Snæfellsnes & Kirkjufell from Reykjavík: will you get there before dark?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: Arnarstapi cliffs at 12:30 (Classic loop, Kirkjufell last): in daylight. Sun up 09:40–16:58.
Kirkjufell, the mountain from the photos, is the last stop of most Snæfellsnes tours, about three hours from Reykjavík. From November to January it is usually reached in twilight.
Fri 6 November 2026
Key stops in daylight
Arnarstapi cliffs at 12:30 (Classic loop, Kirkjufell last): in daylight. Sun up 09:40–16:58.
Classic loop, Kirkjufell last ✓
Leaves Reykjavík about 08:30. Find this tour
| Stop | Arrive | Light |
|---|---|---|
| Búðir black church | 30 min | Daylight the whole visit Sunrise 09:39 · sunset 16:57 |
| Arnarstapi cliffs (main stop) | 45 min | Daylight the whole visit Sunrise 09:40 · sunset 16:58 |
| Djúpalónssandur | 40 min | Daylight the whole visit Sunrise 09:41 · sunset 17:00 |
| Kirkjufell (main stop) | 40 min | Sun up, but low Sunrise 09:40 · sunset 16:56 |
Kirkjufell first ✓
North side first, south coast on the way back. Find this tour
| Stop | Arrive | Light |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkjufell (main stop) | 40 min | Daylight the whole visit Sunrise 09:40 · sunset 16:56 |
| Djúpalónssandur | 40 min | Daylight the whole visit Sunrise 09:41 · sunset 17:00 |
| Arnarstapi cliffs (main stop) | 40 min | Daylight the whole visit Sunrise 09:40 · sunset 16:58 |
| Búðir black church | 25 min | Sun up, but low Sunrise 09:39 · sunset 16:57 |
Arrival times are typical for these tours; change them to match your booking and the light updates.
Book the right version
Itineraries differ between operators and change with the season, so check the stop times on the booking page and enter them above.
Through the year (main stops)
| 15th of | Classic loop, Kirkjufell last | Kirkjufell first |
|---|---|---|
| January | In daylight | In daylight |
| February | In daylight | In daylight |
| March | In daylight | In daylight |
| April | In daylight | In daylight |
| May | In daylight | In daylight |
| June | In daylight | In daylight |
| July | In daylight | In daylight |
| August | In daylight | In daylight |
| September | In daylight | In daylight |
| October | In daylight | In daylight |
| November | In daylight | In daylight |
| December | Partly in daylight | In daylight |
Winter months
Questions
Will it be dark at Arnarstapi cliffs and Kirkjufell on the Snæfellsnes & Kirkjufell tour in December?
On 15 December 2026: Kirkjufell at 15:00 (Classic loop, Kirkjufell last): sun sets 18 min before you leave. Sun up 11:38–15:22. The "Kirkjufell first" version keeps it in daylight.
In which months does the Snæfellsnes & Kirkjufell tour reach Arnarstapi cliffs and Kirkjufell after dark?
With the usual "Classic loop, Kirkjufell last" timing, December (checked on the 15th of each month). From spring to early autumn every stop is in daylight.
Which Snæfellsnes & Kirkjufell tour should I book in winter?
In December, "Kirkjufell first" (in daylight at the main stops). Check the itinerary on the booking page and enter its times above.
How do you work out whether a stop is in daylight?
For each stop we calculate the sun's height above the horizon every 5 minutes of the visit, at that stop's own location and on your date. "In daylight" means the sun is up for the whole visit; twilight means the sun has set but the sky is still light. Mountains and cloud make it darker earlier than the calculation shows.
Sunrise and sunset are calculated for each stop's coordinates and are accurate to about 2 minutes. Arrival times are typical for these tours as listed in 2026; traffic, weather and the operator's own timetable decide the real ones. Times are local (Atlantic/Reykjavik).