The Secret Lagoon (Icelandic: Gamla laugin, literally “the old pool”) is Iceland’s oldest man-made swimming pool fed by natural hot springs. It is located in the town of Fludir and has been in use since 1891.
History of the Fludir swimming pool
In 1909, the first swimming lessons in Iceland were held here. Thirty-two men completed the course in the first year, and by 1911 girls were taking lessons too. In the years that followed, hundreds of children learned to swim here, until in 1947 the lessons moved to a newly built pool at a nearby school.
A wooden boardwalk runs around the pool, letting you take a close look at several of the nearest hot springs. Warmed up by your soak, you will have no trouble making it all the way around.
Near the pool, boiling water rises to the surface on its own, but for industrial use it is pumped up from as deep as 900 meters (about 3,000 feet). Because of the pressure at that depth and the water’s particular chemistry, the temperature in these boreholes often exceeds 100 °C (212°F), and the hottest spring in the area, at the Reykjaból farm about 4 km (2.5 miles) to the north, delivers water at as much as 140 °C (280°F)!
Secret Lagoon in Fludir: practical information
- You can bathe in the Fludir pool in winter and in summer. The water is 38–40 °C (100–104°F) all year round. In summer, buy your ticket (4,500 ISK, about $40) online in advance, just in case – Secret Lagoon admission ticket – because the pool sometimes fills up and stops letting guests in.
- The pool is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer (June–September) and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in winter (October–May).
- The Secret Lagoon is a good place for a midday break while you tour the attractions of the Golden Circle. That’s why it is often part of guided day tours from Reykjavik, such as this one: Golden Circle, Kerid and Secret Lagoon Day Tour (10 hours, from about $125 per person).
- The setting is picturesque – the geothermal (but green!) landscape is a real treat for the eyes.
- The steam drifting through the air and the hot springs and fumaroles bubbling all around add a magical atmosphere. A path next to the pool lets you see them up close, comfortably and safely.
- There are changing rooms, showers, a bar and a restaurant, where you can buy snacks and drinks.
Secret Lagoon tickets
You can buy Secret Lagoon tickets on site or online. Prices in 2026, according to the Secret Lagoon price list:
- adults (15 and older): 4,500 ISK (about $40) – get your ticket here;
- children up to 14 (only with an adult, no more than 3 children per adult): a symbolic 260 ISK (about $2);
- seniors (67 and older) and people with disabilities: 3,300 ISK (about $28), also available through the link above;
- towel rental: 1,200 ISK (about $10);
- swimsuit rental: also 1,200 ISK (about $10).
Hrunalaug in winter
If you prefer small, wild, intimate and romantic hot springs, you will find Hrunalaug a little farther on, only about 2.5 km (1.5 miles) to the east: a tiny, charming pond of hot Icelandic water. Since 2024 it has had a ticket booth, real changing rooms and a 2,500 ISK (about $21) entrance fee, and the owners cap the number of bathers at 30 – which in such a small pool is still a crowd. So go at an unusual hour: it is most impressive when you have it to yourself.
How to get to the Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon lies just above the town of Fludir, on its eastern side. From the main road 30, turn onto the Hvammsvegur access road just past the bridge over the Litla-Laxá River. The turnoff is well signposted, and at the end of the road you will easily find a parking lot right in front of the pool entrance. The drive from Reykjavik is about 100 km (60 miles) and takes roughly 1.5 hours.
