Sönghellir Singing

West

The oldest confirmed inscription on any Icelandic cave wall — dated to 1483 — sits carved into the hyaloclastite rock of Sönghellir, alongside runic signs, Christian crosses, and the scratched names of 18th-century naturalists Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarni Pálsson. The cave cuts into volcanic tuff on the flank of Stapafell mountain, above the village of Arnarstapi on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is an erosion cave, not a lava tube, which partly explains why its rough walls carry sound so unusually well. Speak or sing inside and the resonance is immediate. The cave is shallow enough that it never feels claustrophobic, but a quiet voice fills the space. Getting here takes about ten minutes uphill from a small gravel parking area off Road 574; no equipment is needed, though a headlamp helps for inspecting the carvings. The cave sits within the Snæfellsjökull National Park area, with the glacier visible above and Arnarstapi just minutes away. Entry is free and access is year-round, though winter ice on the approach path warrants care.

Book & Explore

The links below are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps keep this guide free. See our about page for how we keep recommendations independent.