Ask any local what one thing you must do while visiting Iceland and 9 times out of 10 they will tell you, visit a local swimming pool. I say take things up a notch and have a true Icelandic experience with a dip in some toasty warm hot springs that are flowing all over this country!
And when I say hot springs I am not talking about the beautiful Blue Lagoon, that just doesn’t count. I am talking about hot springs like the 5 listed below that will take you out in the middle of nowhere and give you one of the most unique soaks of your life!
1 | Landmannalaugar
Hike along some of the most beautiful trails in Iceland and end your day relaxing in a hot spring along with fellow hikers from all over the world. Sounds amazing right! This can all come true with a trip to Landmannalaugar, which translates to “the peoples pool”, so clearly it is a great place to be!
How To Get There | Getting to Landmannalagur is not exactly easy, the drive there includes lots of bumpy mountain roads and crossing a few rivers, not recommend for anyone who is not experienced in this type of driving. So to keep you all safe and make sure you get to visit this beautiful area I recommend checking out this tour. If you are set on driving yourself check out here to rent a jeep that will do the job of getting you back there.
2 | The Secret Lagoon
We have all heard of the Blue Lagoon but the Secret Lagoon, now this is the place to visit! One of the oldest pools in Iceland, the Secret Lagoon is kept as natural as possible giving its visitors a truly unique experience!
How To Get There | From Reykjavik take Route 1 South and turn left on route 30 until you get to the village of Flúðir. From there it should be straightforward to find Hvammsvegur and the Lagoon!
Note | There is an entrance fee of 2.500 ISK ($18 USD) per person. Find more information here.
3 | Rekjadalur
Rekjadalur, aka “The steam valley”, is just a short drive from Reykjavik making it the perfect hot spring to visit for those short on time. A 60-90 minute easy hike takes you back to this beautiful hot spring where it is truly just you and the nature. I recommend enjoying this hot spring with an Icelandic beer or two under the midnight sun!
How To Get There | From Reykjavik take route 1 to Hveragerði. Turn left at the roundabout you come across as you enter Hveragerði. Follow the Breiðamörk road straight through town until it veers to the left where you will find a gravel road, also to the left. Drive to the end of the gravel road and park here. Get your hiking shoes ready and walk the hour long trek back to the lovely Rekjadalur hot springs. Enjoy.
4 | Seljavallalaug
Get the ultimate Icelandic experience with a trip to this unique hot spring! Visit two stunning waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, on your way to Seljavallalaug, one of the oldest still-standing pools in Iceland. What makes this geothermal pool even more unique? One side of the pool is raw mountainside. This swim will have you up close and personal with the stunning Icelandic nature!
How To Get There | Located along the south coast, Seljavallalaug is a 2-3 hour drive from Reykjavik. Driving from Reykjavik turn off the ring road (No.1) onto road 242 marked Raufarfell. Drive until you see a sign that says Seljavellir and turn down the road until you get to a parking lot. There is a pool that was recently built near the parking lot but don’t let it fool you, that is not the pool you are after. From the parking lot walk 15-20 minutes through the valley towards the mountains. It is an easy walk but keep in mind you won’t see the pool until you have almost reached it, so don’t get discourages and keep on walking, it will be an unforgettable experience I promise you!
5 | Hveravellir
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Located between two glaciers, Langjökull and Hofsjökull, Hveravellir is a beautiful geothermal area that will give you one of the most unique bathing experiences of your life! Just imagine watching the Northern Lights while soaking in the warm water of Hveravellir, it sounds too magical to be real!
How To Get There | From Gullfoss take road no. 35 over Kjölur mountain road. After about 90 km drive there will be a sign indicating the direction to turn to Hveravelli. It is a barren landscape but once you arrive to Hveravellir it will be worth it!
And since my directions are a bit wordy here is a map to save to help you find all these hidden gems!
Question of the Day?
Which hot spring do you want to visit? What Iceland post would you like to see next?
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