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Hellissandur village and street art

SnæfellsnesVillageFree to visitStreet art
Written by locals at Iceland Travel Guide · Checked by Heiða · Updated October 2026
Hellissandur
Hellissandur
HELLISSANDUR IN SHORT

Hellissandur is a small fishing village at the western end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, known as the street art capital of Iceland for its large murals. It is about 200 km and 2.5–3 hours from Reykjavík, free to walk around, and close to Snæfellsjökull National Park. A stop takes 30–60 minutes.

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About Hellissandur

Hellissandur is a working fishing village of a few hundred people, on the north-west coast of Snæfellsnes. It has been a fishing base since at least the 16th century, and the harbour and low houses still show it.

The village became known for its murals in 2018, when local artist Kári Viðarsson invited artists from Iceland and abroad to paint the walls. Around thirty large works now cover walls and buildings, many on an old fish factory building near the shore. They draw on local stories, sagas and folklore, and on Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, which begins at nearby Snæfellsjökull.

There is also a maritime museum in the village, which shows how people lived and fished on this exposed coast. Hellissandur is a useful base for the western end of the peninsula, with Snæfellsjökull National Park just outside.

On a clear day the glacier-capped volcano Snæfellsjökull, 1,446 metres high, rises right behind the houses, with the open ocean on the other side. Snæfellsnes is often called "Iceland in miniature", and Hellissandur suits travellers who want a quieter stop with some culture alongside the scenery.

Quick facts

RegionSnæfellsnes peninsula, West Iceland
From ReykjavíkAbout 200 km, around 2.5–3 hours by car
Known forLarge murals, started in 2018
MuralsAround 30 or more, mostly near the shore and around the village
MuseumMaritime museum in the village
GlacierSnæfellsjökull, 1,446 m, about a few kilometres away
EntryFree to walk around
Time needed30–60 minutes

Murals that tell the local story

Hellissandur is one of Iceland's oldest fishing villages, with roots in the 16th century, and for a long time it was an important fishing station for the region. Fishing has shrunk in recent decades, and the village has become a quieter place that people visit for its history, its art and the nature around it.

The mural project began as a way of bringing life back to a village that had lost much of its fishing industry. Artists from Iceland and abroad, including several from Latin America, painted the works in 2018 and later.

Many murals show stories from the area, from sagas to the tale of Áxlar-Björn, an outlaw said to have killed travellers on the Snæfellsnes mountain roads. Others are inspired by the glacier and by Verne's novel.

The paintings show fishing boats, sea creatures, Viking legends and abstract designs that sit well against the sea and the glacier. New works are added and older ones fade or are painted over, so the walls are not quite the same from one visit to the next.

How to get to Hellissandur

By carFrom Reykjavík, drive north on Route 1 through the Hvalfjörður tunnel, then take the Snæfellsnes roads (Route 54 and Route 574) to the west. Hellissandur is on the north-west side of the peninsula, next to Rif.
On a guided tourSnæfellsnes day tours and private tours often pass through Hellissandur on the way to Snæfellsjökull National Park.
By public transportThere is a bus service to Snæfellsnes, but it runs less often, and timetables vary by season. Check before you plan around it.

Winter weather on the peninsula can be windy and snowy. Check road conditions on umferdin.is.

Things to do in Hellissandur

The village is small and easy to cover on foot. These are the main stops.

1. Walk the muralsFollow the streets around the old fish factory and the harbour. Most works are a few minutes apart, and the glacier or the sea makes a good backdrop for photos.
2. Maritime MuseumThe museum sits in the Fishermen's Garden in the old part of the village. It has traditional rowing boats, fishing tools and a turf-roofed fishermen's hut, and shows how people made a living from the sea here for centuries.
3. National Park CentreThe Snæfellsjökull National Park centre in the village has an exhibition about the park and staff who can advise on trails and conditions. It is a good first stop before driving into the park.
4. Ingjaldshóll churchA couple of kilometres outside the village, on a low hill. Built in 1903, it is said to be the oldest concrete church in the world, and it has a wide view of Snæfellsjökull and the coast.
5. BirdwatchingThe coast around the village is good for seabirds. Kittiwakes and fulmars nest on the cliffs to the west, and Arctic terns gather in large numbers between Hellissandur and Rif in summer. Drive slowly there, as the terns sit on the road.

Things to do around Hellissandur

Hellissandur is a handy base for the western end of the peninsula. All of these are within about 40 minutes by car.

6. Snæfellsjökull National ParkThe park begins just outside the village. Popular short walks include the steps up Saxhóll crater and the coastal path to the Lóndrangar sea stacks, with lava fields and beaches in between.
7. Svörtuloft lighthouseA bright orange lighthouse on top of black lava sea cliffs, a short drive west of the village. The last part of the road is rough gravel. The view over the North Atlantic is wide open.
8. Skarðsvík beachGolden sand framed by black volcanic rock, on the way to Svörtuloft. A calm spot for a walk or a picnic on a still day.
9. Svöðufoss waterfallA lesser-known waterfall a short drive from the village. It drops over a cliff into a green valley, with Snæfellsjökull behind it on clear days. The walk from the car park is easy.
10. Djúpalónssandur beachAbout 20 minutes away. A black pebble beach with strange rock formations, the rusting remains of a trawler wrecked in 1948 and the lifting stones that fishermen used to test their strength.
11. Rauðfeldsgjá gorgeA narrow cleft in the mountainside on the south side of the peninsula. You can walk into the mossy opening and, if you are properly dressed, scramble further in along the stream.
12. ArnarstapiA fishing village on the south coast with sea cliffs, basalt columns and the rock arch Gatklettur. The coastal walk from Arnarstapi to Hellnar has views of the ocean and the glacier.
13. BúðirA hamlet known for its black church, Búðakirkja, set against the Búðahraun lava field with the glacier behind. There are golden sand beaches nearby for a quiet walk.
14. Kirkjufell mountainAbout 40 minutes east, by Grundarfjörður. Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall next to it gives the classic view of both together, and it is a favourite spot for Northern Lights photos in winter.

Best time to visit Hellissandur

Summer (June–August)Long light evenings, the museum and cafés are open, and the glacier is often visible.
Winter (November–March)Quiet and dark, with strong wind and possible snow. The murals are still there, and clear nights offer Northern Lights.

The murals can be seen in any season. Bird life is best from May to August, and the glacier is most often visible on calm, clear days.

Safety and practical tips

  • Many murals are on the old factory buildings by the shore. Look around the harbour first.
  • Park in the village and walk, as most works are within a short distance.
  • Combine it with Snæfellsjökull National Park for a longer day.
  • Respect private property and do not climb on buildings.
  • Bring a windproof jacket. The coast is very exposed.
  • Stop at the National Park centre in the village for maps and current conditions before heading into the park.
  • The road out to Svörtuloft lighthouse is rough gravel. Take it slowly, or skip it in a small car in bad weather.
  • Slow down for Arctic terns on the road near Rif in summer.

Facilities and accessibility

The village has a small maritime museum, the Snæfellsjökull National Park centre with a restaurant, a swimming pool, a campsite and a few places to eat and stay. Bigger services and fuel are in Ólafsvík and Grundarfjörður.

On the map

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Nearby places worth a stop

Snæfellsjökull National ParkSnæfellsjökull National ParkGlacier, lava and coast, just outside the villageRauðfeldsgjáRauðfeldsgjáNarrow gorge you can walk intoSvörtuloftSvörtuloftLighthouse on the black cliffsDjúpalónssandurDjúpalónssandurBlack pebble beach with lifting stonesÓlafsvíkÓlafsvíkLarger fishing town to the eastHellnarHellnarSmall village with sea cliffsSvöðufossSvöðufossWaterfall with the glacier behind itSkarðsvíkSkarðsvíkGolden sand between black rocksKirkjufellKirkjufellMuch-photographed mountain, about 40 minutes awayArnarstapiArnarstapiSea cliffs and the Gatklettur archBúðirBúðirBlack church on a lava field

Where to stay near Hellissandur

Hellissandur has a few small guesthouses, farm stays nearby and a campsite, which give a closer feel for village life. There are more guesthouses in Rif, and a wider choice of hotels and services in Ólafsvík and Grundarfjörður, both a short drive away.

Hellissandur FAQ

Why is Hellissandur called Iceland's street art capital?

Because of the large murals painted on its walls since 2018, with around thirty works spread through the village.

How long do I need?

About 30–60 minutes for a walk around the murals. Add time for the maritime museum.

Is it free to visit?

Yes, the murals are outdoors and free to see.

How far is Hellissandur from Reykjavík?

About 200 km, or 2.5–3 hours by car.

What else is close by?

Snæfellsjökull National Park, Svörtuloft lighthouse, Skarðsvík beach, Svöðufoss waterfall and Djúpalónssandur beach are all within about 20 minutes. Rauðfeldsgjá gorge, Arnarstapi, Búðir and Kirkjufell are a little further.

What is there to do in Hellissandur?

Walk the murals, visit the Maritime Museum and the National Park centre, see Ingjaldshóll church and watch the seabirds. It is also a good base for Snæfellsjökull National Park.

Why visit Hellissandur?

For a real Icelandic fishing village with an open-air gallery on its walls and easy access to the glacier, the coast and the national park, without the crowds of better-known stops.

Where can I stay in Hellissandur?

There are a few guesthouses, farm stays and a campsite in and around the village, and more hotels in Ólafsvík and Grundarfjörður.

More places in Snæfellsnes