Olafsvik is a fishing town of just over 1,000 people. It is located on the northern side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, at the foot of the magnificent Snaefellsjokull glacier.
It is the slightly larger ‘brother’ of the Grundarfjordur and the stores are sometimes a bit better stocked here. It’s a great stop on the road or a base for driving a loop around the Snaefellsnes peninsula or getting on the F570 road and driving under the glacier itself Snaefellsjokull
Gufuskalar mast
Olafsvik – tips and practical information
- In Olafsvik there is the Pakkhus regional center for culture and art. On the second floor you’ll find a handicraft store and café, and on the second floor you’ll find a museum. The place also functions as an information center for travelers.
- The town has accommodations of varying standards. Facilities include the Olafsvik Hotel, a small family-run guesthouse called Lysuholl Community Center and campsites open from June to August.
- In town, visitors can visit the harbor, the small maritime museum next to it, swim in the local pool, or play golf on the 9-hole course. An interesting feature of the town is a modern church made entirely of triangular elements. All of these, however, are attractions worth seeing only if you have some time to kill.
- The area’s biggest attractions are certainly the beautiful mountain Kirkjufell in the neighboring town of Grundarfjordur; the beach Skardsvik and the crater Saxholl at the western end of the peninsula; and numerous otractions around the town of Arnarstapi, which lies on the southern coast of Snaefellsnes.
- On the eastern side of Olafsvik begins the scenic F570 road leading through the very foot of the Snaefellsjokull glacier and on to Arnarstapi
How to get to Olafsvik
Olafsvik is located on Road 574 – the main loop road along the coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula – about 25 km west of Grundarfjordur.
From Reykjavik, it’s about 200 km and a couple of hours’ drive.
