The Reykjavík Marathon finishes in the capital in late August, the same weekend as Reykjavík Culture Night, and for runners with two or three days to spare before flying home, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula packs in more geological variety per kilometre than almost anywhere else in reach of the city. August on Snæfellsnes brings the peninsula's most reliable weather window and its longest daylight, though it's also, again, near the tail end of the seabird season: the puffin colonies around Arnarstapi, Hellnar and Lóndrangar are largely emptied out by the third week of August, so a trip built around puffin photography this late will likely come home disappointed. What stays reliable regardless of the calendar are Kirkjufell, the peninsula's volcanic geology, and the near-total absence of other tourists once you're off the two or three headline stops.
Stykkishólmur, the peninsula's largest town, is 174km from Reykjavik via Route 1 and then Route 54, about two and a half to three hours' drive. A limited bus service exists, though Iceland's intercity network was restructured in January 2026, so the current route number is worth checking at straeto.is before relying on it. Once on the peninsula, getting between Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi and the national park without a car means depending on an infrequent local shuttle or the goodwill of other travellers. For a peninsula this spread out, self-driving is the only version of this trip that actually works.
Night One: Stykkishólmur
Stykkishólmur sits on the peninsula's north coast, a working harbour town on Breiðafjörður bay, its skyline mostly old timber-clad houses in blues, reds and whites, unusually well preserved for a fishing settlement this size. The primary recovery asset is the harbourside walk out toward Sugandisey, a basalt islet connected to the town by a short causeway; the walk itself is flat and paved, though reaching the lighthouse on top of the islet does involve a short staircase, easily skipped if the legs would rather stay level. The Library of Water, an art installation by Roni Horn housed in a former library building, and the Norwegian House Museum both sit within a few minutes' walk of the harbour, neither requiring much time on foot once inside.
Where to stay: Hótel Egilsen, a converted historic harbourside building with a handful of individually decorated rooms, or Hotel Karólína, a smaller boutique option in the old town centre, both an easy flat walk from the harbour and the town's restaurants.
Where to eat: Narfeyrarstofa, the oldest operating restaurant in town, in a two-storey house built in 1906 on Aðalgata, specialises in Breiðafjörður scallops and a fish soup built on whatever the bay has produced that week, with main courses running roughly 3,800-7,500 ISK (about £23-45).
Night Two: Arnarstapi and Hellnar
An hour or so west on Route 54 and then 574 sits Grundarfjörður, with Kirkjufell rising just outside town, the arrowhead-shaped mountain that has become one of the most photographed single features in Iceland, paired with the smaller Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the same frame. From there, the road continues to Arnarstapi, a hamlet on the peninsula's south coast directly beneath the glacier-capped volcano Snæfellsjökull, its harbour marked by a large stone sculpture of the half-troll Bárður Snæfellsás.
The primary recovery asset here is the coastal path between Arnarstapi and Hellnar, roughly 2.5km one way, packed earth and gravel with minimal gradient, tracing basalt sea cliffs where arctic terns nest close enough to the path that raising a hand above head height is genuinely useful advice, not folklore. At post-marathon pace the walk takes 45 minutes to an hour each way, with the option of turning back at any point rather than committing to the full loop. Along the way, the sea arch Gatklettur and the short but steeper Rauðfeldsgjá gorge are both worth a look, the gorge involving some scrambling over wet rock and best treated as optional rather than obligatory two days after 42km.
Where to stay: Fosshotel Hellnar, close to the national park boundary with its own restaurant on site, or Arnarstapi Hotel, a modern build in the hamlet itself, both suited to a short stay built around the coastal walk rather than long onward drives.
Where to eat: Fjöruhúsið, a small café at the Hellnar end of the coastal path, seasonal from Easter to October, known for a fish soup with a faint curry warmth and bread baked on site; seating is limited to a handful of tables inside and a terrace over the water, so arriving outside the busiest midday window helps.
Getting Home
From Arnarstapi, the return to Reykjavik follows Route 574 back to Route 54 and then Route 1, about two and a half to three hours depending on stops. There is no meaningful public transport shortcut for this leg; self-driving back is the practical option for anyone who came out this way. Runners flying out of Keflavík International Airport (KEF) the same day should allow the full return drive plus the standard 45-50 minutes from Reykjavik to the airport, rather than treating the two as overlapping.