Snæfellsnes · Iceland
Ytri Tunga
Ytri Tunga is a beach of pale golden sand on the southern side of Snæfellsnes, unusual on a coast that is mostly black volcanic grit. The draw is the seal colony: harbour and grey seals haul out on the rocks just offshore. It is about 400 metres from the car park down to the water.
I went in July and there were several seals out on the rocks, close enough to watch properly. Two things decide whether you get that: the season, roughly May to July, and the tide. At low water the rocks they lie on are exposed; at high water there is much less to see. Check the tide before you drive out here, because nobody tells you that and it is the difference between a good stop and a walk to an empty beach.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
Two out of five for the beach itself — it is a flat strip of sand and rock, and without the seals there would be little reason to stop. The animals are what you come for, not the view.
Located about 2 hours’ drive from Reykjavík, Ytri Tunga is easily accessible via Route 54 on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Parking is available right near the beach, and a short walking path leads from the lot to prime seal-watching spots. There are information signs on site, but no facilities, so plan accordingly.
Parking is 1,000 ISK, paid at the kiosk or online through CheckIt.is — note that this one does not use the Parka app like most Icelandic sites. The beach itself is free. Checked August 2026.
Though popular with wildlife watchers and photographers, Ytri Tunga rarely feels overcrowded thanks to the wide beach and extensive coastline. Summer weekends are the busiest, but visiting early in the morning or late afternoon usually ensures a quiet and intimate seal-watching experience.
Before you go
Planning your own Ring Road trip?
Iceland Ring Road Campervan Guide
My full 14-day route — roughly 2,500 km, every campsite I used, what I actually spent, and the stops worth the detour. The plan I drove, in one PDF.
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