Best Coastal and Sea View Stays in Ólafsvík, Iceland
Ólafsvík is a fishing village on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, close to Snæfellsjökull National Park, and its stays make good use of the sea. Við Hafið Oceanfront Guesthouse sits right on the shore, Hotel Vest Mar offers apartments with kitchenettes and a restaurant, and Olafsvik Guesthouse has sea views from its garden, terrace and balcony. Grund in Ólafsvík, Black pearl and Maggys Home are smaller options with sea views and a more homely feel. I would pick among them by how much space you want and whether you cook.
Ólafsvík is a small fishing village on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, close to Snæfellsjökull National Park. It is quiet and practical, with a harbour, a few services and sea views from many of its stays.
Where to stay
Oceanfront rooms and apartments with sea views
Why Ólafsvík suits a coastal stay
If you want to be on the water, Við Hafið Oceanfront Guesthouse is the one to look at first. It offers coastal accommodation with rooms that have sea or mountain views, free WiFi, family rooms and a spa lounge, and it is the most reviewed stay here with 1,489 reviews and a score of 8.5. It is described as suited to couples and families, with golf and horse riding nearby. The oceanfront setting is the point, so ask for a sea-facing room when you book if the view matters to you.
For a base with a kitchen, Hotel Vest Mar offers spacious apartments with kitchenettes, seating and dining areas and a restaurant on site, with self-check-in and free WiFi in public areas, close to Snæfellsjökull National Park. It scores 8.7 from 473 reviews. Olafsvik Guesthouse offers family rooms with private bathrooms, a dining area and a refrigerator, with sea views from the garden, terrace or balcony, a shared kitchen and lounge, free WiFi, daily housekeeping, on-site parking and a children's playground, with a score of 8.4. Together, these give a family a sensible base.
For a more homely stay, Grund in Ólafsvík is a spacious, recently renovated two-bedroom apartment with a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, an indoor swimming pool, a garden and sea views, with a minimarket and a coffee shop among the extras, and it scores 9.6 from 115 reviews. It is pet-friendly. Black pearl is a one-bedroom apartment with a garden, a terrace, a fully equipped kitchenette and sea, pool and mountain views, scoring 8.6, and it is also pet-friendly. Both suit a couple or a small family. Both are good for couples.
If you want a whole house, Maggys Home is a spacious, recently renovated holiday home with three bedrooms and a living room, a sun terrace with sea and mountain views, a garden, free WiFi, family rooms and a laundry service, and it is pet-friendly. It scores 9.6, but only from 8 reviews, so I would read them carefully. It is the stay I would shortlist for a group of friends who want a private home above the harbour, with the sea in front of them. I would book early. That keeps the cost per person low.
A traveler's takeFor a sea view without a long search, I would book Við Hafið Oceanfront Guesthouse and ask for a sea-facing room. If I wanted a kitchen and a quieter evening, I would choose Grund in Ólafsvík for its indoor pool and 9.6 score, or Hotel Vest Mar for its apartments with kitchenettes and a restaurant on site.
CoastalGrund in Ólafsvík
Spacious apartment with sea views, an indoor pool, and a garden
Why guests love itI would choose Grund in Ólafsvík for a longer stay with space, since the renovated apartment has two bedrooms, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen. There is an indoor swimming pool, a garden and sea views, and free Wi-Fi, a minimarket, a coffee shop and outdoor seating are listed. Pets are welcome. Guests rate it 9.6 across 115 reviews, and I would pick it for a family or two couples who want a calm, home-like base.
CoastalMaggys Home
Spacious, pet-friendly holiday home with sea views and a garden
Why guests love itMaggys Home is a spacious, recently renovated holiday home in Ólafsvík with three bedrooms and a living room. It has a sun terrace with sea and mountain views, a garden and free WiFi. Pets are welcome, family rooms are available and a laundry service is offered. Guests rate it 9.6 across only 8 reviews, so the score is encouraging rather than long established.
CoastalHotel Vest Mar
Spacious apartments with kitchenettes near Snæfellsjökull National Park
Why guests love itHotel Vest Mar is in the fishing village of Ólafsvík, close to Snæfellsjökull National Park, with spacious apartments that have a kitchenette, a seating area and a dining area. A restaurant is on site, self-check-in is available, and Wi-Fi is free in public areas. Guests rate it 8.7 across 473 reviews, and I would pick it for travellers exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula who want an apartment with a kitchenette.
CoastalBlack pearl
Pet-friendly apartment with sea views, a garden, and a restaurant
Why guests love itBlack pearl is a one-bedroom apartment in Ólafsvík, but family rooms are offered too, so I would ask which unit fits before booking with children. The kitchenette, garden and terrace cover simple days, and the views take in the sea, the mountains and a pool. A restaurant and a minimarket on site save a drive for dinner or supplies. Pets are welcome. Ólafsvík is a fishing town on the north coast of Snæfellsnes, close to the national park.
CoastalVið Hafið Oceanfront Guesthouse
Coastal guesthouse with sea views, a spa lounge, and family rooms
Why guests love itVið Hafið Oceanfront Guesthouse sits on the seafront in Ólafsvík, and its rooms look out over the sea or the mountains. Family rooms, free WiFi and a spa lounge cover the basics for a stay with children or as a couple. Snæfellsjökull National Park is 10 km away, with golfing and horse riding nearby for slower days. With 1,489 reviews and an 8.5 score, I recommend it as a simple, well-placed base on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
CoastalOlafsvik Guesthouse
Family-friendly guesthouse with sea views and a shared kitchen in Ólafsvík
Why guests love itOlafsvik Guesthouse in Ólafsvík has family rooms with private bathrooms, a dining area and a refrigerator. Sea views can be enjoyed from the garden, the terrace or the balcony, and guests share a kitchen and a lounge. Free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, on-site parking and a children's playground are included. Guests rate it 8.4 across 419 reviews, and I would pick it for families.
Local tips
- 1Ask for a sea-facing room at Við Hafið Oceanfront Guesthouse, since not every room faces the water.
- 2Choose a stay with a kitchen, such as Hotel Vest Mar, Grund in Ólafsvík or Black pearl, and shop for groceries before you arrive.
- 3Bring waterproof layers for terrace evenings, as wind off the sea can be cold even in summer.
- 4Plan a day in Snæfellsjökull National Park, which Hotel Vest Mar lists as nearby, and keep the afternoon free for the harbour.
- 5Book pet-friendly stays such as Grund in Ólafsvík, Black pearl or Maggys Home early if you travel with a dog.
- 6Reserve early for summer, because the apartments and homes here are few.