I need some advice/suggestions as to how to divide our time between the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords. Our travel window is approximately mid-July to mid-August 2025. We typically stay in cabins/cottages and prefer about 4 nights in a given location; I expect we'll have around 2 weeks, give or take, for those areas. We aren't hikers but love walks outdoors and seeing the incredible sights that Iceland offers. We tolerate the weather as necessary! We don't mind driving for day trips of 45 minutes to an hour to get to an area of interest but one might consider us to be slow travelers - hubby likes a day off here and there to do "nothing". On our recent trip, we were able to schedule those days when heavy rains were forecast.
I'd appreciate any help to get me focused on securing accommodations since I know they are limited for those areas.
Many thanks for guidance from those of you are in the know!
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Snohomish, WA
2489 posts
We have spent quite a bit of time in those areas . I will be back on Snaefellsness in a couple of days as well. With 2 weeks, that is great as you won't short change either one! We had 10 days for the Westfjords alone on one trip and still missed a few things. The thing is there is just so much to see that you don't realize, so you are constantly pulling over to check things out. One area in the Westfjords that I highly recommend is Hornstrandir. Yes, it is mostly known for grueling hikes, and I can vouch for that, but they also have easy day trips. Look at Borea Adventures and you can see one for Wildlife and Arctic Foxes that is easy. We used them and they are wonderful. Kayaking in Isafjordur was a lot of fun as well.
The hard thing for Iceland over all is that it doesn't work well to base yourselves in just a few locations. You will be backtracking a lot. So maybe take the down time at a couple of places and just relax without having a lot on the agenda. I would suggest stays in Isafjordur(3 nights), Heydalur(2 nights) and then somewhere around Holmavik(3 nights).
As for Snaefellsness, I really like Stikkisholmur, but you could also spend a few days around Arnastapi. and staying a few days on both would let you really explore the area.
As for lodging, In Stikkisholmur I love the Akkeri Guesthouse. We are not staying there this week though as they were full, but I can report back on Hotel Eligsen when I get back. In Isafjordur, my husband stayed at Hotel Isafjordur just last month and really liked it. When the two of us went, we had a camper van so I can't speak for the hotels myself. At Heydalur there is only one place, it is their farm, and we absolutely loved that! They have their own natural hot springs on site, as well as a pool in the greenhouse. There is also a nice hot spring just a few minutes away, Horgshlidarlaug, which is right on the fjord.
If you take the ferry from Stikkisholmur, there is a great little natural hot spring about 5 minutes from the ferry, Hellulaug.
I mostly use booking.com for lodging in Iceland. Many of the smaller places use that as they don't have their own websites.
I know this is long, but it should get you started.