Reykholt sits in the Reykholtsdalur Valley of Borgarfjordur, one of the most historic corners of West Iceland and a key stop on the Silver Circle sightseeing route. About a 90-minute drive from Reykjavik, it’s easy to explore the village and its surroundings on self-drive tours.
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Just over 70 people live in the village of Reykholt itself, yet this tiny settlement shaped how the world remembers Norse mythology.
Population of Reykholt village in Borgarfjordur by age, January 1, 2026. The village core counted 72 residents. Source: Statistics Iceland.
Keep reading to discover Reykholt’s saga history, the best things to do in and around the village, and how to plan your visit.
What to Know About Reykholt
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Reykholt lies in the Reykholtsdalur Valley in Borgarfjordur, West Iceland, 67 miles (108 kilometers) from Reykjavik.
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The village was the home of Snorri Sturluson, author of the Prose Edda and Heimskringla.
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Top sights include the Snorrastofa Research Center, the medieval Snorralaug Geothermal Pool, and Reykholt’s two churches.
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Nearby attractions include Deildartunguhver, Krauma Spa, Hraunfossar, Barnafoss, Vidgelmir, and Langjokull.
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A different village called Reykholt lies on the Golden Circle in South Iceland, so double-check which one your route covers.
Two Villages Named Reykholt in Iceland
There are two villages named Reykholt in Iceland, and travelers regularly mix them up. The name roughly means “smoky hill,” describing steam rising from geothermal ground, which suits both places.
Reykholt in West Iceland is the historic settlement covered in this guide. It lies in Borgarfjordur and is best known for Snorri Sturluson, Snorralaug, and its place on the Silver Circle route.
Reykholt in South Iceland is a farming and greenhouse village on the Golden Circle, on Route 35 between the Geysir Geothermal Area and Selfoss Waterfall. It is home to the popular Fridheimar tomato farm and restaurant.
If you have booked lunch among tomato plants, you are headed south. If you want sagas and hot springs, keep reading.
Reykholt: Home of Snorri Sturluson
Reykholt’s fame comes from Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241), a writer, historian, chieftain, and lawspeaker who lived here for the last 35 years of his life. Without him, we would know far less about medieval northern Europe than we do today.
His two most famous works are the Prose Edda and Heimskringla. The Prose Edda is a handbook of Norse mythology written in prose, and it remains the most important source on gods like Odin, Thor, and Loki.
Those stories had survived mainly through oral tradition until Snorri wrote them down. His account of how the pagan world was created, and how it would end, has influenced the modern fantasy genre more than almost any other medieval text.
Heimskringla is a collection of sagas chronicling the kings of Norway. Historians still treat it as a key source on northern Europe from the 9th century to the late 12th, covering everything from Viking raids to the rise of lasting governments.
Snorri's own life reads like a Game of Thrones plot, full of shifting alliances, political scheming, and betrayal.
A wealthy chieftain and twice lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament, he fell out with the Norwegian king, and on a September night in 1241, armed men cornered him in the cellar of his Reykholt farmstead. His recorded last words were a plea of "Do not strike!"
They struck. Iceland was so shaken by the killing that Snorri was remembered as a hero rather than the divisive figure he often was.
Within a generation, the chaos he had helped set in motion ended with Iceland submitting to the Norwegian crown in 1262. In honor of his life and works, Reykholt is home to Snorrastofa, a cultural and medieval research center.
Top 10 Things To Do in Reykholt and Nearby
Reykholt's sights split neatly into two groups: the historic sites within the walkable village center, and the hot springs, waterfalls, and caves within a 30-minute drive. Together, they easily fill a full day in the Reykholtsdalur Valley.
10. Walk the Reykholt Saga Circle Trail
The Saga Circle Trail is an easy 1-mile (1.64-kilometer) loop that climbs from the village into the Reykholtsskogur Forest above the churches, following part of an ancient road. The walk takes about 25 minutes, is open year-round, and gains only 164 feet (50 meters) of elevation.
For the full story, download Snorrastofa's Snorri audioguide app before you set out, and it will narrate each site automatically as you reach it.
9. Visit the Settlement Center in Borgarnes
The town of Borgarnes lies 23 miles (37 kilometers) west of Reykholt. Its Settlement Center Museum covers Iceland's first settlers and Egil's Saga, making it a natural companion stop for anyone tracing saga history. You can book entry to the Settlement Center and Egils Saga Exhibition in advance, with an audioguide included.
8. Hike Around Husafell
Husafell is a forested oasis 16 miles (25 kilometers) east of Reykholt, tucked between two glaciers at the edge of the highlands. Birch woods, lava fields, and marked hiking trails of varying lengths make it the best walking terrain in the valley.
After a hike, the secluded Husafell Canyon Baths are the reward. These small geothermal pools sit hidden in a canyon away from the main site, kept intentionally low-key with limited daily visitors.
Husafell also works well as an overnight stop. Hotel Husafell is one of the best-rated stays in the region, and the area doubles as the departure point for Langjokull Glacier tours.
7. Explore the Vidgelmir Lava Cave
Vidgelmir is the largest lava cave in Iceland, stretching 5,200 feet (1,585 meters) through the Hallmundarhraun lava field about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Reykholt. Inside, walkways and lighting reveal vivid red and yellow rock, lava formations, and ice that lingers near the entrance for much of the year.
The cave sits on private farmland and can only be entered with a guide. The Vidgelmir cave tour is a family-friendly walk of around 90 minutes, with no caving experience needed. Book ahead in summer, when time slots fill quickly.
6. Enter the Ice Tunnel in Langjokull
From Husafell, modified glacier trucks climb Langjokull, Iceland's second-largest glacier. Near the summit, a man-made tunnel burrows deep into the ice cap, letting you walk through blue-lit chambers inside the glacier itself.
The Into the Glacier ice tunnel tour departs from the base camp near Husafell and runs year-round, weather permitting. It's the only place in Iceland where you can reliably see glacier ice from the inside in every season.
5. See Deildartunguhver, Europe's Most Powerful Hot Spring
Just 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Reykholt, Deildartunguhver produces around 48 gallons (180 liters) of water every second, emerging at 207 F (97 C). Boardwalks lead safely past the steaming vents, which hiss and bubble at close range.
The spring is a working power source as much as a sight. Its water runs through pipelines to Borgarnes and Akranes, the longer stretching 40 miles (64 kilometers), one of the longest hot water pipelines in the world.
Look closely at the rocks around the vents, too. The deer fern variety growing here, skollakambur, is found nowhere else on the planet.
4. Bathe at Krauma Spa
Right beside the hot spring, Krauma Spa blends Deildartunguhver's near-boiling water with cold meltwater flowing from Ok, the former glacier. The result fills five warm baths of varying temperatures, plus a cold plunge for the brave.
Beyond the baths, Krauma has two steam rooms and a relaxation room with a crackling fireplace, and the on-site restaurant overlooks the pools through floor-to-ceiling windows. The spa is open year-round, with towels available to rent on arrival. Book a Krauma Spa admission ticket ahead of time in summer.
3. Photograph Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
About 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Reykholt, the waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss sit only a short walk apart.
Hraunfossar, the "Lava Falls," is unlike any other waterfall in Iceland: clear spring water seeps straight out from under the Hallmundarhraun Lava Field, spilling into the milky-blue Hvita River along a stretch of nearly 3,000 feet (900 meters).
Barnafoss, the "Children's Falls," churns through a narrow canyon just upstream. Its name comes from a folk tale about two children who fell from a natural stone arch over the rapids, after which their grieving mother had the arch destroyed.
Viewing platforms and a footbridge connect the two falls, and the surrounding birch turns gold in September, the most photogenic time to visit.
2. Step Inside Reykholt's Two Churches
Reykholt has two churches standing side by side, and together they bookend the village's history. The older one is a timber church from the 1880s, restored to its original character and now part of the protected historic site around Snorralaug.
The modern Reykholt Church, consecrated in 1996, doubles as the village's cultural heart. It houses Snorrastofa, its acoustics draw performers from across Iceland, and every July it hosts the Reykholt Music Festival, a classical festival that has run since the 1990s.
1. Visit Snorrastofa and Snorralaug
Snorrastofa anchors any visit to Reykholt. The center runs year-round exhibitions on Snorri's life, the Icelandic sagas, and medieval Iceland, along with a research library and a bookstore. Guided tours are available on request, and the Snorri audioguide app extends the visit outdoors across the whole village.
Just outside stands Snorralaug, a circular stone-lined geothermal pool believed to have been used by Snorri himself. According to the Landnamabok, Iceland's medieval Book of Settlements, a bathing pool has stood on this spot since the 10th century, and written records mention bathing at Reykholt as early as 1178.
A reconstructed tunnel connects the pool to the old farmhouse site, and it was among the first archaeological sites to be protected in Iceland. Bathing in the pool is not permitted.
How To Get to Reykholt
Reykholt is an easy drive of 67 miles (108 kilometers) from Reykjavik, about 90 minutes in good conditions. Follow the Ring Road north toward Borgarnes, turn onto Road 50 just before the Borgarfjordur Bridge, then take Road 518 into the Reykholtsdalur Valley.
The roads are paved the whole way, and even small rental cars handle the route comfortably in summer. In winter, a 4x4 is the safer choice, and it's worth checking road conditions before setting out.
Popular Self-Drive Tours Including Reykholt
Reykholt also fits neatly into a longer road trip. Many Ring Road tours route through West Iceland, and these three self-drive packages make the Silver Circle detour easy to add:
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7-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland: The quickest way to see the whole country, best for travelers who want maximum ground in minimum days. Reykholt sits just off the route's first and last legs, so the Silver Circle works as a half-day detour at either end of the loop.
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10-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Top Attractions & Snaefellsnes: The one to pick if Reykholt is a priority, since day nine is a dedicated West Iceland day covering Snorrastofa, Deildartunguhver, Krauma, and the Hraunfossar Waterfalls, with optional caving in Vidgelmir or the Langjokull Ice Tunnel. Runs April to October under the midnight sun.
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2-Week Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland & the Westfjords: The slow-travel choice, adding the remote Westfjords that every shorter loop skips. The unhurried pace means West Iceland gets real time instead of a drive-past, with Reykholt and the Silver Circle fitting in without sacrificing anything else.
Guided Tours Including Reykholt
If you would rather leave the driving to someone else, Reykholt features on several Silver Circle tours departing from Reykjavik, as well as guided multi-day tours that circle the country.
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Small Group Tour of the Silver Circle with Canyon Baths, Waterfalls & Reykholt: The bathing take on the Silver Circle, ending with a soak in the Husafell Canyon Baths, admission and towel included. Along the way it stops for geothermal bread baked at the Sturlureykir Horse Farm and the little-known Langifoss Waterfall before finishing in Reykholt.
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Small Group Tour of West Iceland with Lava Caving, Waterfalls & Hot Springs: The underground take, swapping the baths for a helmet-and-headlamp walk through Vidgelmir, entrance fee included. Outside summer, the cave adds glistening ice formations to its red and yellow lava walls, and the day still covers Deildartunguhver, the waterfalls, and Reykholt.
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2-Day West Coast Tour of Snaefellsnes Peninsula with Caving and Transfer from Reykjavik: A two-region weekend, covering the Snaefellsnes Peninsula plus Reykholt and Vidgelmir with an overnight stay arranged. A practical fit for travelers based in Reykjavik without a rental car.
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6-Day Guided Adventure Around Iceland via Ring Road from Reykjavik: A guided full circle in under a week, built for seeing the whole country when vacation days are the constraint. A guide handles all driving and logistics, so the brisk pace costs you no effort.
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8-Day Guided Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland & Snaefellsnes Peninsula: The winter option, circling the full Ring Road plus Snaefellsnes with a local guide handling the season's unpredictable roads. Shorter daylight is the trade for snow-covered landscapes and a shot at the northern lights.
Where To Stay in Reykholt
Reykholt and its valley have a small but well-spread set of places to stay, from a full-service hotel in the village to farm stays and cottages minutes away. For the wider regional selection, you can browse all hotels in West Iceland to compare locations and prices.
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Fosshotel Reykholt: The village's main hotel, housed in the beautifully built former boarding school with an on-site restaurant. Snorrastofa and Snorralaug sit on the doorstep, making it the natural pick for travelers who want to see the historic sites in the quiet hours before and after the day tours pass through.
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Steindorsstadir Guesthouse: A family-run farm just up the valley from the village, welcoming guests on land the same family has worked since 1828. Rooms share bathrooms and a communal kitchen where breakfast is served, and there's an outdoor hot tub. A good fit for budget travelers and anyone who wants farm animals as neighbors.
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Hrísmóar: A private cottage at Signyjarstadir Farm, 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from the village toward Husafell, with its own hot tub, full kitchen, BBQ, and self check-in. Suits couples or small families who want independence, with Hraunfossar, Vidgelmir, and the Langjokull tours all close at hand.
For more options, Hotel Husafell and its cottages sit 16 miles (25 kilometers) east, while the wider choice of hotels in Borgarnes keeps you just 23 miles (37 kilometers) from Snorrastofa.
Why Reykholt Deserves a Spot on Your Itinerary
Without the manuscripts written in Reykholt, the world would barely know Odin, Thor, or Loki. Every retelling of Norse mythology since, from Tolkien to Marvel, traces back to this quiet valley, and at Snorralaug you can stand a few steps from where the words were put to parchment.
The village rewards every season differently. In summer, the midnight sun stretches sightseeing deep into the evening, long after the day tours have returned to Reykjavik. In winter, the steam rising off Deildartunguhver against the snow, and the chance of auroras over the valley, make the short daylight hours count double.
Once Reykholt is on your route, our guide to the best things to do in West Iceland can fill the rest of your days in the region.
