Discover Drangsnes: Bæjarfell, swimming pool and legend

Drangsnes offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: the marked hiking trail to Bæjarfell, a swimming pool in the village, summer boat trips to Grímsey and local stories. If you are looking for a hotel in Drangsnes, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay: mountain walks, time in the pools or an excursion on the water.

Hiking and views

The marked hiking trail to Bæjarfell starts at the campsite in Drangsnes. Bæjarfell is 345 metres high; the climb to the summit takes about an hour. The hike offers views over Steingrímsfjörður, Húnaflói Bay and as far as the island of Grímsey. For planning purposes, the approximate duration of the climb gives you a concrete timeframe, while the named views indicate the scenic highlights along the route.

The viewpoints complement one another: from the swimming pool, you can look towards Grímsey in Steingrímsfjörður; the hike up Bæjarfell also offers views over the fjord and Húnaflói Bay. This lets you choose between a view of the island from the village and a hike with additional named viewpoints.

Swimming in Drangsnes and the surrounding area

Drangsnes has three bathing pools on the shore below the road. Two of the pools are hot and one is cold. The swimming pool was built in 2005 and is 12.5 metres long. There is also a hot tub with massage jets, a paddling pool and a steam bath. Together, the details about temperature, length and facilities offer concrete points of comparison for different places to swim.

Nearby, Gvendarlaug hins góða is a 25-metre-long, warm public swimming pool at Hotel Laugarhóll in Bjarnarfjörður. Alongside the pools in Drangsnes, you can therefore also choose a public pool of a different length and location in the surrounding area.

Boat trips and Grímsey

Malarhorn regularly offers scenic boat trips to Grímsey in summer. Seasonal availability may depend on the weather and the operator’s schedule, so check the dates for your travel period. Grímsey lies off Drangsnes in Steingrímsfjörður and offers abundant birdlife and beautiful nature. The island can thus be experienced from different perspectives: as a boat-trip destination and as a sight from the swimming pool.

Local legend and history on Strandir

According to local legend, the rock Kerling in Drangsnes is a troll woman. The story is rooted in the village itself, offering a different focus from the viewpoints and bathing spots.

Nearby is also Kotbýli Kuklarans, part of the witchcraft exhibition on Strandir. The exhibition shows how ordinary people on Strandir lived in the 17th century during the witch hunts. The site is open to interested visitors.

The two cultural attractions offer different perspectives: Kerling represents a figure from local legend, while Kotbýli Kuklarans depicts everyday life in a bygone era. Together with the hike, swimming pool and boat trips, they give you a range of specific themes to help guide your choice of stay in Drangsnes.

Discover more destinations: Ísafjörður, Súðavík, Tálknafjörður, Garpsdalur, Saurbær, Suðureyri, Árnes, Holt

See the wider travel overview: Westfjords.