Best Hot Springs in Iceland

Iceland is a volcanic island on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift zone, and the country's volcanic base contributes to its geothermal activity.

This activity underneath the Earth's surface makes Iceland richer in hot springs and high-temperature activity than any other country in the world. This otherwise cold country has about 250 geothermal areas producing 800 hot springs with an average water temperature of around 75°C / 167°F.

You will feel chilly at first when you take off your clothes, but once you are in the steamy water, every chill disappears and you can take a swim or relax in the waters with ease. Whether you have a migraine, a bad back, depressed or stressed, it is best to do this as it is said to have healing and soothing effects.

What are the best hot springs in Iceland?

1. Viti (Askja)

The caldera contains several volcanoes, including Víti (explosive volcanic crater). Water has accumulated in the crater,  its temperature is variable - it is around 30°C on average. Víti is a popular bathing site, but if you intend taking a dip, please be aware that the sloping path is very slippery in wet weather.

The road to Askja goes from road 1 to road 901 and onto mountain road F905. Onward to F910 to Drekagil. On this route there are two fords to cross, usually small. From Drekagil goes mountain road F894 (8 km) to the car park at Vikraborgir.

This place is one of the most awesome and magnificent places in Iceland.

2. Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar (icelandic meaning the hot springs of the people of (the) land) is a region near the volcano Hekla in the south of Iceland. This pearl of the interior is situated in a valley between colourful mountains at the dark edge of the rhyolite lava field Laugahraun.

In Landmannalaugar there is a popular geothermal hot spring. The water is a bit mixed, hot in some areas and colder in other. The pool tends to be crowded as Landmannalaugar is a popular tourist attraction. Make sure to bathe in the geothermal hot springs after exploring the area, in those surroundings it's probably one of the most relaxing things you can do on Earth.

There are lockers and changing rooms so no worries on your belongings or having no privacy. You can stay for as long as you want or when you feel you are relaxed and energized to take your journey in Landmannalaugar.

The road to Landmannalaugar (only accessible by 4x4 vehicles) is usually open from June through September but closed for the rest of the year. If you want to spend the night there you can bring a tent to the campsite or book a bed in the mountain lodge, it fits 78 people and has all the basic facilities needed. Make sure to bathe in the geothermal hot springs after exploring the area, in those surroundings it's probably one of the most relaxing things you can do on Earth.

3. Seljavallalaug (South Iceland)

Seljavallalaug is a protected 25-metre outdoor pool in southern Iceland. The pool is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland and was built in 1923.

The original Seljavellir pool was built of traditional Icelandic construction materials, rock and turf, in 1922.  Nine metres long and 4-5 metres wide, the original pool took two days to build. Swimming lessons were due to commence three days later. Twenty-five people were registered for the first swimming/sports course, during which they camped at the swimming pool in tents.

The old Seljavellir pool gradually fell into disuse, and was superseded by the modern pool, but in 1998 it was thoroughly restored and renovated, and today it is once again the pride of the local area.

There is no entry fee and you are asked to treat it with care and respect but alcohol consumption is strictly forbidden. I don’t think you want to be wasted in that location with something happening and no life guard anyway!

4. Grjótagjá (Mývatn)

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave near lake Mývatn with a thermal spring inside. In early 18th century the outlaw Jón Markússon lived there and used the cave for bathing. Until the 1970s Grjótagjá was a popular bathing site.

But during the eruptions from 1975 to 1984 the temperature of the water rose to more than 50 °C, though the temperature is slowly decreasing and has fallen below 50 °C again. The nearby lava cave of Stóragjá is being used as an alternative bathing site.

Grjótagjá was used as a location for filming the fifth episode of the third season of Game of Thrones, called "Kissed by Fire".

Jóhanna, Iceland
© 2015 by Iceland24

Stykkishólmur Travel Guide

Located in western Iceland, the small town of Stykkisholmur has become a very popular tourist destination. The town has a number of attractions that make it a major draw, but it is the conservation of heritage and its efforts to be environmentally aware that are among the major elements that pull people in.

The growing number of people arriving in the town means that the tourism operators and restaurants have had to adjust the length of their season. They are also now working hard to deliver a wider selection of local products, including food, and arts and crafts.

Things to do

Beautiful views and incredible wildlife can be found at the Snæfellsnes peninsula and Breiðafjörður bay. Taking a boat out to the islands of Breiðafjörður is a great idea for bird watchers, especially those hoping for a glimpse of the white-tailed eagle.

Súgandisey is an island that is now connected to the mainland, with a path that leads up to a 100-year old lighthouse and the romantic Love Nest. That spot offers fantastic views over Breiðafjörður and the islands, and is also where the Ferry Baldur docks.

Sæferðir / Seatours Iceland is a great spot for bird watching and getting back to nature. Taking a boat out to the Snaefellsnes peninsula is a great way to see it all. You will encounter an incredible variety of birds, from puffins and cormorants, all the way up to the magnificent white-tailed eagle.

The basalt forms of the islands are spectacular, and you can also get a taste of sea urchins and scallops fresh out of the water. Trips run twice daily from June 1st to August 31st, and there are often tours available out of season, too. All you need to know can be found at www.seatours.is

The ferry Baldur sails twice daily in the summer months from Breiðafjörður bay to Brjánslækur, making a stop at the island of Flatey along the way. The old village on the island has been lovingly restored over the past few years, and now has a restaurant, camp site, and sleeping bag accommodation.

Dried fish is made by Friðborg at Hamraenda 3 in Stykkishólmur, and can be purchased in a number of different stores. If you want to visit the plant where it is produced, tours can be organized by calling: 898-8516

Norska húsið (the Norwegian House). The government of Snæfellsnes operates this local folk and culture museum, and frequently has exhibitions on display. Daily opening hours are 11:00 to 17:00 and costs IKR 700 for adults and IKR 300 for children.Tel: 438-1640, norskhus@simnet.is

Swimming pool. Geothermal waters were discovered near Stykkishólmur in 1996, and they are believed to have many health benefits. The swimming pool opened in 1999, and now the water is used to heat houses in the area, too.(Tel: 433-8150)

Campsite 

Aðalgötu 27
IS-340 Stykkishólmi
Tel: 438 1075 / 849 8435
Mail: mostri@stykk.is

The campsite is in a perfect location, sitting next to the Víkurvöllur golf course, whilst also just a 5 minute walk from amenities such as shopping, dining, and the swimming pool. The fee to stay at the camp site can be paid at the Club house/Tourist Information Center. The camp site opens on May 15th through August 31st and has wireless access throughout.

Kolla, Iceland24
© 2015 Iceland24

Iceland and the Viking Settlement

The term Viking is a word generally used to refer to the inhabitants of Nordic countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland during the Middle Ages (800-1100 AD) who led the Scandinavian Expansion.

Better known as the Viking Age (or Viking Age AD), this period has long been popularly associated with the bold explorations of the Viking people, but is also synonymous with looting, rampant piracy, pillaging and burning everything that stood in the Vikings’ way throughout civilized Europe.

However, these facts are now coming to be recognized as gross over-simplifications and generalizations. Today, new emphasis is being put on the achievements of the Viking Age in terms of Scandinavian art, craftsmanship, technology, marine exploration and trade development.

Viking expansion in the world

The origin of the word "Viking" is somewhat uncertain. It may be from Old Norse “vik” (a bay or cove) or the Old English "wic" (a trade agreement). Not all Scandinavians were Vikings or professional warriors and not all Vikings were pirates.

The causes of the Viking Age expansion are complex. Land scarcity in Scandinavia, improvement of the production of iron and the need for new markets were probably the principal reasons.

The first recorded Viking raid was an assault by sea in 793 AD by Norwegian Vikings on the holy island of Lindisfarne, off the northeast coast of England. The evidence indicates, however, that there was considerable migration of Vikings west across the North Sea and east across the Baltic long before that.

Swedish traders penetrated the interior of Russia, starting new trade routes through the Volga-Dnepr, founding cities like Kiev and Novgorod and opening the way to Constantinople and the exotic markets of Arabia and the Far East. In Constantinople, the Vikings formed the elite guard of the Byzantine emperors, the feared and famous Varangian Guard. Danish warriors fought in the cities of the Carolingian Empire in cities like Hamburg, Dorestad, Rouen, Paris, Nantes and Bordeaux, until in 911, one army arrived in northern France (now known as Normandy, "Land of the Northmen ") and settled there.

During the Viking Age, these brave men went through half the world in their open boats, greatly expanding their horizons. But having achieved much and reaching even remote locations, Vikings did not have staying power. With no reserves of wealth or political experience, they failed to achieve cohesion in Europe, or to effectively dominate the oldest, richest and most stable of those they attempted to invade.

Viking settlement in Iceland

Iceland was settled between 874 and 930 AD by the Norse settlers in search of new farmland. At that time, the weather in Iceland was warmer than it is now and the settlers and their animals thought they had found paradise, they began to be divided between them.

The first Viking to sight Iceland was Gardar Svavarsson, who had changed course while sailing from Norway to the Faroe Islands due to harsh weather conditions. His reports led to the first attempts to settle on the island. The Norwegian chief, Ingólfur Arnarson, is usually considered the first settler who formed a permanent settlement on the island. He settled with his family around the year 874, at a place called Reykjavik (the present capital of the country).

Following Ingólfur, another group of Norwegians set sail on the North Atlantic in 874 with their families, livestock, slaves and possessions in an effort to escape the domination of the first Norwegian king, Harald I. They traveled about 1,000 km. in their drakkars to the island of Iceland.

According to the Icelandic sagas, these people were mainly of Norwegian origin, and to a lesser extent, of Irish and Scottish decent, namely Irish servants and slaves of Norwegian/Scottish chiefs. The Icelandic Age of Settlement (Icelandic: Landnámsöld) is believed to have lasted from 874-930, at which point the "Althing", the world's oldest parliamentary body, was founded.

The first settlers took huge territories were subdivided during the sixty years of "landnám" (settlement period). Some of the settlers with good social skills made smart partnerships and were made leaders. They represented groups of farmers in the "Althing" (Alzing).

Much of the knowledge about this time comes from the Icelandic sagas, a set of writings that not only document the settlement of Iceland but also the exploration of Greenland and the region of North America now called Newfoundland.

These sagas also tell us details about the daily life of the settlers and their descendants. Especially representative of the colonization of Greenland and America are the "Sagas of the Greenlanders" written in 1200 and the "Saga of Erik the Red" written in 1260.

Iceland is a key example of settlers moving to an uninhabited land and designing a new society. Written sources are useful, but do not tell us everything we need to know about the distribution of land, animals and trade to truly understand the inner workings of this unusual society.

The center of Viking settlement in Iceland - "Landnámssetur"

For lovers of Icelandic history and especially those interested in the history of the Viking settlement in this country, there is a place just an hour from Reykjavik, in Borgarnes on Highway 1 north, called "Landnámssetur Íslands" where two outstanding exhibitions can be found:

- The exhibition of Viking settlement.
- The first exhibition of the Viking and Icelandic poet, Egill Skallagrimsson.

After the visit to this place, travelers will be much more prepared for an informed and knowledgeable trip around Iceland.

It also has audio guides in 12 different languages, including English. The complete route for each exhibition will last about 30 minutes, after which you may understand many things and answer many questions that arise during your tour around Iceland.

This location also boasts a one of a kind restaurant with a unique stone-walled dining area.

Location and Information:

Brákarbraut 13-15310 Borgarnes
Tel: +354 437 1600 and +354 895 5460
Open all year from 10:00 to 21:00 except December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1.

Jóhanna
© 2015 by Iceland24