3 Must Visit Iceland Hot Springs
Iceland has more than 45 natural hot springs that have been discovered scattered throughout the entire country. They all range in temperature, size, and shape. There are 200 swimming pools as well that are typically filled with geothermal water that is heated deep underground such as the famous Blue Lagoon and many others.
During our 1,383 mile road trip around Iceland, we checked these 3 springs off our bucket list and recommend them to you on your trip!
Guðrúnarlaug Hot Spring
Located a short distance from the Ring Road in West Iceland, this hot spring is lesser visited due to its location but it’s easily accessible! It is a unique spot with a neat history behind it. This hot spring dates back 1000s of years, to the Viking Age, with a Viking named Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir. This woman spent a lot of time in and around the hot spring and also had a gift of interpreting dreams.
A landslide closed the original hot spring for 140 years. A replica to the original was built in 2009 and mimicked after what they believe hot springs of the Vikings looked like. This is the hot spring you can visit today.
This hot spring is smaller than the others mentioned and can fit 2-4 people comfortably. While you soak in the hot spring, you will have a view of mountains in the distance and a little waterfall in the background. When you get there, you can change inside the authentic wooden shelter, or leave your things inside away from the weather.
Parking: Dalahotel, Sælingsdalsvegur, 371 Búðardalur, Iceland
Walk: 2 minutes, you can see it from the parking lot
Cost: Free
Hrunalaug Hot Spring
This hot spring is located on a little detour from the famous Golden Circle down a gravel road in the country. It is on private property and has been in the same family since it was built back in the 1890s. While it is private property, the owners do allow visitors but do have a donation box in the parking lot to help with upkeep.
There are three separate pools to soak in at this one spot- laundry, sheep, and tourists. The oldest section of the hot spring, laundry, was built around 1890 and was used to wash laundry and for the family to bathe in. The next pool, sheep, was built in 1935 to bathe their sheep. Lastly, the tourist pool was made in 2017 to meet the needs of the influx of tourists visiting. All three range in temperature from 90-104°F.
The road leading to the parking lot is gravel but it was in good condition that we believe any vehicle (4×4 or not) could drive on this road. Of course, this would vary depending on weather or if the road condition decreases. It is a smaller parking lot but can fit a handful of cars, we recommend going early to be one of the first ones there. From the parking lot, there is the donation box with instructions on cash or to pay via phone. There is a trail to follow to lead you to the hot spring, it takes 3-5 minutes to walk back.
Once you get back there, you will see the wooden shelter, similar to the last hot spring, where you can keep your clothing, electronics, and bags away from the weather. Just note that there is a small stream of hot water that runs through the left side of the shelter, so keep your things on the right side and preferably on the bench.
Parking: Sólheimar, 846 Flúðir, Iceland
Walk: 3-5 minute walk
Cost: $10 USD per person (cash), 2000 ISK per person (cash), or there are payment options via phone as well (must have service)
Laundry Pool
Sheep Pool
Sheep Pool from Behind
Tourist Pool
Blue Lagoon
The other two hot springs are natural, but the Blue Lagoon is man-made. It is known as the most popular attraction in all of Iceland with its milky blue water, frequently visited during short layovers. Honestly, we were not sure if we would like it due to the popularity and crowds, but we are here to tell you, it is so worth visiting!
The prices depend on time of the year, month, day, and time but range from $60-$140 per person. There are also different tickets that you can purchase, we did the comfort package which is their basic version. It included entrance to the lagoon, a face mask, towels, locker, and a complimentary drink at the swim up bar.
We booked our tickets prior to arriving so when we arrived it was easy to check in and head to the changing room/shower area. We were given a wristband that acted as a key for the locker, which we could wear even in the water. The locker was large enough to fit our backpacks, clothing, shoes, and electronics. You will also want to leave any jewelry in the locker as well since the salt water can damage jewelry. From there, you enter the shower area and shower prior to entering the lagoon. This is the point where you want to tie your hair up in a bun, the level of salt in the water can severely damage your hair.
You will then enter the lagoon from inside the building, keeping you warm despite the weather. There is a door that opens that takes you outside, while you are still warm in the water. The water was the perfect temperature at around 100°F, we loved getting a drink and floating around the lagoon. There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from at the bar ranging from beer to wine to slushies! There are sections of the lagoon that are no phone zones. If you wish to take your phone in the lagoon with you, we highly recommend purchasing a waterproof case or pouch, the one we used is here (this link is an affiliate link). Once we were done, we exited the lagoon with our towels and showered off with complimentary shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion.
Parking: VGJW+MGJ, 241 Grindavik, Iceland
Walk: A few minute walk from the parking lot to the building
Cost: $60-$140 per person