Iceland is an amazing place with plenty of natural hot springs and thermal pools. Although the weather usually dictates that you wear a coat, there are many places where a dip in an outdoor pool is thoroughly enjoyable. As you travel through this beautiful volcanic island, make sure you try this a few times!
Pools and SPAs
It is relatively cheap to build a SPA with hot pools in Iceland. The most costly element of such an endeavor – hot water – can often be obtained from the very surface… No wonder that lots of spas, big and small, have emerged here. You can choose from large and more low-key places, simple, sophisticated or designer ones. They often offer massage, facial treatments, a plethora of pampering procedures. Surely you want to visit at least one of these places.
Blue Lagoon
Restaurant
You may want to book your visit in advance and plan it for late evening. Relaxing in delightful warm water after hours of sightseeing is a perfect way to end your day. Additionally, in the winter months you have a chance to see the stunning northern lights while soaking in a hot pool! You can also plan the visit here as the first or the last thing to do in Iceland (or both, of course). There’s transfers to/from Reykjavik and Husavik available all day.
Learn more about the Blue Lagoon here:c
Book your entrance (and transfers) here:
Krauma Baths & Spa
Unlike Blue Lagoon, Krauma Baths & Spa is a natural geothermal SPA that opened quite recently, in 2017. It is definitely smaller and often much, much less crowded, yet less expensive than Blue Lagoon. So if you opt for some relaxing time in a truly unique place, go for Krauma!
Krauma offers 5 thermal pools that are fed by a nearby hot spring called Deildartunguhver. Interestingly, it is the most powerful hot spring in the whole of Europe. Visitors can also use steam baths and a relaxation room, while the brave ones may try getting into a tub of ice cold water.
Krauma SPA resembles another one, located on the other end of the island: GeoSea in Husavik and Iceland’s newest SPA (launched in 2021): Sky Lagoon on the outskirts of Reykjavik.
Learn more about Krauma SPA here:c
Book your admission here:
Hvammsvik Hot Springs
Pools (?) in Hvammsvik
The complex is one of the newest in Isladnia. It lies right on the black beach of the picturesque Hvalfjörður Bay. It offers relaxation in eight hot geothermal pools and a steam bath.
After relaxing, the restaurant offers an array of delicious local dishes.
Another place that also sits right on the water, offers (among other things) swimming in ‘rocky’ pools and offers bread-baking demonstrations right in the geothermal sands is Laugarvatn Fontana.
Book your admission to Hvammsvik Hot Springs here:
Vök Baths
Baseny Vok – bird’s eye view
Vök Baths are unique from the point of view of architecture, too. The place blends perfectly into the surrounding nature. Hot pools that float on the beautiful lake impress visitors with their original shape. You can rest your body and feast your eyes on the incredible views surrounding Vök Baths.
Learn more about Vök Baths here:c
Book your admission to Vök Baths here:
- Vök Baths – Standard entrance ($45),
- Vök Baths – Comfort entrance ($55),
- Vök Baths – Premium entrance ($80).
Bjórböðin – beer spa
Beer bath in Bjorbodin
Bjórböðin Beer Spa offers bathing sessions in kegs – large wooden barrels – filled with a mixture of beer, water, hops and yeast. The mixture is undrinkable, but there is a tap at each tub with beer straight from the keg, which can be used to your heart’s content. The bath lasts 25 minutes, after which we can move to a rest room or one of the even larger wooden tubs outside.
The baths (naturally) don’t come cheap – a session for one person costs 17,900 ISK (about $590), and a two-person one costs 23,900 ISK (almost $800). However, it is certainly unique in the world. You should book your visit well in advance, as this spa has a severely limited capacity.
Book your beer bath here:
Extra: Laugardalslaug
Laugardalslaug is the largest indoor and outdoor geothermal pool complex in Reykjavik. You can soak in pools of various sizes, with temperatures in some reaching even 44 degrees Celsius!
It is a great place for children. Because the place has long history and is conveniently located, it is immensely popular. So be prepared to enjoy it with lots of other people. See where it is and what other attractions (also for children!) you can find in the area: Laugardalslaug Pool.
Wild hot springs
As comfortable as it is to be able to use the bathroom, showers and a changing room, dipping in a hot pool in the middle of nowhere is absolutely unforgettable. You simply MUST experience at least one such a place on your trip. This is something that can’t easily be done in other parts of the world.
Askja
Askja – lake Viti
Bathing in a naturally warm lake in an actual volcanic crater in one of the most incredible experiences that await you in Iceland. It is something you’ll remember for a very long time. So if you are going to be in the vicinity of Askja, do not forget your towel and swimsuit!
Lake Viti sits in the main caldera and has delightful milky-blue-turquoise water. The volcano makes sure it is nice and warm, between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. Read more about this totally unbelievable place: Askja – a volcano you can bathe in.
Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur
This unique place is available for everyone and completely free. Reykjadalur is quite popular with tourists but there is a good reason for that. On you trip to Iceland make sure that you find a day or just an evening to visit here. Get your picnic gear ready, too! For more details and a map go here: Reykjadalur – a dip in a hot mountain stream.
Landmannalaugar
Hot spring in Landmannalaugar
Immersing in delightfully warm water between your hikes is an unusual experience. What makes it even more amazing is the view of the nearby lava field and otherworldly colorful mountains. It is like a cherry on top of the cake when you come to this place, so remember to take your swimming gear with you. I promise, you won’t regret it!
If you want to know everything there is to know about Landmannalaugar, it’s trails, campsite, access, shop and the hot pool – you’ll find it here: Landmannalaugar – Fairytale Rainbow Mountains.
And if you are travelling in the interior, remember that there are also hot springs in such amazing places like Thorsmork (Volcano Huts) and Kerlingarfjoll.
Hveravellir
Hveravellir hot springs
A dip in a natural hot pool with a view of otherworldly landscapes is an absolute must while you are in Iceland. See how to find it and what to expect: Hveravellir – huts surrounded by hot springs.
Extra: other small pools and springs
Drangsnes pools
Sometimes you find them surrounded by spectacular landscapes, views of beautiful mountains, lava fields or the endless Atlantic Ocean. Other times, however, they are hidden in modest and unlikely places, off the beaten track and away from crowds. You can see them next to cabins or campsites, too. Often hot water is used to fill jacuzzis but it can also flow in a small cave, form a tiny lake or look like a hole in the ground. You name it… and be sure to enjoy it.
Such places, despite their modest profile and lack of amenities, definitely have their charm. They tend to be private and secluded, so you can have them all to yourself as there is no one around. So it really makes sense to look out for hidden gems like this. They contribute to the surreal vibe of this incredible island.
Here are some of the best examples of top small hot springs. You’ll find them ALL on the map further down:
- Drangsnes and Hellulaug in Westfjords
- Djúpavogskörin in the east
- Storagja and Grjotagja near Myvatn
- Hrunalaug near Fludir
- Laugafell in the interior, off F752 (it may be the perfect geometrical center of Iceland)
- Laugarfell in the east on road 910
- Nautholsvik in southern Reykjavik
- and many many other places!
Pick your favorite and take advantage of all the best things that this incredible island has to offer!
Map: ALL pools, spas and hot springs in Iceland
The map below contains all hot springs and pools in Iceland divided into three categories.
For clarity and convenience, each category is placed on a separate layer / in a separate group on the map. You can hide the layers quite easily and show them back again using the menu on the sidebar on the left. Expand the sidebar by clicking the icon with an arrow in the top left corner of the map. Urban pools in particular are so numerous that it’s not a bad idea to turn this layer off and only turn it on when you’re looking for such a pool in your vicinity….
Save the map for later by clicking the small star to the right of its title.
Map: All hot pools and springs in Iceland
In the map above, we have divided all springs and pools into three categories described below. “Borderline” pools – those that are difficult to classify into one of these groups, we qualified according to their typical use.
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City and recreational pools
This is quite a diverse category and perhaps the most difficult to define. These are places for people seeking relaxation in the water, but also encouraging swimming or family fun. This group includes larger complexes with multiple pools, slides and children’s play parks, as well as smaller ones, even with just a single pool, but too civilized to be considered wild springs, yet too “pooly” to qualify as a spa 🤷♂️
Most of these places are surrounded by a fence, but sometimes you can still observe the surroundings from the inside.
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Spa complexes
This is the category for places that are all about relaxation and comfort. Saunas, baths, massages, skin treatments, restaurants, drinks served to the pool – all this distinguishes places in this category. As a rule, this is the most expensive group on the list, but it’s definitely worth seeing at least one place from this list (better yet – three?).Also here are a few places that don’t offer those extra services, but their primary purpose can still be described as “having a nice time sitting in the water.” So these are places where it will be difficult to swim or play with children.
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Wild springs
Wild springs are all the places where you can bathe in the hot water, but where there are no real changing rooms and showers. Or where they are far away from the spring or pool itself.
Hrunalaug
These range from completely wild, natural hot ‘deeps’ to feral or small pools devoid of working infrastructure. In some of these places – despite the lack of infrastructure and the typical entrance fee, the owners ask (sometimes even require) you to leave some kind of donation. These sites allow you to observe the area – they are not separated by a fence.
Places where there is hot water, but only enough to dip one’s feet in, have not been put on the map.
