7 Best Sights in Snæfellsjökull National Park, West Iceland and Snæfellsnes Peninsula

On a clear day, you can see this 700,000-year-old glacier from Reykjavík. Book with local tour outfitters to hike the glacier or even ride a special terrain-specific bike on it. This is the place that inspired Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.

It's no surprise Búðakirkja is one of the most photographed churches in Iceland given its stark color against the mountains and ocean. Originally built in 1703, the church was eventually torn down due to lack of use and reconstructed in 1987. The real draw may be how remote this church is—the only other thing in the village of Búðir is the adjacent hotel. Behind the church toward the ocean, there is a series of paths for hikers and walkers. After taking your photos of the church and its cemetery, escape the small crowd of tourists and walk along the water for a bit of solitude. If you're there during the summertime, it'll be just you and the roaming sheep.

Known to locals as the Black Lava Pearl Beach, Djúpalónssandur makes for a breathtaking walk. Start down Nautastígur, or the Path of the Bull (you can see it from the parking lot), which winds around massive lava rock formations. Behind the path, you'll spot two freshwater lagoons, known collectively as Djúpulón. Head to the beach to find pieces of the Epine GY7 wreckage, a British trawler that met its end east of Dritvík cove in March 1948.

Compared to the other, brightly colored lighthouses you'll find around the coast, the Malarrif Lighthouse is a somewhat brutal-looking construction. It has great views of the Atlantic Ocean and Snæfellsjökull volcano though and sits just a short walk from the park's information center.

If you want to explore a volcanic crater without hiking too far, Saxhóll is the place. The most interesting views are from the top, where you can take in the whole scene at the center of the crater. Getting up is easier than you would think; man-made steps lead visitors up to the crest, and you'll be up at the top before you know it. Make sure to spend time walking around the peak, but watch your step.

If you're visiting during the summertime, head to the Svörtuloft Lighthouse at low tide. The surrounding cliffs, which are made up of dramatic black lava, are a sight to see against the bright-orange lighthouse.

If you're looking to beat the crowds and find a waterfall to call your own, head to Svöðufoss (pronounced “svuew-thoo-foss”). This 32-foot waterfall spills over a set of basalt columns, and on particularly clear days, you can see Snæfellsjökul glacier behind them.