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238 km
About 3 h 45 min
Car 1–4 · Van 5–7
Free cancellation 24 h
West & Snæfellsnes · from KEF
About Ólafsvík and the drive
Ólafsvík is a fishing town on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, part of the municipality of Snæfellsbær. Steep mountains rise straight behind the houses, the harbour is busy with fishing boats, and the glacier-capped volcano Snæfellsjökull stands to the west. The town has shops, a swimming pool, places to eat and a range of accommodation, which makes it a practical base for the western end of the peninsula, with Snæfellsjökull National Park and the village of Hellissandur close by.
From Keflavík Airport you drive through Reykjavík, north on Route 1 under Hvalfjörður to Borgarnes, then west on Route 54 along the south side of Snæfellsnes, past wide lava fields and long beaches. From there the road either crosses the mountains to the north coast or follows the coast around the tip of the peninsula past Arnarstapi; your driver chooses the route that suits the weather and road conditions on the day.
Ólafsvík works well for a few nights on Snæfellsnes, whether you want to hike, explore the national park or join a day out on the peninsula. Your driver takes you to the door of your hotel, guesthouse or holiday house in town or nearby. See our Snæfellsnes peninsula day trip guide for ideas, or join the Snæfellsnes tour.
Seasons and roads
The mountain road across Snæfellsnes can be snowy and windy in winter and may close for a while in storms; the coast road around the tip can be exposed to strong wind. Daylight is short in midwinter. If a storm is forecast we will contact you about the timing.
