Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Gvendarlaug is a historic hot spring in Bjarnarfjörður on the Strandir coast of the Westfjords, about 26 km from Hólmavík. The ancient spring is protected and bathing in it is forbidden, but a public swimming pool just below it uses the same water and is open daily. Allow 30–60 minutes, or longer for a swim.
Gvendarlaug hin góða, or Gvendarlaug the Good, is one of the oldest named bathing places in Iceland. A short walk behind Hótel Laugarhóll in Bjarnarfjörður leads to a small stone-lined pool that has been known for centuries. It is protected, and bathing in it is not allowed.
The spring has a legend attached. In 1237, Bishop Guðmundur Arason, known as Guðmundur góði, is said to have blessed the water, and many believed it had healing powers. Today it is kept as an old monument, and visitors look at it from the side.
Just below it, a 25-metre swimming pool built in 1946 uses water from the same spring. The water is soft and slightly warm, at around 30–34 degrees Celsius. Nearby there are also a natural hot pool and a modern hot tub, so you can still soak after seeing the old spring.
The Westfjords are the oldest part of Iceland, with bedrock around 10 to 16 million years old. The volcanoes here went quiet long ago, but warm water still comes up in many places, which is why the region has so many small pools and springs. Gvendarlaug is off the main routes, so you will often have the place almost to yourself, and the old spring can be seen at any time of year.
Guðmundur Arason (1161–1237), known as Guðmundur góði, was a bishop at Hólar in the north. He travelled widely and, according to tradition, blessed many springs and wells, including this one. His name, shortened in Icelandic to Gvendur, gave the spring its name.
Pilgrims and locals used the pool for washing and healing. It was declared protected in 1989 because of its historic value, and that is why the ancient tub can now only be looked at, not bathed in.
The Strandir roads can be slow, and winter conditions vary. Check umferdin.is before you go.
Gvendarlaug is one of several bathing places in Bjarnarfjörður. Only some of them are for bathing.
Shower with soap before entering any pool, as at every Icelandic pool.
Hótel Laugarhóll is next to the pool and has rooms and a restaurant. There are showers at the pool. There are no shops in Bjarnarfjörður, so buy fuel and food in Hólmavík.
Hótel Laugarhóll sits right by the pool. There are also guesthouses in Hólmavík and Drangsnes.
Not in the ancient spring, which is protected. You can swim in the public pool just below it and soak in the nearby hot pool and hot tub.
Bishop Guðmundur Arason (Guðmundur góði), who is said to have blessed the spring in 1237.
About 26 km.
Around 30–34 degrees, so warm but not hot.
No. Children must be supervised at all times.
The old spring is outdoors and can be seen all year. The swimming pool and hot tub are run with the hotel, so check their opening times outside the summer season.
