Gatklettur Basalt Sea Arch
Spectacular natural circular stone arch carved by churning Atlantic waves out of hexagonal columnar basalt
Photograph the swirling turquoise ocean through the circular stone aperture as seabirds swirl.
Arnarstapi
Arnarstapi & Hellnar, Iceland
Ideal: 1–2 daysBest: May–SepPrice: Expensive
In 60 seconds
Arnarstapi & Hellnar in 60 seconds
Clinging to the southern wave-lashed cliffs of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula directly beneath the mystical ice cap of Snæfellsjökull volcano (Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth), Arnarstapi and neighboring Hellnar form an unforgettable coastal duo. Famed for Gatklettur sea arch, the iconic cliffside walking trail, Bárður saga statue, and seaside caves.
Nature
Best for
- Coast
- Geology
- Hiking
- Glaciers
Known for
- Gatklettur Basalt Sea Arch
- Arnarstapi to Hellnar Coastal Cliff Walk
- Bárður Snæfellsás Stone Monument
- Snæfellsjökull National Park gateway
- Fjöruhúsið seaside cafe in Hellnar
Skip if
You are unable to walk outdoors; the primary magic of Arnarstapi is the 2.5-kilometre clifftop trail.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Arnarstapi & Hellnar fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Arnarstapi to Hellnar Coastal Cliff Walk
Breathtaking 2.5-kilometre protected trail following wave-battered lava cliffs, sea stacks and blowholes between the two hamlets
Walk the clifftop path flanked by yellow lichens, nesting kittiwakes and crashing surf.
Coastline
Bárður Snæfellsás Monument
Monumental stone statue by Ragnar Kjartansson depicting the half-giant, half-man guardian spirit of Snæfellsnes
Stand beneath the towering stone figure looking up at the snowy peak of Snæfellsjökull.
Arnarstapi
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Casual
No booking, no ceremony, reliably good.
Fjöruhúsið Cafe & Restaurant (Hellnar)
ModerateIdyllic tiny timber cafe perched directly above the rocky cove of Hellnar serving famous seafood soup and waffles
Sip hot fish soup with freshly baked bread on the open terrace over the crashing surf.
Hellnar
Arnarbær Restaurant
ModerateWarm turf-gabled restaurant in Arnarstapi serving fresh catch of the day, fish and chips and local lamb burgers
Taste pan-fried cod with lemon butter and cold Icelandic draft beer.
Arnarstapi
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Malarbiff (Fosshotel Hellnar)
Very expensiveEco-certified hotel restaurant framing floor-to-ceiling vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and coastal basalt cliffs
Enjoy slow-cooked Icelandic lamb and arctic char paired with fine European wines.
Hellnar
Kaffi Snjófell
InexpensiveCozy central cafe in Arnarstapi offering espresso, hot chocolate, fresh waffles and home-baked pastries
Warm up after the coastal cliff hike with coffee and rhubarb tart.
Arnarstapi
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Baðstofa Sea Cave & Blowhole
Deep coastal lava cavern where ocean swells roar into subterranean chambers, spouting mist through blowholes
Peer down into the churning amphitheatre listening to the thunder of the tide.
Hellnar
Hellnar Church (Hellnakirkja)
Picturesque 1945 red-roofed country church perched on a green coastal bluff with views to the ocean and glacier
Photograph the charming church framed against the immense white dome of Snæfellsjökull.
Hellnar
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
Narrow, dramatic vertical cliff fissure carved into Botnsfjall mountain, reachable by a short walk from the road
Squeeze through the narrow mossy rock cleft to a hidden interior waterfall.
Botnsfjall
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Arnarstapi Bar
ModerateInformal harbour lounge offering local craft beers from Borg Brugghús and Einstök
Share coastal hiking stories with fellow travelers while watching the evening glow on the glacier.
Arnarstapi
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Arnarstapi Harbour & Pier
Tiny picturesque boat haven enclosed by columnar basalt sea walls, where small cod boats moor
Watch local fishermen unload cod from wooden boats beneath towering cliffs.
Arnarstapi
Hellnar Historic Cove
Ancient fishing station nestled in a rugged lava cove with historic beach cabins and a natural harbour
Stroll the shoreline examining rounded basalt cobbles and sea caves.
Hellnar
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Arnarstapi Hotel & Cottages
Modern Scandinavian timber lodges and hotel rooms situated right near the coastal cliff trail
Immediate access to clifftop walking paths and Gatklettur arch.
Fosshotel Hellnar
Eco-certified hotel in peaceful Hellnar overlooking the rocky cove and church
Quiet and romantic stay beneath the glacier with outstanding ocean views.
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting There
- Located on the southern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula along Route 574, roughly 2.5 hours from Reykjavík.
- Cliff Safety
- Coastal basalt cliffs are unfenced in many sections; maintain a safe distance from cliff edges in strong ocean winds.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1700s
Arnarstapi flourishes as a bustling fishing port and Danish Crown trading post with hundreds of seasonal fishermen.
- 1864
Jules Verne publishes Journey to the Center of the Earth, choosing Snæfellsjökull right above Arnarstapi as the entry crater.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Snæfellsjökull Glacier Summit
Mystical 1,446-metre stratovolcano capped by a gleaming glacier, celebrated in Jules Verne's sci-fi novel
Take a guided snowcat or glacier hike tour to the volcanic summit rim.
20 min north
Djúpalónssandur Black Pebble Beach
Dramatic black volcanic pebble beach featuring the historic lifting stones used by fishermen to test their strength
Try your hand at lifting the four ancient stones: Amlóði, Hálfdrættingur, Hálfsterkur and Fullsterkur.
15 min west