Drangsnes

Drangsnes combines bathing pools on the shore with a marked trail to nearby Bæjarfell and views of the island of Grímsey. From the swimming pool, you can see Grímsey in Steingrímsfjörður; from Bæjarfell, the view extends across Steingrímsfjörður and Húnaflói Bay to the island. There are also boat trips in summer and a local legend that links a rock in the village with a troll woman. This makes it possible to explore water, landscape and culture as different focuses of a trip. When looking for a holiday apartment, consider whether bathing in Drangsnes, climbing in the surrounding area or a seasonal trip to Grímsey should shape your stay.

Bathing in Drangsnes and the surrounding area

In Drangsnes, three bathing pools lie on the shore below the road. Two are hot and one is cold. The Drangsnes swimming pool was built in 2005 and is 12.5 metres long. It also has a hot whirlpool with a massage function, a paddling pool and a steam bath. The different pool temperatures and additional facilities make bathing a distinct focus in the village. The swimming pool also offers a view of Grímsey in Steingrímsfjörður, bringing water and island scenery together in one place.

Another bathing option is nearby: Gvendarlaug hins góða is a 25-metre-long, warm public swimming pool at Hotel Laugarhóll in Bjarnarfjörður. In Drangsnes, the three pools comprise two hot pools and one cold pool; Gvendarlaug is described as a warm public pool measuring 25 metres in length. This makes it easy to include different bathing options in your travel plans without confusing them with one another.

Hiking and views from Bæjarfell

The marked trail to Bæjarfell starts at the campsite in Drangsnes. Bæjarfell is nearby, stands 345 metres high, and the climb to the summit takes about an hour. From there, the view extends across Steingrímsfjörður and Húnaflói Bay to the island of Grímsey. This offers a different vantage point from the swimming pool: from the mountain, the fjord and bay join the island view. The approximate duration makes it easier to plan the climb as a separate activity alongside bathing, without assuming anything about the trail’s difficulty.

Grímsey from the shore and by boat

Grímsey lies off Drangsnes in Steingrímsfjörður and offers abundant birdlife and attractive natural scenery. In summer, Malarhorn regularly offers scenic boat trips to the island. Weather and the operator’s plans may affect whether trips run seasonally, so confirm the date with Malarhorn in advance. There are two different ways to experience Grímsey: view it from the swimming pool or Bæjarfell, or take a trip with the island itself as the destination. If you would like to include the boat trip in your stay, plan for it as a seasonal option.

Local legend and history on Strandir

In a local legend, the rock Kerling in Drangsnes is described as a troll woman. Nearby, Kotbýli Kuklarans adds a historical perspective to this cultural connection. It is part of the witchcraft exhibition on Strandir and shows how ordinary people on Strandir lived in the 17th century during the witch hunts. Kotbýli Kuklarans is open to interested visitors. While Kerling puts a local legend at the centre, the exhibition explores people’s living conditions in a specific historical century. The two points of interest therefore differ both in subject and in their historical period.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Drangsnes, you can first consider whether the bathing pools and the start of the marked trail in the village should be the main focus. Plans involving Bæjarfell, Gvendarlaug or Kotbýli Kuklarans add destinations in the surrounding area; the boat trip to Grímsey is seasonal and subject to the weather and the operator’s plans.

Discover more destinations: Bolungarvík, Thingeyri, Bíldudalur, Garpsdalur, Suðureyri, Kirkjuból, Patreksfjördur, Sæból.

For the broader travel overview: Westfjords.