Arnarstapi fishing village

About Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi lies at the foot of Mt Stapafell, between the farms of Breiðavík and the village of Hellnar, on the southern side of Snæfellsnes. It was once a busy fishing and trading place. The population is much smaller now, and it is mostly a stop for travellers before they enter Snæfellsjökull National Park. The picture most people know is a small white house standing alone under the dark, pointed mountain.

Arnarstapi sits right at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, and the coastline here is shaped by columns of basalt carved by the sea into arches, caves and stacks. Seabirds nest along the cliffs in summer, including kittiwakes, fulmars, razorbills and Arctic terns, and the sound of the surf against the rock is a constant backdrop to a walk along the shore.

The best-known feature is Gatklettur, a natural arch just offshore that has become one of the most photographed spots on the peninsula. From Arnarstapi, a well-marked coastal path follows the clifftop about 2.5 km to Hellnar, a smaller village with its own sea cave and café, making an easy there-and-back walk of an hour or two.

A large stone statue of Bárður Snæfellsás, the half-troll, half-human guardian spirit of the peninsula from local saga tradition, stands above the harbour and is worth a look on your way to the path.

Quick facts

A trading point for fishermen, and the home of Bárður

Arnarstapi has one of the few natural harbours on this exposed coast, and that made it important early on. In the 15th and 16th centuries it grew into a major fishing station. Under Danish rule it became a trading post serving West Iceland: merchant ships anchored here to unload goods and take on fish, and the trade went on for more than 200 years. The population then was far larger than it is now.

The fishing has not stopped. The harbour is still used by small fishing boats, mostly in summer, and by the occasional pleasure boat. A lighthouse was built by the harbour in 1941. Old houses in the village date from the trading days, and locals have plenty of stories about them.

Bárður Snæfellsás is a figure from the Icelandic saga of the same name, said to be half human and half troll, who lived at Arnarstapi before withdrawing to live inside the Snæfellsjökull glacier as its protective spirit. Farmers in the area are said to have called on him for protection in hard times, and the large stone statue above the harbour, built in the 1980s, represents him watching over the coast.

According to the saga, Bárður's father was of giant and troll stock and his mother human. He sailed from Norway with his family and came ashore on Snæfellsnes, and many places around the peninsula carry names from his story. People here still say that his spirit watches over the peninsula and helps travellers who get into trouble.

How to get to Arnarstapi

What to see in Arnarstapi

Everything is within a short walk of the car park, and the whole shore is good for photography.

Best time to visit Arnarstapi

Safety and practical tips

• Stay well back from the cliff edges, there are few barriers and the rock can be unstable.
• Wear sturdy shoes for the coastal path, it is uneven in places.
• Bring binoculars in summer for the nesting seabirds along the cliffs.
• The café in Hellnar is a good stop if you walk the full path between the two villages.

Facilities and accessibility

Arnarstapi has a hotel, guesthouse and campsite, plus toilets near the harbour. Hellnar, a short walk away, has a small café.

On the map

Nearby places worth a stop

HellnarNeighbouring village, reached by the coastal pathDjúpalónssandurBlack pebble beach further along the peninsulaLóndrangarBasalt sea stacks nearbySnæfellsjökull National ParkThe glacier and park above ArnarstapiBúðirBlack church on a lava field

Where to stay near Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi itself has a small hotel and guesthouse, or you can base yourself in Ólafsvík, Hellissandur or further afield in Stykkishólmur.

Arnarstapi FAQ