Ytri-Tunga Beach: The Seal-Watching Beach on Southern Snæfellsnes

A Golden-Sand Beach in a Land of Black Sand

Most of Iceland’s coastline is black basalt sand, which is what makes Ytri-Tunga stand out. This stretch of shore on the south side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula is a rare patch of pale, golden sand, backed by low grassy dunes and a scatter of dark rocks running out into Breiðafjörður’s approach waters. It’s a working farm beach rather than a manicured tourist site — there’s no visitor center, just a gravel pull-in and a short walk to the shore.

Why Seals Choose This Spot

The offshore rocks at Ytri-Tunga host a resident colony of harbour seals, with grey seals turning up in smaller numbers alongside them. It’s considered one of the more reliable places in Iceland to see wild seals hauled out in the open, rather than glimpsed as heads bobbing in the water. Numbers and activity tend to peak in summer, especially June and July, and visits timed around low tide give the best odds — more rock is exposed for the seals to rest on, and they sit closer to shore. Bring binoculars if you have them; even at a respectful distance, the animals are easy to watch for long stretches as they doze, stretch, and slip in and out of the water.

Watching Without Disturbing

Seals are easily spooked off the rocks by people approaching too closely, sudden movement, or dogs. Keep well back from the waterline, stay quiet, and resist the urge to walk out onto the rocks themselves — a flushed colony may not return that day. A slow approach and a long lens or binoculars beat trying to get close. The beach is unsupervised, so this etiquette is entirely on the visitor.

Getting There from Stykkishólmur

• Getting there: Drive south from Stykkishólmur on Route 58 and onward around the peninsula’s south coast toward Búðir; Ytri-Tunga is signposted off the main road.
• Duration: About 70-80 minutes’ drive one way, making it a natural stop on a full loop of Snæfellsnes rather than a quick there-and-back trip.
• Timing: Check a tide table before you go and aim to arrive near low tide; June and July are the most active months for seal sightings.
• What to bring: Binoculars or a zoom lens, warm layers and a windproof jacket, and sturdy shoes for the short walk over grass and sand.
• Parking: Free parking at the beach, a short walk from the shoreline.

Where to Stay

The Stykkishólmur Inn sits in the walkable old town of Stykkishólmur, on the north side of Snæfellsnes, making it a convenient base for a full day looping the peninsula’s south coast to Ytri-Tunga and back before dinner. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Jakub Hałun via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.