga is a sandy stony beach that is known for one thing and one thing only:…
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Malariff Lighthouse: Majestic White Giant overlooking the Cliffs
Located on the edge of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Snæfellsjökull National Park near Lóndrangar, Malariff Lighthouse stands on the southwestern coastal cliffs. Overlooking the ocean, it not only offers beautiful views of Snæfellsjökull (the active volcano with a glacier on top) in any weather but also stands near one of the early settlements of the…
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Lóndrangar: Rock Pinnacles Overlooking Cliffs
Located at the end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Lóndrangar is a pair of rock pinnacles, sentinals sitting on the edge of a cliff. Part of Snæfellsjökull National Park, it is an excellent part of any day- or multi-day trip to this area. Lóndrangar is a set of volcanic plugs of basalt rock that have appeared…
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Dritvik Djúpalónssandur: Black Lava Beach and Cove (Iceland)
In Snæfellsjökull National Park on the western coast is one of Iceland’s iconic black sand beaches: Dritvik Djúpalónssandur – Black Lava Pearl Beach. Dritvik Djúpalónssandur refers to two separate things: Dritvik is the cove and Djúpalónssandur is the beach, although the name refers to several deep lagoons that are just slightly inland. Dritvik Djúpalónssandur is…
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Svörtuloft Lighthouse: Orange Lighthouse on a Black Background (Iceland)
If you like lighthouses and/or enjoy Halloween, then Svörtuloft Lighthouse on Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula might be the place for you. Located on the western edge of the peninsula, it offers some beautiful views of the ocean as well as Snæfellsjökull, the active volcano with a glacier that gives the Snæfellsjökull National Park its name. Located…
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Skarðsvík Beach: One of Iceland’s Few non-Black Beaches
Skarðsvík Beach is located on the northwestern end of Iceland’s Snæfellesnes Peninsula overlooking the ocean. While most of the beaches in Iceland are made up of volcanic rock, and are therefore blacks, dark browns and bits of red, Skarðsvík Beach is one of the few “blonde” beaches, meaning that the sand has a golden brown…
