Grettislaug
About Grettislaug
Grettislaug is a stone-walled hot pool on the shore of Skagafjörður, where you soak at the edge of the sea with Drangey island standing offshore. According to Grettis saga, the outlaw Grettir Ásmundarson swam about 7 kilometers from Drangey to this spot and warmed up in the spring through the night.
The pool you see today is a rebuild. A storm in the fall of 1934 wrecked the old pools when the sea pushed the shingle ridge inland, and in 1992 local farmer Jón Eiríksson rebuilt Grettislaug with a seawall in front. The Grettislaug hot spring measures about 4.5 by 3.75 meters and 80 centimeters deep, and its water is around 42°C. A second, smaller pool called Jarlslaug sits a few steps away.
The pools are at Reykir, the last farm on the Reykjaströnd coast, about 25 minutes north of Sauðárkrókur on Road 748. The final stretch is gravel but manageable in a regular car. Expect basic facilities and an entrance fee, and check the current season and price with the operators before you drive out, since the site isn't staffed year-round.
Go on a calm evening in summer, when the low sun lights up Drangey and the bay. An hour is plenty for a soak and a walk along the beach, and summer boat trips to Drangey also leave from Reykir if you want to see the island up close.
Good to know
Where is Grettislaug?
Grettislaug is at Reykir on the Reykjaströnd coast in Skagafjörður, North Iceland. It's about 25 minutes north of Sauðárkrókur on Road 748.
How hot is Grettislaug?
The water is around 42°C. The main pool is about 80 centimeters deep, so you sit rather than swim.
Is Grettislaug free?
No, there is an entrance fee at the pools. Check the current price and opening season locally before you go, since the site isn't staffed all year.
Why is it called Grettislaug?
The pool is named after Grettir Ásmundarson, the outlaw of Grettis saga. The saga says he warmed up here after swimming ashore from Drangey island.
Can you drive to Grettislaug in a regular car?
Yes. Road 748 from Sauðárkrókur ends with a gravel stretch, but a standard car can handle it in summer conditions.
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