Grundarfjordur is a charming fishing town on the northern coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It lies in a beautiful fjord surrounded by mountains, and its majestic landmark is one of Iceland’s most famous sights – Kirkjufell mountain.
The surrounding fjord is teeming with marine life: in winter, orcas sometimes swim close to shore, chasing tasty Icelandic herring. The area has also become a refuge for the white-tailed eagle, the largest bird of prey in Iceland.
Grundarfjordur – practical information
It’s a good idea to visit the town on the last weekend of July. That’s when the residents hold a local festival: they decorate their houses and hold a festive parade, and the local Viking society builds a village in the center and stages various re-enactments there.
Besides the famous Kirkjufell mountain, the very interesting Berserkjahraun lava field right nearby is also worth seeing. For more attractions of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, see this list: Snaefellsnes attractions.
If you want to stay in Grundarfjordur, you can spend the night in a high-end hotel, a hostel, a guesthouse, on a farm or at the campsite next to the swimming pool – the choice is quite wide.
The town also has a swimming pool with hot tubs (Sundlaug Grundarfjarðar, right next to the campsite), a golf course, an information center, a horse farm, a pharmacy, a liquor store, a laundry and a well-stocked grocery store.
Boat tours also leave from here – you can go sea angling, bird watching and… whale watching.
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How to get to Grundarfjordur
Grundarfjordur is on the northern coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, on Route 54. The drive from Reykjavik takes about 2.5 hours.
You can also get to Grundarfjörður by sea: the Baldur car ferry connects the West Fjords with nearby Stykkisholmur (you can buy ferry tickets online).