Hot springs and geothermal pools in Iceland

Check out our map below, covering some of our favorite spots to get into hot water in Iceland, and scroll on to find out the different categories of super soaks, from lush lagoons to postcard-perfect public pools. 

Check out our Vacations page, too, and learn how we can help you plan a trip that takes in some of Iceland's most popular geothermal bathing spots, including Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, Hvammsvík hot springs, and Laugarvatn Fontana.

Taking cues from the attention-grabbing Blue Lagoon (easily among Iceland’s most visited attractions) are a growing number of bathing complexes, springing up in geothermal hotspots around the country and creating an incidental itinerary for road-trippers looking to end each day with a scenic soak.

Reykjavík and around

Blue Lagoon, Grindavík: Close to Keflavík airport, about 50km (31 miles) from Reykjavík, this is a perfect spot (pictured) for new arrivals to acclimatize, or a farewell soak before flying home.

Retreat Spa, Grindavík: A sister spa to the Blue Lagoon, this luxury venue is part of the Retreat Hotel and welcomes non-guests for a sizeable fee.

Sky Lagoon, Reykjavík: The new kid in town opened in 2021, close to the center of Reykjavík, with a 75-meter (246ft) infinity-edge pool and a sauna with a fab view.

Hvammsvík, Hvalfjörður: About an hour's drive from Reykjavík, Hvammsvík has a cluster of small rockpools sitting pretty on a fjord edge.

Krauma, Reykholt: Smaller in scale, this is a boutique complex (pictured) in West Iceland, about 100km (62 miles) from the capital.

Laugarvatn Fontana, Laugarvatn: A great Golden Circle detour.

Secret Lagoon, Fluðir: A misty lagoon with a long history (dating from 1891), also close to the Golden Circle highlights.

North Iceland

Forest Lagoon, Akureyri: A new addition to the north, this smart complex makes the most of a forested location outside the town of Akureyri.

Mývatn Nature Baths, Mývatn: North Iceland's version of the Blue Lagoon, in an active geothermal hotspot.

GeoSea, Húsavík: Award-winning design (pictured) and great mountain views in North Iceland (look out for whales!).

East Iceland

Vök Baths, Egilsstaðir: Two pools float in lake waters in this stylish complex in East Iceland.

Highlands

Highland Base Baths, Kerlingarfjöll: A new link in the chain of pools is at a stylish highland accommodation complex off the Kjölur route, developed by the Blue Lagoon family.

Thinking about bathing in Iceland may conjure images of luxury lagoons set in lava, but some of the country's best (and most affordable) swimming and soaking spots are its humble neighborhood pools. Look for signs for 'sundlaug'. Almost every town and village has one, and they're the hub of local life all year round.

Reykjavik: The capital has a remarkable 18 swimming pools. Favorites include downtown Sundhöllin, west-side Vesturbæjarlaug, saltwater Seltjarnarnes, and the biggest of all, Laugardalslaug.

Outside Reykjavík, the list of scenic pools could run to many pages. Many have perfected the combination of relaxing geothermal soak accompanied by endless vistas. Here are some to add to your itinerary:

Hofsós: One of Iceland's most photogenic swimming pools (pictured), fjordside in North Iceland.

Krossneslaug: A remote pool on the Strandir coast in the Westfjords.

Birkimelur: On the south coast of the Westfjords, west of the ferry terminal at Brjánslækur.

Selardálslaug: Another remote beauty, by a salmon-fishing river near Vopnafjörður in Northeast Iceland.

There's no shortage of unique natural places to get into hot water in Iceland.

Nauthólsvík is a beach in Reykjavík with a large hot-pot on the shore. In addition, warm water is pumped into an artificial lagoon on the sand and the outcome is a refreshing swimming area averaging 15-19°C (59-66°F) in summer.

The geothermal river Varmá, in Reykjadalur valley (pictured), can be reached by an uphill hike (around 45-60 minutes each way) from a car park and trailhead near the town of Hveragerði. It's a popular destination, with bathers enjoying the novelty of a 'hot river'. You can move to different spots to find your optimum water temperature (the further upstream, the warmer the water).

Landmannalaugar is a highland oasis, home to hiking trails and a natural hot pool. In the central highlands, beside the large Askja crater, is a smaller crater known as Víti. It's a slippery climb in and out of the crater, but it's a popular bathing site with milky-blue water around 30°C (86°F). Another great highland soak spot is at Hveravellir nature reserve.

Then there's the multitude of hot-pots dotted around the country – many hotels have them, and many Icelanders consider summer houses to be incomplete without them.

West Iceland

You can take a tour to the Húsafell Canyon Baths, snug in a scenic ravine. In the town of Akranes, there's a fantastic beachside construction of hot pools known as Guðlaug. Guðrúnarlaug (or Guðrún's Pool) is a sweet soak spot in Dalir. Are you picking up a theme here? Yes, the Icelandic word 'laug' means pool (and 'sundlaug' means swimming pool).

North Iceland

The small northern town of Hauganes has a great collection of pools (pictured) by the fjord's edge (including one in a boat!), and a nearby brewery has outdoor hot-pots plus indoor beer baths. Grettislaug, north of the northern town of Sauðarkrókur, has a storied history tied to the Icelandic sagas.

Westfjords

There's a collection of pots in scenic Westfjords locales: one in Tálknafjörður (known as 'Pollurinn') and another in Drangsnes. At Reykhólar you can soak in seaweed seabaths.

East & Southeast Iceland

In the east, in the small village of Borgarfjörður Eystri, a guesthouse offers hot-pots and barrel-like saunas with superb views (pictured). In the eastern highlands, Laugarfell is a wonderful hiking spot with post-hike hot pools, and en route there you can visit the Wilderness Center, also with a hot spring and bathhouse.

At Hoffell in the southeast, there's a simple collection of pools with glacier views. The area is soon to be redeveloped by the Blue Lagoon.

Community swimming pools are designed to appeal to everyone. Generally speaking, most complexes will have a main central pool – usually around 25 meters in length – which is used by serious lap-swimmers and learners alike. These pools tend to be around 27-30°C (80-86°F). 

Additionally, most community pools have a selection of smaller, warmer pools – generally known as hot tubs or hot-pots ('heitur pottur' in Icelandic) – with water temperature around 38 to 40°C, which are perfect for relaxing during the colder months, or soothing aching muscles after a vigorous swimming session. Many pools will also have a sauna or steam room, and areas for lounging, sunbathing (depending on the time of year, of course!), and chatting with friends.

Given that Iceland has an abundance of community pools, you’re guaranteed to find something to suit your tastes, from family-friendly pools with twisty waterslides, to gorgeous views, to steaming hot-pots.

In the Reykjavík area alone, you can take your pick of 18 geothermal swimming pools.

Photo: Aerial view of Birkimelur swimming pool, Westfjords

You should wear regular swimwear. Some larger lagoons and pools in Iceland have options to rent swimwear if you don’t pack yours, but it's worth checking beforehand.

Photo: Aerial view of bathers at Secret Lagoon, Fluðir. Photo by Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson

Whatever pool you choose, across Iceland it's mandatory that you wash before diving in. You're required to shower before you change into your swimsuit to ensure the pools are kept as clean and chemical-free as possible, for all to enjoy.

You might find 'guards' in the shower area of large pools and lagoons who keep an eye out for anyone neglecting to wash before swimming. If you're worried about showering in front of others, don't be shy! Bathrooms are divided between men and woman, and showering beforehand is not only accepted as the norm, but it's demanded of anyone wanting to bathe.

Many showers are communal, but a number of larger pools and lagoons offer private cubicles.

Not showering is a guaranteed way to annoy a local. Watch the video and learn!

The definition of a hot spring is 'a naturally occurring spring of water that is warmed by heat within the Earth'. Hot springs are also referred to as thermal or geothermal springs – the word 'thermal' means relating to heat.

With hot springs in Iceland, the groundwater is naturally heated by volcanic sources. As the water is heated, it rises through fissures, crevices, and volcanic crust to emerge in hot springs and other geothermal features, such as geysers, fumaroles, steam vents, and mud pots you can see at various geothermal areas around the country.

Photo: Geysir on the Golden Circle

Not to get too technical: Iceland has a unique position straddling the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. As a result, it’s a geological hotbed of activity.

This activity can take the form of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and also results in some unique tourist attractions – such as the Bridge between Continents on the Reykjanes peninsula, or the Silfra fissure in Þingvellir National Park, where you can dive or snorkel in crystal-clear water between tectonic plates.

Photo: Scuba diving at Silfra

The temperature of Iceland's natural hot springs varies, but some water emerges from the ground at the perfect temperature for bathing (38-40°C, or 100-104°F), while some water emerges at a far hotter temperature.

Some natural hot springs are in the perfect state to attract bathers, and can be found as natural small pools in the countryside, or places such as the unique Reykjadalur 'hot spring river'.

More commonly, hot springs have their water channelled (and temperature regulated, with the help of cooler water) to fill constructed facilities like luxury lagoons, town swimming pools, hot-pots (like a jacuzzi without the bubbles) and more.

Fun fact: Geothermal water is used to heat most homes in Iceland, and is also used to heat greenhouses where fruits and vegetables are grown.

Photo: Sky Lagoon, Reykjavík

The natural hot springs in Iceland contain a variety of minerals that are found to have health benefits. Minerals like magnesium are known to help the skin's radiance, and sodium that's known to have anti-inflammatory powers can be found in the natural waters.

As well as the mineral benefits, relaxing in a hot spring can calm your mind and body, so it's the perfect spot to unwind from the everyday.

Photo: Blue Lagoon offers silica mud masks to all visitors