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Helgafell, Snæfellsnes

SnæfellsnesMountainSmall entry feeOpen all year
Written by locals at Iceland Travel Guide · Checked by Heiða · Updated October 2026
Helgafell
Helgafell
HELGAFELL IN SHORT

Helgafell is a low basalt hill, 73 metres high, just south of Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, around 165 km (about 2 hours 10 minutes) from Reykjavík. It is open all year, and the landowners charge a small entry fee. The path to the top is about 500 m and takes around 10–15 minutes, so the whole visit takes 20–30 minutes.

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Quick factsHistoryGetting thereAround HelgafellBest time to visitSafety tipsFacilitiesMapNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

About Helgafell

Helgafell means "Holy Mountain", and despite its small size it is one of the most storied places on Snæfellsnes. The Eyrbyggja saga says the first settler, Þórólfur Mostrarskegg, dedicated it to the god Thor and built a temple at its foot, where the local assembly met. An old tradition says that if you climb it for the first time without speaking or looking back, and make your wishes at the top facing east, three wishes will come true. They must be made with a pure heart and kept secret.

At the foot of the hill stand a small church and a farm of the same name. A small tombstone near the church marks the traditional burial place of Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, the heroine of the Laxdæla saga. It is a quiet, easy stop rather than a dramatic hike, and a good one for anyone interested in saga history.

Quick facts

Height73 m
RegionSnæfellsnes, just south of Stykkishólmur
From ReykjavíkAbout 165 km, around 2 hours 10 minutes by car (Stykkishólmur is about 170 km, 2 hours 15 minutes)
From StykkishólmurA few kilometres, a short drive
EntrySmall fee charged by the landowners (ISK 400 when it was introduced in 2017; check the sign at the car park)
Opening hoursOpen all year
PathAbout 500 m each way, easy, with steps; roughly 10–15 minutes up
Time needed20–30 minutes to climb and return
RoadRoute 58 towards Stykkishólmur, about 5 km from the junction with Route 54, then right onto Helgafellsvegur to the car park

The wish-granting climb

According to tradition, a first-time visitor who climbs Helgafell in silence, without looking back, may make three wishes at the top while facing east. The wishes must be made with good intentions and told to no one, or they will not come true. Some versions say you should also walk round Guðrún's grave before you begin.

In the saga age, Þórólfur Mostrarskegg made the hill sacred to Thor, and the Þórsnes assembly met at its foot. After Iceland became Christian, an Augustinian monastery was founded here in 1184. It became a centre of learning and manuscript writing, and a church later stood on the site. Today only a small wall remnant of the monastery remains.

How to get to Helgafell

By carComing along Route 54 (Snæfellsnesvegur), turn onto Route 58 towards Stykkishólmur. After about 5 km, turn right onto Helgafellsvegur, signed Helgafell, and follow it to the farm and church. From Stykkishólmur, take Route 58 south and turn left at the same sign. There is a small car park at the base, with toilets and bins.
Hiking thereA marked path of about 500 m climbs to the top, with steps and small rocks along the way. It needs no special equipment, but it can be slippery when wet.
By public transportThere is no direct bus to Helgafell. Buses run to Stykkishólmur, and from there you would need a car or taxi.
Entry feeHelgafell is on private farmland. Since 2017 the landowners have charged visitors a small fee, ISK 400 when it began, to pay for the toilets, the car park and upkeep of the path. Have a card or some cash ready and check the sign at the car park for the current amount.

Explore around Helgafell: Breiðafjörður bay

From the top of Helgafell you look out over Breiðafjörður and its countless islands. Stykkishólmur, a few minutes away, is where you get out onto the bay.

The view from the topThe hill is only 73 m high, but the land around it is low, so the view is wide: Stykkishólmur, the islands of Breiðafjörður, and the mountains of Snæfellsnes behind you. On the summit there is a viewing disc and a small stone ruin, sometimes said to be a chapel from the monastery days.
Boat tours on BreiðafjörðurBoat tours of a couple of hours leave from Stykkishólmur harbour and weave between the islands. You see basalt cliffs and tidal currents up close, and on some tours shellfish, starfish and sea urchins are brought up from the seabed for you to look at. A guided boat tour is the practical way to see the islands, as most of them are uninhabited and have no regular service.
Birdlife and puffinsKittiwakes, shags and puffins nest on the islands. Puffins are here for the breeding season, from about late April or May until mid-August, so that is the time to take a boat tour if you want to see them.
Klakkeyjar and HvítabjarnareyAmong the islands you may pass are Klakkeyjar, whose two peaks, Dímonarklakkar, are the highest points in the bay at 72 m and 54 m, and Hvítabjarnarey, “polar bear island”, with rock that looks different from its neighbours.

Helgafell is mentioned in Landnáma, the Book of Settlements, the oldest written source on how Iceland was settled, so this small hill has been on record for about as long as the country has had people.

Best time to visit Helgafell

SummerEasiest underfoot conditions and the best views over the bay and the Snæfellsnes mountains. Long, bright days are also best for photography and for combining the hill with a boat tour and puffins on Breiðafjörður.
WinterThe path can be icy, so wear sturdy shoes with good grip or spikes. Daylight is short, and the wind on top can be strong. Follow the weather forecast and pack warm, windproof layers.

Safety and practical tips

  • If you want to try the wish tradition: no talking, no looking back, and face east at the top.
  • Wear shoes with grip, as the short path can be slippery.
  • Take a look at the old church and graveyard at the base before or after the climb.
  • A viewing disc at the summit points out the islands of Breiðafjörður and the surrounding mountains.
  • Stay on the path and respect the church and farm, which are still in use.

Facilities and accessibility

Toilets and bins at the car park. Cafés, shops and fuel are in nearby Stykkishólmur.

On the map

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Nearby places worth a stop

StykkishólmurStykkishólmurNearest town, a few kilometres awayBerserkjahraunBerserkjahraunLava field with its own saga story, further along the north coast of SnæfellsnesKirkjufellKirkjufellIconic mountain near Grundarfjörður, further west

Where to stay near Helgafell

Stykkishólmur, a short drive away, has hotels and guesthouses and is a good base for exploring the northern side of Snæfellsnes.

A hotel we know and book close by: Hótel Egilsen. See all places to stay.

Helgafell FAQ

What is the legend of Helgafell?

Tradition says that climbing it for the first time in silence, without looking back, lets you make three wishes at the top, facing east. They come true if the wish is made with a pure heart and kept secret.

How long does it take to climb Helgafell?

About 10–15 minutes up, and 20–30 minutes for the whole visit. It is a short, easy hill rather than a serious hike.

Is there an entry fee?

Yes, a small one. The landowners have charged a fee since 2017 (ISK 400 at the time) to maintain the path, car park and toilets. Check the sign at the car park for the current amount.

How far is Helgafell from Stykkishólmur?

A few kilometres south of town, a short drive along Route 58. Coming from Route 54, the turn onto Helgafellsvegur is about 5 km up Route 58, on the right.

Who is buried at Helgafell?

Tradition says Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir of the Laxdæla saga is buried near the church. A small tombstone marks the spot.

What can you see from the top of Helgafell?

Breiðafjörður bay and its many islands, Stykkishólmur and the mountains of Snæfellsnes. A viewing disc on the summit names what you are looking at.

More places in Snæfellsnes