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

A replica of Eirik the Red´s homestead. He was a famous explorer, founded the Icelandic colony in Greenland and gave Greenland its name. The first advertising campaign in history!

His son Leif-the-Lucky was born there in the valley Haukadalur. He is the first European to set foot in America.

Now the excavated and reconstructed farm is a liveViking museum. Other places of interest in the area Krossholaborg ,  Hvammur ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Skard ,  Dagverdarnes ,  Jorfi ,  Guðrun's Bath

Flatey means "flat island". The old houses, shops and warehouse buildings on Flatey reflect the optimism and development of the period around 1900.

In former times, the island was important both as a fishing centre and as the hub of commercial life of the Breidafjordur area. Traders from the Hanseatic League in Germany ran a trading post here. The first Icelandic trader received a temporary licence in 1589, and in 1777 Flatey received a charter as a town.

Flateyjarbok, (the Book of Flatey), one of the most important and impressive of the ancient Icelandic saga manuscripts, was preserved on Flatey in the Middle Ages. A photocopy reproduction is on display in the library (the oldest one in Iceland, built in 1864 in the heyday of Flatey’s prosperity.)

The church on Flatey dates from 1926. The frescoes in the apse were painted by Kristjana and Baltasar Samper and are based on the local landscape and traditional occupations.

Flatey has been an inspiration to many artists and the film "The Bridegroom" (Brudguminn) by Baltasar Kormákur was filmed on Flatey in 2007.

Hotel, guesthouse and  restaurant. Other places of interest in the area Helgafell Holy Mountain ,  Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain

Gudrun´s Bath in Sælingsdal is the oldest natural geothermal pool according to the sagas, but it disappeared in the 19th century because of a landslide. The pool was said to be wholesome and used a lot as bathing pool in the old days, as mentioned in the Icelandic sagas Laxdæla and Sturlungu.

Now a replica of this old bath has been built and also a locker room where it is possible to change clothes. Please be careful as the water temperature in the pool may vary suddenly. Entering the pool is on own responsibility. Entrance is free of charge.  Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Krossholaborg ,  Hvammur ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Dagverdarnes ,  Jorfi

Holy Mountain, 73 m with a breathtaking panoramic view across Breiðafjordur Bay. A viewing dial is at the top.

Folklore advises anyone climbing the mountain for the first time to start north of the church at the grave of Gudrun Osvifursdottir (heroine of Laxdaela Saga, died 1008) and three wishes will be granted when ascending the mountain without looking back or speaking. The wishes have to be of good intent, and the wisher tells no one and faces east when making them!

A small remnant of a wall on the mountain top is dated 1184 and was part of a nearby monastery built at this time. Other places of interest in the area Kirkjufell mountain ,  Flatey Island ,  Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain

Reykholt is one of Iceland's most notable historical sites. It houses a cultural centre and a church.

Reykhholt is most famous for being the home of Iceland's best-known author Snorri Sturluson during the years 1206 - 1241. An ancient geothermally-heated pool, Snorralaug, is named after him. It is one of the few things preserved whole from Iceland´s medieval period.

Snorrastofa is a cultural centre and institute for research in medieval studies.
Snorrastofa offers historical exhibitions and guided tours and lectures.
Music recitals are held in the church of Reykholt. Other places of interest in the area Deildartunguhver thermal spring ,  Troll Waterfalls ,  Lava Waterfalls ,  Glanni Waterfall ,  Paradise Hollow ,  Grabrok Crater ,  Langjokull Glacier ,  Borg ,  Barnafoss, Children's Falls ,  Bjössaróló ,  Baula ,  Hvanneyri ,  Hafnarfjall mountain

Whale Fjord (Hvalfjord) is 30km long and 84m deep.

Whale Fjord was the site of much British and US military activity during World War II. Some ruins from this period can still be seen in the fjord.

Hotel Glymur in Hvalfjordur offers WW II storytelling trips. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall ,  Hallgrim's Church ,  Akrafjall Mountain ,  Laxness Museum ,  Staupasteinn ,  Whale station in Hvalfjordur ,  Geirsholmi ,  Hafnarfjall mountain

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

Brakarey island off the shore of Borgarnes, now connected by a bridge, is named after Egil's nanny, Thorgerdur Brak, whom Skalla-Grimur, Egill's father, stoned to death.

The main street in Borgarnes is named Brakarbraut (Brak's Way) which was the path on which Thorgerdur Brak was chased before jumping off a cliff and drowning when hit by stones thrown by Skalla-Grimur.

In the Settlement Centre nearby is an audio-guided exhibition about "The Saga of Egill" and you will learn more about the brave nanny and bondswoman Thorgerdur Brak who took care of  Egill Skallgrimsson.

Behind the Settlement Centre is a statue commemorating Thorgerdur Brak, by the artist Bjarni Thor, from Akranes. Other places of interest in the area Borg ,  Bjössaróló

During the Sturlung Age 1220 - 1264, a company of men led by Svarthofdi Dufguson, a follower of Sturla Sighvatsson used the island Geirsholmi as a base for raiding the surrounding countryside.

The tourist service at Bjarteyjarsandur nearby offers storytelling trips about Geirsholmi. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall ,  Hallgrim's Church ,  Akrafjall Mountain ,  Laxness Museum ,  Staupasteinn ,  Whale station in Hvalfjordur ,  Whale Fjord

 Church built in 1957 as a tribute to the 17th-century hymn writer Hallgrimur Petursson, one of Iceland's best-loved poets.

Hallgrimur Petursson served at Saurbaer 1651 - 1669, a poor leprous pastor who composed Iceland's most widely known religious work, 50 Passion Hymns. Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja church is also named after him. He was married to a woman who had been abducted from the Westman Islands by Algerian pirates and bought free again.

The church contains beautiful stained glass work by one of the first widely known Icelandic woman artists Gerður Helgadóttir. Other places of interest in the area Djupalonssandur & Dritvik ,  Akrafjall Mountain ,  Laxness Museum ,  Staupasteinn ,  Whale station in Hvalfjordur ,  Whale Fjord ,  Geirsholmi ,  Hafnarfjall mountain

Krossholaborg is a memorial to Audur, the Deep-minded, first settler of Dalabyggd. She was the matriarch of a leading family in the Laxdaela Saga.

It is said that she was a Christian and set up a cross at the place Krossholaborg so to have a holy place where she could say her prayers.

The Women's club of the region Dalir set up this memorial, a stone cross, in the year 1965. At the occasion, Mass was celebrated under the participation of 600 persons.

An information sign post was placed here in 2008. Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Hvammur ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Skard ,  Dagverdarnes ,  Guðrun's Bath

Ari-the-Wise served as a priest at Stadarstadur from 1067 - 1148. He is well-known for his Book of Icelanders, the first work of history written in Iceland.

The place is also the setting of a very known novel by the Nobel price winning Icelandic author Halldor Kiljan Laxness: "Under the glacier". Other places of interest in the area Olkelda mineral spring ,  Longufjorur Beach ,  Snaefellsjokull glacier ,  Ytri Tunga ,  Bardarlaug pool ,  Arnarstapi ,  Hellnar

The old whaling station in Hvalfjordur plays an important role in Iceland's  whaling history. The whaling station was in full operation until 1988 when commercial whaling in Iceland was banned by law.

Today it is used for whale research. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall ,  Hallgrim's Church ,  Akrafjall Mountain ,  Laxness Museum ,  Staupasteinn ,  Whale Fjord ,  Geirsholmi ,  Hafnarfjall mountain

Originally the home of Skallagrímur, father of Egill, hero of Egil´s Saga.

Its full name means "rock in the marshes". The farmstead was defined by Kveldulfur, Egill Skallagrimsson's grandfather, who got on the wrong side of King Harald Haarfager of Norway and fled to Iceland.
 
As they approached Iceland on their way from Norway, Kveldulfur became ill and knew he would die. He instructed his son to make a coffin for him, place his body in it and throw it overboard. The son was to select the site for the family farm where the coffin washed ashore. This happened to be at Borg, where Egill's father settled and raised his family.

Today you can see a small church, the large rock that gave the place its name and an interesting sculpture at Borg by Asmundur Sveinsson commemorating Egil´s poem, Loss of a Son. A thoughtful reflection on the emptiness he felt after his son's death. Other places of interest in the area Deildartunguhver thermal spring ,  Eldborg Crater ,  Gerduberg basalt columns ,  Longufjorur Beach ,  Reykholt ,  Brakarey Island ,  Bjössaróló ,  Hvanneyri ,  Hafnarfjall mountain

Takes its name“Breakfast Ness“ from the fact that Auður the Deep-minded, one of the first settlers,  stopped to rest there one morning while searching for a place to make her home.
Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Krossholaborg ,  Hvammur ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Skard ,  Guðrun's Bath

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

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

Around the year 890, Audur the Deep minded (djúpúdga) from Dögurdara  settled the land between the outer edge og Hvammsveit and Skaumuhlaupsa in Hordudalur. She built her farm at Hvammur and for a long time after her kin lived there. Audur was Christian.

The father of Snorri Sturluson, Sturla Thordarson (1115-1183), lived at Hvammur. He was of the ninth generation counting from Audur the Deep minded. His sons Thordur, Sighvatur and Snorri were born there.

Árni Magnússon (1663-1730),  professor and collector of medieval manuscripts, grew up at Hvammur.

Priests would remain at Hvammur. Since the Reformation until 1944 only 15 priests held the position. Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Krossholaborg ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Dagverdarnes ,  Jorfi ,  Guðrun's Bath

One of the men of saga hero Egill Skallagrímsson founded the rich farm of Hvanneyri at the time of settlement.

In today's village, you may find the Agricultural University of Iceland which is very engaged in the protection of the environment. Hvanneyri is also the siege of the Icelandic museum for Agriculture and Ullarselið, a wool shop.

In the springtime and autumn a lot of White-fronted Goose stay around the village, they are under protection in the area. Other places of interest in the area Deildartunguhver thermal spring ,  Troll Waterfalls ,  Borg ,  Reykholt ,  Bjössaróló ,  Hafnarfjall mountain

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

Proverbial for its wild gatherings every autumn, which were eventually banned in 1708. Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Hvammur ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Guðrun's Bath

Gudrun Osvifursdottir, heroine of Laxdaela Saga, was born (973AD) and brought up at Laugar. It is said that she used the hot water pool there a lot and also met there her followers Kjartan and Bolli.

There is a geothermal area at Laugar and a naturally-heated swimming pool was built there in 1932. The hot water is also used for heating up the buildings at the place.

There is a summer hotel and a folk museum which opened in 1977.

At about 3 km from Laugar you may find the rocky hill Tungustapi, home of elfes.
  Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Krossholaborg ,  Hvammur ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Skard ,  Dagverdarnes ,  Jorfi ,  Guðrun's Bath

Gljúfrasteinn was the home and workplace of the Nobel Prize winner, author Halldor Kiljan Laxness and his family for over 50 years.  The house which was built in 1945 is a good example of  a 20th century Icelandic cultural home and has remained unchanged since the writer lived there.

Gljúfrasteinn is now a museum with audio-guides in Icelandic, English, Swedish and German.  There is a souvenir shop and multimedia show in the reception.  This is a perfect resting place en-route to west Iceland or to Thingvellir.

There are music recitals every Sunday during summer. Readings of Icelandic authors on the weekends in December. Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall ,  Hallgrim's Church ,  Whale station in Hvalfjordur ,  Whale Fjord ,  Geirsholmi

Skard is a farm and church site on Skardströnd. Many of the Icelandic Saga heroes come from here. Amongst them were Bjorn Thorleifsson, governor, and his wife, Olof-the-Rich Loftsdottir. On the death of her husband by Englishmen in 1467, she is quoted as declaring: „shed no tears for farmer Björn, but gather men to avenge him...“ This has become a famous quote in Iceland.

The Skard church was the main church of the area for a long time. The church was rebuild between 1914-1916 and there are many old relics to be found in it, among them a preacher´s stool from the 17th century. Other places of interest in the area Eirik the Red´s homestead. ,  Krossholaborg ,  Laugar in Saelingsdal ,  Klofningsfjall ,  Dagverdarnes

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

A goblet-shaped rock and popular resting place for tourists. Close to Hvammsvik on the old national road around Whale Fjord. 

An elf by the name of Staupa-Steinn has his home in this rock.  Not everyone can see him. He is described as having long hair, a beard and being a kind, gentle man who loves to play ball with children who are picnicking in the area.

Beautiful view. Protected since 1974 Other places of interest in the area Glymur Waterfall ,  Hallgrim's Church ,  Whale station in Hvalfjordur ,  Whale Fjord ,  Geirsholmi