Hot Springs and Hot Tubs – The Best Pools in Iceland

Updated April 2022

Lounging around in hot tubs and hot springs is a national pastime in Iceland. Instead of going to the pub or the park, Icelanders like to gather in their local pool. The idea is to get fresh air, exercise and lastly but not least discuss world matters. There is no better way to get in touch with the nation than in the pools and hot springs found everywhere you go in Iceland. Here are our favorite and probably the best swimming pools and hot springs in Iceland !

Laugaskard

Located in the idyllic town of Hveragerdi, the Laugaskard swimming pool was built by volunteers in 1938. The pool is a 50m long flow-through pool and heated with thermal steam which ensures the purity of the water. Some say gives it healing power and we are not the ones to doubt! The pool has a warm, shallow sitting pool and a children’s pool. Along with a hot tub with electronic massage as well as a natural sauna built over a hot spring. Built in a small valley, the pool is shielded from the sterner elements of Icelandic weather.  It offers a beautiful view over the surrounding mountains.

Hofsos

Often named as the most beautiful man-made swimming pool in Iceland, the Hofsos swimming pool was designed by the same architect who designed the renowned Blue Lagoon. Built into the hillside, the view out to sea and over to Drangey island is breathtaking. While the pool is not really an infinity pool, the impression you get as you swim in the geothermal waters is that you’re right at the edge of the world. The pool is 25 m long and has a hot tub, steambath and an infrared sauna for guests to enjoy as well.

Sundhollin í Reykjavik

Sundhollin is the oldest pool in Reykjavik. It has always been popular with the locals who go there for the calm environment and mostly original fixtures. A rare indoor pool, Sundhollin is the only pool in Reykjavik to offer a proper diving board.  Its deep end reaching a whopping 3.5 meters. The hot tubs are located outside on a balcony so you can still get the experience of soaking in hot geothermal water in the cool Icelandic weather. There’s also a small steam room outside.

Grettislaug

This man-made pool in Reykir in North Iceland is said to be were the Saga hero Grettir Asmundarson bathed after his demanding swim from Drangey island to get fire. The pool is oval-shaped and fits around 15 to 20 people at the same time.  It is quite warm and has a temperature of 42-43 °C. The lovely rock pool is the perfect place for a serene soak. The area around it has a campsite, a guesthouse and a small café, along with several hiking trails.

The Secret Lagoon

The Secret Lagoon is a natural hot spring pool, located in the small village of Fludir. The pool is surrounded by geothermal spots and a little Geysir which erupts every 5 minutes, lending the place an otherworldly air. Originally built in 1891 the Secret Lagoon, or Gamla Laugin (the Old Pool) as it is known in Icelandic, was Iceland’s first swimming pool. The pool is fed by a hot spring that constantly replenishes itself so that there is a steady supply of fresh clean 38-39°C water in the pool.

Arbaejarlaug

The Arbaejarlaug swimming pool is ever popular with the locals of Reykjavik for its size and variation. It is comprised of an outdoor pool, indoor children’s pool, outdoor paddling pool, water slide and fountains for children. Along with several hot tubs, steam bath and sauna, so everyone should be able to find something to their taste. The indoor pool is under a huge glass dome. But the pools are all connected to each other so you can travel between all the pools without ever getting out of the water.

Nautholsvik

The Nautholsvik geothermal beach was created to establish a diverse outdoor recreational area. The project, involved the construction of a lagoon with high sea walls, where cold sea and hot geothermal water fuse together, resulting in perfect temperatures for bathing. Guests on the white sand beach can enjoy sunbathing, sailing and sea-swimming, a very popular pastime among the locals. There are also hot tubs and a steam baths to warm you up after swimming in the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Seltjarnarneslaug

Seltjarnarneslaug swimming pool likes to boast that its water is particularly healthy as it comes directly from a nearby borehole, making it rich in minerals and ideal for treating various skin conditions. Whether you believe in that or not the pool is nevertheless one of the nicest ones in the Reykjavik area. It has a warm pool, a cold pool for swimming, several hot tubs, a cold tub, and a steam room. This pool is also very child-friendly because of the big wading pool with different animal-shaped fountains and a waterslide.

Leirubakki

The Viking Pool, as it is often called, is built from stone and lava walls form a sheltering enclosure around the circular, sunken pool. The Leirubakki pool is small, it fits around four people at a time, and lined with cut lava blocks. Leirubakki is one of a few farms in the Hekla area, since the volcano is one of the most active ones in Iceland. This means that the landscape is absolutely stunning and there’s no better way to enjoy it than in a warm pool.

Landmannalaugar

The “Farmer’s Pool” as the locals call it, in Landmannalaugar is a natural hot spring in one of Iceland’s most rugged, yet beautiful areas. The water in the pool springs from underneath a fifteenth-century magma stream and blends with a cold stream, creating a Goldilocks-level of perfect temperature for bathing. There are changing rooms available for guests, as well as outdoor showers for the complete natural experience. Bathing in a hot spring in the highlands is an unforgettable experience.  For those who have just finished the famous Laugavegur hiking trail, it’s a welcome relaxation.