Matkaopas: Drangsnes

The fishing village of Drangsnes can be found at the mouth of the Steingrímsfjörður fjord, in the Westfjords of Iceland. Drangsnes is part of the Kaldrananeshreppur municipality, with the village of Hólmavík as its closest neighbour. The region itself takes its name from a rock called Kerling, whom locals say was once a troll woman, turned to stone for attempting to break the Westfjords from the rest of Iceland. 

Explore this area while on a self drive tour in Iceland.

The village has three, public-use hot tubs located on the shoreline. There is no direct signage, and the tubs rest a few metres below the nearest road, making them a little difficult to locate. Once they’re found, however, visitors can soak themselves to a vista of incredible mountainscapes and fjord-side views. All of the hot tubs are heated by a natural geothermal spring just beneath them. One pool is kept fairly cool, while the other two heat up progressively. With such a small population, the Drangsnes hot pools have become a favourite amongst tourists and locals alike for viewing Northern Lights in the dead of winter.

To the north of Drangsnes, visitors can access a long and winding road that takes them out into true, wild beauty. There are no amenities on this route, but the journey is worth it for the sheer spectacle of the sights of themselves. Dramatic, rocky escarpments and beautiful coastal bays are prevalent throughout the route. This is also the opening setting for the saga Njálssaga.