Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → West Iceland → Snorralaug

Location: Reykholt, Borgarfjörður district, West Iceland

Time Required: 10 minutes

Red Tape/Notes: Open 24 hours, bathing not allowed

What’s Nearby?: Deildartunguhver, Húsafell Geothermal Pools, Hallmundarhraun, Víðgelmir, Surtshellir, Stefánshellir, Hraunfossar, Barnafoss

You can’t actually bathe in this pool (it was protected in 1817), but it’s still cool to see it, since it’s believed that Snorri Sturluson bathed here (and it’s also among the first hot springs in Iceland used for bathing, if not the very first). If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you should probably know who Snorri is, since he may be Iceland’s most famous citizen: he was a historian, poet, and politician (quite the compilation of skillsets, right?) from the Middle Ages, and he was the most powerful chieftain in Iceland for 6 years. Unfortunately, power breeds enemies, and he was assassinated in his home in 1241. Speaking of which, the small wooden doorway next to the pool leads to a tunnel that led underground to his home, for ease of access to the pool (the tunnel is now blocked off a short way in). But fair warning: the overall experience is somewhat marred by its proximity to modern structures (like a large hotel) which are generally not seen in photos due to the angle of the shot. As a side benefit, there are fields with adorable Icelandic horses nearby.

Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → West Iceland → Snorralaug