This calm fishing town on Iceland's north coast has a 19th-century trading post, a local textile museum, and views of the Skagafjörður fjord's basalt cliffs.
Sauðárkrókur, a town of 2,600 people in northern Iceland, sits on the shore of Skagafjörður fjord. You can swim in 38°C geothermal pools, walk through the preserved rooms and kitchens of 18th-century turf houses at Glaumbær, or take boat trips to spot puffins and guillemots on the 180-meter cliffs of Drangey Island. The town serves as a gateway to northern Iceland's cultural sites, including the ancient bishop's seat at Hólar and the reconstructed Grettislaug hot spring where, according to medieval sagas, the outlaw Grettir once bathed.
Getting to Sauðárkrókur
You can reach the town by driving 300 km from Reykjavík on Route 75 through Varmahlíð or Routes 744 and 74 through Blönduós. While Sauðárkrókur has its own airport, it doesn't operate scheduled flights. The nearest airport with regular service is in Akureyri, 120 km away.
Swimming and Thermal Pools
The town's swimming complex has two hot tubs at 38°C and 42°C, both with massage jets. North of town, you'll find Grettislaug, a reconstructed geothermal pool where the legendary outlaw Grettir reportedly warmed up after swimming 7.5 km from Drangey island. A second pool was added in 2006, both built with natural stones and maintaining a temperature of 39°C year-round.
Museums and Historical Buildings
At the Minjahús museum, you can see local workshops from 1925-1985, including a fully preserved iron workshop from the 1920s with original tools and equipment. In Glaumbær, part of the Regional Museum of Skagafjörður, you can walk through connected turf buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, seeing furnished rooms, kitchens, and storage areas that show how Icelandic farmers lived. Two 19th-century wooden buildings complete the site: Gilsstofa and Áshús, with the latter housing temporary exhibitions and a café.
Nature and Wildlife
East of town, you can walk along Borgarsandur, a 4-kilometer black sand beach with dunes and marram grass. Around Sauðárkrókur, particularly at the mouth of river Héraðsvötn and the lakes Miklavatn and Áshildarholtsvatn, you can spot Arctic terns, great northern divers, and red-throated divers. Information boards near Áshildarholtsvatn lake help you identify the different species.
Local Events and Culture
During Sæluvika (Pleasantry Week) in May, you can attend theater performances, concerts, art exhibitions, and community gatherings - a tradition dating back to the 19th century. Throughout the year, the local drama society performs regular shows, and the music school hosts student concerts.
Day Trips from Sauðárkrókur
Take a three-hour boat tour to Drangey Island from the marina to see puffins and guillemots nesting on 180-meter cliffs. Visit Hólar in Hjaltadalur valley, 30 km away, to explore Iceland's oldest bishop's seat and its current agricultural university. The nearby village of Hofsós, with its infinity pool overlooking the fjord, makes for another interesting excursion.
