Located in a fertile valley along the southwestern shore of Skagafjörður Fjord, lies the friendly coastal town of Sauðárkrókur. It is the largest town in the Skagafjörður district.
Sauðárkrókur’s settlement roots date back to 1871, although there have been people living in the area since Viking times. The ancient work, Grettir’s Saga, actually mentions the location. The nearby sheer sided Drangey Island is where Grettir spent his last years as an outlaw. Grettislaug, a lovely seaside thermal bathing pool, is where he recovered after he completed a long swim in the icy ocean from the island to the coast.
The ‘downtown’ area of the village is quite charming. It’s loaded with a small collection of distinctive, traditional buildings where the past seems to be brought back to life, especially at Minjahúsið Folk Museum. There you can observe workshop demonstrations by blacksmiths, carpenters and watchmakers. On the main street you can visit a general store that has been in operation since 1919.
Attractions in the Sauðárkrókur area
The interesting 1238 Battle of Iceland virtual reality experience immerses visitors in the times of a great civil war battle that changed Iceland forever. Boat tours depart from Sauðárkrókur to Drangey island during the summer. Sauðárkrókur is also home to the only tannery in Europe that makes fish leather. Major fashion houses around the world use the leather for belts, shoes and wallets. Near Sauðárkrókur is the Glaumbær Folk Museum. It is housed in a particularly well maintained turf-roofed farmhouse.
