Arnarstapi was an important trading post in the past and had a much bigger population than it has now. 
Columnar basalt, ravines and grottoes surround the Arnarstapi pier. There is good anchorage for small boats.

There is quite a large arctic tern colony in the village itself. A walk along the coastline is recommended to watch the birds and the magnificent lava formations. 

A sculpture of Bardur Snaefellsas by Ragnar Kjartansson stands by the beach at Arnarstapi.

Seaside and cliffs
The seaside and the cliffs between Arnastapi and Hellnar have been made a Natural Reserve in 1979. A very interesting old path follows the coastline where you can see old lending places of fishermen, lots of birds like the kittiwake, the Arctic tern and the fulmar and pass through a lavafield. If you take a guided tour, you will f.ex also hear a ghost story.
Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Saxholl crater ,  Stadarstadur ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Hellnar ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Bardarlaug at Hellnar is a crater pool and  said to have been the bathing pool of the Bardur Snaefellsas.  This demi-troll, instead of dying like ordinary people, made his home in the Snaefellsjökul glacier according to local legend. 

Bardur is the patron of the glacier and was said to have had psychic abilities, being able to communicate with the hidden people.

A big statue of Bardur by the artist Ragnar Kjartansson
is to be seen at Arnarstapi Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Stadarstadur ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Djupalonssandur is a beautiful pebbled beach, with a series of rocks of mysterious form emerging from the ocean. It is one of the few areas that lead down to the sea along this coast with its high dramatic cliffs.  Watch out for the famous ghosts roaming the place! The rests of a shipwreck can be seen on the beach.

On the beach there are also 4 big stones which people tried to lift and test their strength in the days of the fishing stations: Fully Strong 154 kg, Half-Strong 100 kg, Weakling 54 kg and Bungler 23 kg.

Weakling marked the frontier of wimphood, any man who couldn't lift it was deemed unsuitable for a life as a fisherman.

  Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Kirkjufell mountain ,  Saxholl crater ,  Hallgrim's Church ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Near Gufuskálar on the uttermost part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, there was one of the many winter fisher villages consistant in Iceland in former times.

If you come from Hellnar and look at the lava fields at your right, you may disover the ruins of some 200 very small stone buildings which were used to dry and stock the fish. Their age is estimated at 500 - 700 years.

It is a 10 minutes walk from the road to one of the ruins which is still in so good condition that you can crawl inside. There, to your surprise, you may find the ceiling high enough for an adult to stand upright. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Saxholl crater ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Gatklettur - Arch Rock - is a cliff with a circular arch.

Rock Arch shows how distinctive wave action has eroded the rocks into arches and beautifurl swirled patterns. 
There is great birdlife around the cliffs and pretty flora surrounding the area. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Songhellir, cave

For centuries, Hellnar was among the largest fishing villages beneath the Snaefellsjokull ice cap.

Valasnos, a freestanding rock, extends east of the bay. One of Iceland's most peculiar caves, Badstofa, is there. It is known for its special light exposure and colourful interior.

A cold water spring is to be found at the lava’s edge. It is dedicated to the Holy Virgin, because it is said she had appeared here once.
 
The Hellnar church was built in 1945 on a picturesque site where a church was first raised in 1833.

Hotel, café and visitor´s Centre of the Nationalpark Snæfellsjökull.

 

Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Saxholl crater ,  Stadarstadur ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Holaholar 113 m, an ancient crater area also believed to be an elf town/community.

A track passes through the wall of Berudalur Valley and into a natural amphitheatre inside the cone. A very gentle sloping lava hill, a hike to the top is easy and fun.  Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Saxholl crater ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

This former parsonage and estate between the villages Hellissandur and Rif was the common assembly site of the parish in the past.

The present church was built in 1903 and is the oldest concrete church of the country, perhaps even the world. When it was built, it received a replica of the altarpiece of the Lutheran Cathedral of Reykjavik.

 

Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Saxholl crater ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Fiskibyrgi

Uniquely-formed remnants of  ancient basalt volcanic dikes sticking out from the sea. 
 
Londrangar and the hill Svalthúfa are the remains of a crater, which has been eroded to its present form by the sea. The farmers in the area never made or make hay on the hill, because it is said to belong to the elves living in the area.

Younger lava fields surround this old crater ruin. The higher pillar (75m) was first climbed in 1735 and the lower (61 m) in 1938. 
The lighthouse was built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1946.

Below the hill you may find Thufubjarg cliff where according to a folktale the poet Kolbeinn Jöklaskáld had an encounter with the Devil.

On these cliffs, puffins and fulmars have their nests. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Saxholl crater ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Saxholl is a crater which is easy to climb.  There is a great view over the area from the top. Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Snæfellsjokull Glacier - the beautiful magnet of the Peninsula, 1446 m. It is an active volcano and provided the setting for Jules Verne’s famous book “Journey to the Centre of The Earth”.  Many believe the Glacier to be one of the seven main energy centres of the earth and its mystique is noticed by many. Undisputedly the main attraction of the National Park.

Excursions onto the Glacier are offered from the village Arnarstapi on the southern side.  The magnificent view from the top extends to Reykjanes Peninsula on the south side and the West Fjords on the north side as well as over the mountains of Snæfellsnes to the east. Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Kirkjufell mountain ,  Saxholl crater ,  Stadarstadur ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Ingjaldshóll ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell ,  Songhellir, cave

Songhellir is a famous cave. The name means the cave of songs. It is well known because of its echo: You should test it by yourself. But of course it works best with Icelandic folk songs.

On the walls of the cave, a lot of people have written their names, some of them very well known persons in Iceland. Among them are f.ex. Eggert Olafsson and Bjarni Palsson who were by the end of 18th century travelling around their own country - quite an enterprise at the time - fighting against superstition and for Enlightenment. You may also find there runes and signs of sorcery. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Saxholl crater ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Stapafell

Stapafell is a volcanic mountain on the south side of Snæfellsjökull.  This palagonitic pyramide is 526 m in height og rather eroded at the sides.

On the top of the mountain is Fellskross, which was a sign of holy powers at the times of the vikings. It is said that the mountain is home of hidden people, also called elfes. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Holaholar Crater Area ,  Saxholl crater ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar ,  Fiskibyrgi ,  Songhellir, cave

The beach near the abandoned farm of  Ytri Tunga is well-known for its seal colony. The seals are friendly and curious and will climb up on the rocks near the sandy beach. Sometimes you have to be patient and wait for them. The best time to see seals is in June and July.

A beautiful, serene cove with a wonderful view of the Snaefellsjokull Glacier.
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Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Longufjorur Beach ,  Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Londrangar basalt cliffs ,  Kirkjufell mountain ,  Stadarstadur ,  Gatklettur - Arch Rock ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar