Written by locals at Iceland Travel Guide · Checked by Heiða · Updated October 2026
DRANGSNES HOT TUBS IN SHORT
The Drangsnes hot tubs are three free geothermal pots on the seafront in Drangsnes, a small village on the Strandir coast of the Westfjords. They are open at all hours all year, with water at roughly 38–42°C. Drangsnes is about 255 km from Reykjavík, around 4–5 hours by car.
Three concrete tubs sit right on the shoreline in the middle of the village, easy to spot from the road. They are filled with natural geothermal water, and the temperatures differ from tub to tub, from pleasantly warm to properly hot. At high tide the waves come close to the edge.
Across the road there is a small building with changing rooms and showers, so this is one of the easier natural pools to use in the Westfjords. Locals still use the tubs throughout the year, which gives them a friendly, everyday feel rather than a tourist attraction.
The view runs across Steingrímsfjörður to the small islands offshore. In summer the light lasts most of the night, and in winter the tubs are a good place to wait for the Northern Lights, as long as the sky is clear.
Quick facts
TubsThree concrete tubs on the shore
TemperatureAbout 38–42°C
Hot water found1997
RegionStrandir coast, Westfjords
From ReykjavíkAbout 255 km, around 4–5 hours by car
From HólmavíkAbout 32 km, around 30 minutes by car
RoadsRoute 1, then Route 68 (or Routes 60 and 61) to Hólmavík, then Routes 643 and 645 to Drangsnes
EntryFree, donations welcome
Opening hoursOpen at all hours, all year
FacilitiesChanging rooms, showers and toilets in the building across the road
VillageSmall; has a swimming pool, food and shops
BringYour own towel and swimsuit; none are provided
How the hot tubs came about
Hot water was only found in Drangsnes in 1997. The villagers drilled a borehole to use it and set up the tubs on the shore, so that everyone, local or visitor, would have somewhere to soak. The village still looks after them, which is why donations matter.
Bathing outdoors in warm water is an old habit in Iceland, and pools and hot pots are where people meet and talk. The Drangsnes tubs are a small version of that tradition. Fewer than 100 people live in the village, and the tubs are their meeting place as much as a stop for travellers.
How to get to Drangsnes hot tubs
By carTake Route 1 north from Reykjavík and continue to Hólmavík, either on Route 68 along the coast or on Routes 60 and 61 through Búðardalur. A few kilometres past Hólmavík, turn onto Route 643 and then Route 645 along the north shore of Steingrímsfjörður. Drangsnes is about 32 km, or half an hour, from Hólmavík. Allow about 4–5 hours from Reykjavík without long stops.
By public transportBuses run to Hólmavík in summer, but not out to Drangsnes at useful times. A car is the practical choice.
On a guided tourSome multi-day Westfjords tours stop in the village. It rarely appears on day tours because of the distance.
ParkingYou can park by the road next to the tubs. No parking fee that we know of.
The main roads are paved, but roads in the Westfjords are narrow and winding in places, and winter weather on the Strandir coast can be harsh. Check umferdin.is and vedur.is before you leave, consider a 4x4 in winter, and allow extra time. You will want to stop for photos on the way.
What to expect at the Drangsnes hot tubs
The tubs are simple, free and always open. There is no reception and no staff, just the water and the sea.
Three tubs, three temperaturesThe tubs run from about 38°C to 42°C: one cooler, one medium and one hot. Move between them until you find the one that suits you.
Changing rooms across the roadA small building on the other side of the road has changing rooms, showers and toilets. Change and wash there, then cross the road in your swimsuit. In cold weather that short walk feels long, so keep a towel within reach.
The viewYou sit a few metres from the sea, looking out over the fjord to the island of Grímsey. Waves break on the rocks below, seabirds pass overhead, and on a clear day you see far along the coast.
A village meeting placeLocals use the tubs every day, so you may well end up talking to someone from Drangsnes about life on the Strandir coast. The mood is relaxed and friendly.
The tubs are open around the clock, so you can soak under the midnight sun in June or under the stars in January.
Things to do near the Drangsnes hot tubs
Drangsnes is a quiet base for a day or two on the Strandir coast.
Grímsey islandThe island facing the village is only about ten minutes away by boat. Scheduled boat tours go from Drangsnes in summer, and the island is known for its puffins, fulmars and other seabirds.
The Kerling rockThe rock pillar on the shore by the village is, according to folklore, a troll woman who was turned to stone.
SteingrímsfjörðurThe fjord in front of the village is a good place for kayaking, fishing and watching wildlife from the shore.
Kaldrananes churchA small country church north of Drangsnes, worth a short stop for a look at an older side of life on this coast.
The Sorcerer's CottageKotbýli kuklarans, in Bjarnarfjörður north of Drangsnes, is a turf cottage museum about the history of sorcery and magic in Strandir. The Gvendarlaug hot pool is beside it.
The village poolDrangsnes also has a small outdoor swimming pool, 12.5 metres long, if you want a proper swim as well as a soak.
Best time to visit Drangsnes hot tubs
Summer (June–August)Long light evenings, the mildest weather and a chance of midnight sun. It is the busiest time, and the tubs are small, so they can feel full in the middle of the day.
Shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October)Quieter, with a mix of fair weather and few visitors. A good time for a peaceful soak.
Winter (November–March)Soaking under a starry sky with a chance of Northern Lights is the highlight, and the cold air makes the warm water feel better still. There is very little light pollution here. Check the aurora and cloud forecast on vedur.is, dress warmly for the dash to the tubs and check the roads.
The tubs are open in every season. Only the drive changes.
Safety and practical tips
Shower before you get in, using the changing rooms across the road.
Bring your own towel and swimsuit.
Try each tub. They are different temperatures, so start with the coolest.
Leave a donation if you can. It helps the village keep the tubs clean.
Keep the area tidy and quiet, especially late at night. Houses are close by.
Watch the waves at high tide and in stormy weather.
Have warm clothes ready for when you get out. The tubs are outdoors and the weather on this coast changes fast.
Come early in the morning or late in the evening in summer if you want the tubs to yourself.
Facilities and accessibility
Changing rooms and showers are in a building across the road. The village has a small swimming pool, a shop, places to eat and camping. Check opening times in advance outside summer.
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