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06 June 2026The Grettislaug Hot Springs
Iceland has hundreds of natural hot baths, and the Grettislaug hot spring is a favorite among travelers. The facilities are great, but what's incredible is the natural setting around you.
Grettislaug, literally "Grettir's pool", takes its name from “Grettir the Strong”, a bandit character in the sagas. Legend has it, the bandit Grettir went swimming to the island of Drangey, located 7.5 km from here, and when he got back warmed up in the hot water pool now called Grettislaug.
Grettislaug: A great place to relax
Grettislaug - Sannephoto©Dreamstime
There are two pools on site: Grettislaug and Jarlslaug. The first takes its name from Grettir’s saga. The second honors Jón Eiríksson, a local figure nicknamed “Drangeyjarjarl”, the Earl of Drangey, who knew the nearby island better than anyone. He led the rebuilding of the pools, fed by the natural hot springs that have always flowed near the Reykir farm.
One of the two pools is oval, the other round. The oval is the largest and warmest and can accommodate 15 to 20 people at the same time, measuring about 4.5 meters long, 4 meters wide and 80 cm deep. The round pool is smaller and can only accommodate 5 to 6 people. The temperature in both pools is between 39 °C and 42 °C, and it's a delight to relax there.
The pools are surrounded by low stone walls that offer some shelter from the wind. Facilities are basic: there are changing areas and toilets, but no spa-style showers. A small café sells drinks and snacks.
Grettislaug - Gestur Gislason©Dreamstime
There is a fee to use the pools: expect to pay around ISK 2,000 per person (2026 price). The Reykir farm also runs a campsite, at around ISK 1,500 per person per night, with a package that includes unlimited pool access during your stay.
It’s the perfect way to enjoy the hot water in peace, early in the morning or at sunset. The site is open all year, but access depends on the weather and road conditions in winter.
In those pools you can enjoy a view of the sea and Skagafjörður Bay, and being so remote it is much less touristy than other thermal resorts.
Bathing in Grettislaug really feels like swimming right on the edge of the world, a bit similar to Geosea, Hofsós, or Krossneslaug in the western fjords.
How to get to Grettislaug
The Grettislaug hot spring is really easy to find, even though a little far from the ring road. You'll have to exit Road 1 towards the Skagi Peninsula to reach this geothermal hidden gem located 18 km from Sauðárkrókur in the north of Iceland.
Just before reaching Sauðárkrókur, turn north onto Road 748. It starts out paved, then turns into a gravel road that is usually well maintained and fine for a regular car. It runs along the Reykjaströnd coast, at the foot of Mount Tindastóll, to the Reykir farm where the pools are, about 20 km from Sauðárkrókur.
In winter, this small road can close in bad weather, so check conditions on road.is.
Grettislaug is easy to combine with the turf farm museums of Glaumbær and Víðimýri, then with the drive to Siglufjörður via the Tröllaskagi peninsula. In summer, boat trips also take you out to Drangey island, the very island Grettir swam from.
