Drangsnes combines bathing pools right by the shore, a marked hiking trail to Bæjarfell, and views of Grímsey. The island is also a destination for summer boat trips. This means you can choose between different kinds of experiences during your stay: time by the water, a hike with a view, a seasonal excursion, or local culture. Not all experiences are in the town itself; Bæjarfell and other destinations are in the surrounding area.
Swimming in Drangsnes and the surrounding area
Three bathing pools are located by 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. The swimming pool complex also includes a hot whirlpool with a massage function, a paddling pool, and a steam bath. From the swimming pool, you can see Grímsey in Steingrímsfjörður. This brings the bathing facilities and views of the island together in one place.
Nearby is Gvendarlaug hins góða, a 25-metre-long, warm public swimming pool at Hotel Laugarhóll in Bjarnarfjörður. The bathing spots offer different features: Drangsnes has three pools by the shore, two hot and one cold; Gvendarlaug is a warm, 25-metre-long public pool. Comparing them helps you assess the swimming pools based on their specific features.
Bæjarfell: hike and panorama
The marked hiking trail to Bæjarfell starts at the campsite in Drangsnes. Bæjarfell is in the surrounding area and is 345 metres high; the ascent to the summit takes about an hour. From Bæjarfell, the view stretches across Steingrímsfjörður and Húnaflói Bay to the island of Grímsey. The hike thus expands the view of the island to include the fjord and bay. The approximately one-hour ascent is a useful guide when weighing up the panorama against spending time at the bathing pools.
Grímsey: views and boat trips
Grímsey lies off Drangsnes in Steingrímsfjörður and offers abundant birdlife and beautiful natural scenery. In summer, Malarhorn regularly offers scenic boat trips to Grímsey. Whether a trip goes ahead may depend on the weather and the operator’s schedule. The island therefore plays two different roles in planning a trip: it is part of the panorama from the swimming pool and Bæjarfell, and it is also a destination for a seasonal excursion. The views from land and the boat trip offer different experiences; weather and the operator’s schedule are relevant for the latter.
Local legend and history in Strandir
According to local legend, the rock Kerling in Drangsnes is a troll woman. Nearby, Kotbýli Kuklarans is part of the witchcraft exhibition in Strandir. The exhibition shows how ordinary people in Strandir lived in the 17th century during the witch hunts, and is open to interested visitors. Kerling and Kotbýli Kuklarans offer different cultural perspectives: a local legend and a historical look at life in Strandir. This means you can choose a cultural focus for your stay in addition to bathing and nature experiences.
Discover more destinations: Breiðavík, Tálknafjörður, Kirkjuból, Prestbakki, Hagi, Borðeyri, Patreksfjördur, Sæból
See the main travel overview: Westfjords.
