Best Hot Springs in Iceland: Where to Soak in 2026 (Local Picks)
Iceland has hundreds of hot springs. Some are world-famous spas with entrance fees, changing rooms, and in-water cocktail bars. Others are free pools in the middle of nowhere where you might be the only person soaking with a mountain view and steam rising around you. I grew up going to hot pots here, and I've spent years working my way through nearly every paid spa on this list plus dozens of free ones. This guide is my honest take on which ones deserve your time and money, and which ones are more hype than heat.
Before I get into the list, one thing about Icelandic hot spring culture that tourists often miss: soaking in hot water is not a tourist activity for us. It is daily life. I grew up going to the hot pots at the local sundlaug (public pool) the same way kids in other countries grew up going to playgrounds. The sundlaug is where communities gather, gossip, debate politics, and decompress. It is the Icelandic version of going to the pub, except healthier. When you soak here, you are participating in something that has been part of life on this island for over a thousand years.
Premium Geothermal Spas
These cost money but offer a full experience with facilities, changing rooms, and usually a restaurant or bar. They range from internationally famous to beautifully under the radar.
Blue Lagoon (Reykjanes Peninsula)
The most famous hot spring in Iceland, and yes, I think it is worth doing once. I've been there maybe ten times over the years, starting back when it was a much smaller operation, and the milky-blue water sitting in the middle of a black lava field is genuinely striking even after you've seen thousands of photos of it.
The water is rich in silica and minerals, and the free silica mud masks are part of the experience. There is an in-water bar where you can order drinks without leaving the pool. The whole place is designed to feel luxurious, and it delivers on that.
My honest take: it is expensive, it is busy, and it feels more like a spa resort than a natural Icelandic experience. But the setting is unique and the water really does feel incredible on your skin. Do it once, skip the most expensive packages unless you really want the private lounge, and then move on to the places further down this list where you will have a more authentic experience.
Price: From around ISK 9,000 to 12,000+ depending on package
Temperature: 37 to 40 degrees Celsius
Book in advance. Walk-ins are almost never available
Location: Reykjanes Peninsula, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, 20 minutes from Keflavik airport
For my full honest review, including whether the premium packages are worth it, see my Blue Lagoon guide
Sky Lagoon (Reykjavik)
Sky Lagoon opened in 2021 and I was sceptical at first - I thought it would just be a Blue Lagoon knockoff closer to the city. I was wrong. The main feature is a large infinity-edge pool that genuinely seems to merge with the North Atlantic Ocean in front of you. On a clear day I can see Snæfellsjökull glacier on the horizon from the water.
The standout for me is the Ritual, a 7-step spa experience that takes you through a warm pool, cold plunge, sauna, fog room, body scrub, steam room, and back to the warm pool. I was expecting it to feel gimmicky but it is actually well designed and I found myself doing the full cycle twice.
Sky Lagoon is only 15 minutes from downtown Reykjavik, which makes it far more convenient than the Blue Lagoon if you are short on time. It is also slightly less expensive.
Price: From around ISK 7,000
Temperature: 38 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Kársnes, about 15 minutes from downtown Reykjavik
Hvammsvík Hot Springs (Hvalfjörður)
Hvammsvík is the option that feels most authentically Icelandic among the premium spas, and it is my personal favourite. Eight natural pools at different temperatures are scattered along a fjord shoreline, with the ocean lapping at the edges during high tide. You move between pools, adjusting temperature as you go, with an Atlantic cold plunge available between them.
The setting is stunning. Mountains rise on both sides of the fjord, and depending on the tide, some pools are partially submerged in seawater. The first time I went, I spent almost three hours just moving between pools and watching the light change on the mountains. It is about 45 minutes from Reykjavik through the Hvalfjörður tunnel.
Price: From around ISK 7,500
Temperature: Varies by pool, from cool to around 42 degrees Celsius
Location: Hvalfjörður, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik
My full Hvammsvík guide covers what to expect and how to get there
Laugarás Lagoon (Golden Circle, South Iceland)
The newest addition to Iceland's premium spa scene, Laugarás Lagoon opened in October 2025 on the banks of the Hvítá River in the village of Laugarás. It sits right on the Golden Circle route, about 1.5 hours from Reykjavik, which makes it a natural add-on to a Golden Circle day.
The signature feature is a 6.7-metre cascading waterfall that flows between two tiers of geothermal pools. You can swim right under it. The lagoon also includes a grotto with built-in seating, a forest pool tucked near the treeline, two dry saunas with river views, a cold plunge pool, and two swim-up bars. The building itself is striking, with a grass-covered roof and arched architecture inspired by Icelandic lava caves, designed to blend into the surrounding landscape rather than dominate it.
The on-site restaurant, Ylja, is run by celebrated Icelandic chef Gísli Matt and serves a seasonal farm-to-table menu built around local ingredients. I ate there on my first visit and it is not your typical spa cafe. If you go for the top-tier Ösp pass, a two-course meal at Ylja is included.
This is a 3-billion-ISK investment and it shows. The facilities are polished, the design is thoughtful, and the Golden Circle location means it will probably become one of the most visited spas in Iceland within a year or two. If you are doing the Golden Circle and want a premium soak, this is now my top recommendation on the route.
Price: Birki (standard) from ISK 6,900, Lerki (premium, includes towel and drink) from ISK 9,400, Ösp (wellness, includes meal and private changing) from ISK 15,900
Temperature: 37 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Village of Laugarás, off Route 30 on the Golden Circle, about 1.5 hours from Reykjavik
Minimum age: 8 years
Book in advance at laugaraslagoon.is
Forest Lagoon (Akureyri)
North Iceland's answer to Sky Lagoon. An infinity pool overlooking Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in North Iceland, surrounded by birch forest. It opened in 2022 and I visited for the first time that winter. It still feels fresh compared to the south coast options.
The big advantage of Forest Lagoon is location. Because Akureyri gets fewer tourists than the south, I have never seen this place as crowded as the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. If you are driving the Ring Road or spending time in the north, this is an easy stop.
Price: From around ISK 5,500
Temperature: 38 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Akureyri, North Iceland
Mývatn Nature Baths (North Iceland)
Often called the Blue Lagoon of the North, and I think the comparison is fair. The water has a similar milky-blue colour from the mineral content, but Mývatn Nature Baths gets a fraction of the crowds. On a quiet day I have shared the pool with only a handful of people.
The setting is dramatic. Steam rises from the surrounding lava fields, and in winter I have watched the northern lights while soaking here more than once. It sits right next to the Hverir geothermal area, so you can combine the two: walk through the alien landscape of boiling mud and sulphur vents, then soak in warm mineral water afterward. That combination is one of my favourite half-days in North Iceland.
Price: Around ISK 5,500
Temperature: 36 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Near Lake Mývatn, North Iceland. Right off Route 1
Combine with: Hverir geothermal area (15 minutes away)
Vök Baths (East Iceland)
The most architecturally unique spa in Iceland. Vök consists of floating geothermal pools on Lake Urriðavatn near the town of Egilsstaðir. You walk across a bridge to reach pools that actually float on the lake surface, with the surrounding mountain scenery reflected in the water around you.
Very few tourists make it to East Iceland, so Vök Baths feels like a discovery rather than a tourist attraction. I visited on a Ring Road trip and it was the quietest premium spa experience I have had. If you are driving the Ring Road, it is worth the stop. If East Iceland is not in your plans, it is probably not worth a special detour unless you are a hot spring completionist like me.
Price: From around ISK 5,500
Temperature: 38 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Egilsstaðir, East Iceland
GeoSea (Húsavík, North Iceland)
Infinity pools overlooking Skjálfandi Bay in Húsavík, the whale watching capital of Iceland. On a good day I have watched whale watching boats head out to sea while soaking. The water here is geothermally heated seawater, not freshwater, which gives it a different mineral feel.
GeoSea pairs perfectly with a whale watching trip in Húsavík. Do the boat tour in the morning, warm up in GeoSea in the afternoon. That combination is one of the best half-days you can have in North Iceland in my opinion.
Price: From around ISK 5,000
Temperature: 38 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Húsavík, North Iceland
Fontana (Laugarvatn, Golden Circle)
Fontana sits on the Golden Circle route between Þingvellir and Geysir, which makes it the easiest premium spa to fit into a Golden Circle day trip. The steam rooms are built directly over natural hot springs, and you can see geothermal bubbles rising through glass floors beneath your feet, which I always find strangely hypnotic.
It is smaller and more intimate than the big-name spas. If your Golden Circle day has room for one more stop, Fontana is a genuinely enjoyable addition.
Price: From around ISK 5,000
Temperature: 36 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Laugarvatn, on the Golden Circle between Þingvellir and Geysir
Free Natural Hot Springs
No entrance fee, no changing rooms, no cocktail bars. Just you, hot water, and whatever landscape surrounds it. Bring a towel, bring a bag for your clothes, and respect the land.
Reykjadalur Hot River (South Iceland)
This is not a pool. It is an actual river of naturally warm water flowing through a green valley. You hike about 45 minutes from the trailhead near the town of Hveragerði, and at the top you find a section of river where geothermal water mixes with cold stream water to create perfect bathing temperature.
The temperature varies as you walk along the river, so you find the spot that feels right to you and sit down. There is a basic changing area with wooden screens, but no other facilities. Bring everything you need and carry everything out.
Reykjadalur is usually where I take friends visiting from abroad first. The hike gives them a taste of the Icelandic landscape before the soak. The photo above is from a trip up here with a friend who came over from France. This is one of the most popular free hot springs in Iceland, especially in summer. I have been here at midday in July when it felt like half of Reykjavik had the same idea, and I have been here at 7am in September with the valley entirely to myself. Going early in the morning or later in the evening makes a huge difference in how many people you will share it with.
Temperature: Varies along the river, roughly 35 to 45 degrees Celsius
Location: 45-minute hike from trailhead near Hveragerði, South Iceland
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Some uphill, but the trail is well marked
Time needed: About 2.5 to 3 hours total including the soak
Seljavallalaug (South Iceland)
A 25-metre swimming pool built into the side of a mountain in 1923, making it one of the oldest pools in Iceland. It is fed by a geothermal spring mixed with cold mountain water, and it sits at the end of a short valley hike with waterfalls visible on the cliffs above.
My honest take: the water can be lukewarm rather than hot, especially in colder months, and algae builds up on the bottom and sides. It is not pristine. But that is part of its character. This is a nearly 100-year-old pool in the wilderness, not a spa. I first swam here when I was a teenager on a family trip, and going back as an adult the place still has the same rough magic. Go for the history and the setting, not for a luxurious soak.
Temperature: Around 25 to 35 degrees Celsius (varies by season and weather)
Location: About 15-minute walk from a dirt road turnoff near Seljavellir, South Iceland
Note: Volunteers clean the pool periodically, but it is not maintained like a public facility
Hrunalaug (Near Flúðir, Golden Circle Area)
A small, ancient hot pot sitting on private farmland near the town of Flúðir, about 10 minutes off the main Golden Circle route. It is stone-lined, fits maybe 6 to 8 people, and has been used for bathing for centuries.
A small donation is requested to help with maintenance. This is private land, and the landowners have had real issues with tourists leaving rubbish, parking badly, and generally not respecting the place. I have heard from friends in the area that access has been threatened before because of bad visitor behaviour. Check locally whether it is open before making the trip, and if you go, leave it cleaner than you found it.
Temperature: Around 38 to 39 degrees Celsius
Location: Near Flúðir, a short detour from the Golden Circle
Important: This is private land. Respect the rules, pay the donation, park only where indicated
Grettislaug (Skagafjörður, North Iceland)
A natural hot pot on the coast of the Skagafjörður district in North Iceland, named after Grettir the Strong, one of the most famous characters in Icelandic saga literature. According to the saga, Grettir swam across the cold fjord from the island of Drangey and warmed himself in this hot spring.
The pool was reconstructed after storm damage and there are now actually two pools at different temperatures, a hot one and a warmer one, right on the shoreline with views across to Drangey island. There is a small entrance fee.
I grew up reading the sagas in school, so sitting in the water where Grettir supposedly warmed up after swimming from Drangey lands differently than a random hot pot. The setting, the story, and the soak combine into something I still remember clearly years later.
Temperature: Two pools, roughly 38 and 42 degrees Celsius
Location: Reykir, Skagafjörður, North Iceland
Cost: Small entrance fee
Landbrotalaug (Snæfellsnes Peninsula)
A tiny natural hot pot in the middle of a moss-covered lava field on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It fits two, maybe three people at most, and it is completely unmarked. You have to know where to look or ask locally.
This is the quintessential "secret" Icelandic hot pot. No facilities, no signs, no changing area. Just a small stone-walled pool with hot water bubbling up from below, surrounded by nothing but lava and sky. I have been here a handful of times over the years and I will not give exact directions out of respect for the place.
Temperature: Around 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Off the main road on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (ask locally for exact directions)
Please leave no trace. No rubbish, no soap, no sunscreen in the water
Hellulaug (Westfjords)
A stone-walled hot pot sitting on the edge of a fjord in the Westfjords, one of the most remote and least-visited regions of Iceland. The setting is spectacular: mountains, fjord water, and nothing else in sight.
Getting to the Westfjords takes commitment. The roads are long and often winding, and the region is far from the Ring Road. But if you are making the trip, Hellulaug is one of those rewards that makes the journey worthwhile. I soaked here once at the end of a long driving day and I can still picture exactly how the light looked on the fjord.
Temperature: Around 38 to 40 degrees Celsius
Location: Vatnsfjörður, Westfjords (along Route 62)
Landmannalaugar Pool (Highlands)
A natural warm pool at the edge of the Landmannalaugar campsite where a hot geothermal stream meets a cold river. You find the temperature you want by moving between the two flows. The pool is surrounded by the colourful rhyolite mountains that make Landmannalaugar famous.
The catch: you can only get here in summer. The F-roads leading to Landmannalaugar are typically open from late June to September, and you need a 4x4 or to take a bus from Reykjavik. But if you are already hiking the Laugavegur trail or visiting the Highlands, this is a perfect way to end a day on the trail. I've ended several Highland trips in this pool and there is nothing like it after a full day of hiking.
Temperature: Varies, roughly 36 to 40 degrees Celsius where the streams meet
Location: Landmannalaugar, Highlands (F-road access only)
Access: 4x4 or scheduled bus from Reykjavik. Late June to September only
Public Swimming Pools: The Hot Springs Tourists Miss
Here is the part of Icelandic hot spring culture that most visitors completely overlook. Iceland has over 170 public swimming pools, called sundlaugar, and almost every single one has hot pots at different temperatures. Some have one pot, some have four or five. Temperatures usually range from 38 to 44 degrees Celsius.
This is where we actually soak. Not at the Blue Lagoon. Not at Sky Lagoon. At our local pool, often daily, year-round, in every kind of weather. I go to my local pool at least once a week, and I will run into the same handful of neighbours every time. The hot pot is where we catch up, where business deals are quietly discussed, and where we decompress after work. It is the heart of Icelandic community life.
Entry to a public pool is usually ISK 1,000 to 1,200. You get access to the pool, hot pots, steam room, and cold tub. No reservations, no packages. Just pay and soak.
A few standouts:
Hofsós Swimming Pool (North Iceland) has an infinity edge overlooking the Skagafjörður fjord and the island of Drangey. It is one of the most photographed pools in Iceland, and for good reason. The views are extraordinary.
Vesturbæjarlaug (Reykjavik) is a local favourite in the west end of the city. Almost no tourists. Just Reykjavik locals doing what we do every day.
Sundlaug Seltjarnarnes (Reykjavik area) has outdoor pools with mountain views across the bay. On a clear day, you can see Snæfellsjökull glacier.
Laugardalslaug (Reykjavik) is the largest pool in the city, with a water slide for kids, several hot pots, and a steam room. The most facilities, the most people.
One non-negotiable rule: we Icelanders are taught from childhood to shower before entering any swimming pool, always. You shower naked, with soap, before stepping into the water. We take this seriously. It is in our DNA. This is not optional and not a suggestion. For the full bathing etiquette rundown, see my etiquette guide.
Practical Tips
What to Bring
Swimsuit. Rental is available at most paid spas, but it is expensive. Bring your own
Towel. Same. Spa rentals cost ISK 1,000 or more. Your hotel towel works fine
Water shoes for natural hot springs. Many have rocky or uneven bottoms
Waterproof phone pouch if you want photos from the water
Water bottle. You dehydrate faster than you think in hot water. This is especially true at the higher-temperature pools. I have made this mistake more than once
Etiquette Basics
Shower thoroughly with soap before entering any pool, spa, or hot spring. This applies everywhere in Iceland, from the Blue Lagoon to your local sundlaug
Keep voices down at natural hot springs. These are peaceful places
Do not bring glass near any body of water
If you find a wild hot spring, leave it exactly as you found it. No rubbish, no soap, no shampoo
For the full rundown on Icelandic pool culture, see my etiquette guide
Temperature Guide
36 to 38 degrees: Warm and relaxing. Good for long soaks
38 to 40 degrees: The sweet spot for most people. Hot enough to feel it, comfortable enough to stay
40 to 42 degrees: Hot. Most people cannot stay in for more than 15 to 20 minutes
42 degrees and above: Very hot. Enter slowly. Some Icelandic public pools have pots up to 44 degrees. Locals sit in them casually. Visitors tend to last about 3 minutes. I have personally watched this happen many times
Best Time to Visit
Summer (June to August): Midnight sun soaks, access to highland hot springs like Landmannalaugar, warmest weather for natural outdoor pools
Winter (November to February): Steam rising in cold air, northern lights from the water, the most dramatic atmosphere. The premium spas and public pools are great year-round
Shoulder seasons (May, September): Fewer crowds than summer, better weather odds than winter. A sweet spot for most visitors
Find Your Perfect Soak
Soaking in hot water is as Icelandic as it gets. Whether you pick a luxury spa with an ocean view, hike to a hidden river in the mountains, or just slip into the hot pot at your local swimming pool, you are doing something we have done for over a thousand years. In my experience, the best hot spring in Iceland is whichever one you have to yourself.