Iceland's geothermal lagoons are purpose-built bathing spas filled with naturally heated water. Most geothermal lagoons keep their bathing water between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius. Icelandic bathing custom requires every guest to shower thoroughly without a swimsuit before entering a pool or lagoon.

What sets Iceland's geothermal lagoons apart

Iceland's geothermal lagoons are purpose-built bathing spas filled with naturally heated water, which makes them different from municipal swimming pools and undeveloped wild hot springs. Most Icelandic geothermal lagoons keep their bathing water between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius. Icelandic bathing custom requires every guest to shower thoroughly without a swimsuit before entering a pool or lagoon.

Comparing the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon near Reykjavik

The Blue Lagoon sits in a lava field about 5 km from the town of Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula, and its admission options are sold for timed entry. The Blue Lagoon is roughly 20 km from Keflavik International Airport. The Blue Lagoon's bathing water is generally between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius. The Blue Lagoon water is about 70 percent seawater and 30 percent freshwater. The Blue Lagoon's milky blue colour comes from a high silica content of around 135 to 140 mg per litre. Silica settles into a soft white mud on the Blue Lagoon floor that bathers spread on their skin as a mask. The Blue Lagoon formed in 1976 when mineral-rich runoff water from the neighbouring Svartsengi geothermal power plant collected in the lava field.

Sky Lagoon is located in Kopavogur, a town directly beside Reykjavik. Sky Lagoon opened in 2021. Sky Lagoon has a 75 metre infinity-edge pool that appears to merge with Faxafloi Bay and the North Atlantic horizon. Sky Lagoon's signature Skjol ritual is a sequence of 7 steps that alternate heat and cold. The cold plunge in the Sky Lagoon ritual is kept at about 5 degrees Celsius.

The Golden Circle lagoons at Fludir and Laugarvatn

The Secret Lagoon, known locally as Gamla Laugin, lies in the village of Fludir and is easy to combine with the Golden Circle. The Secret Lagoon is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, built in 1891. The Secret Lagoon water stays between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius all year round. The first swimming lessons in Iceland were held at Gamla Laugin in 1909. A small geyser called Litli Geysir beside the Secret Lagoon spouts every few minutes. The Secret Lagoon reopened to visitors in 2014 after decades of disuse.

Laugarvatn Fontana stands on the shore of Lake Laugarvatn, about one hour from Reykjavik and in the heart of the Golden Circle. Laugarvatn Fontana has natural steam rooms built over a bubbling hot spring, where the steam usually ranges from 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. At Laugarvatn Fontana, traditional rye bread is baked in the black sand, heated by the earth for about 24 hours. Guests at Laugarvatn Fontana can step straight from the warm pools into the cool water of Lake Laugarvatn.

Northern and eastern options at Myvatn, Akureyri and Egilsstadir

Myvatn Nature Baths, known as Jardbodin and rebranded Earth Lagoon in 2025, sits at Jardbadsholar in North Iceland. Myvatn Nature Baths is about 90 km east of Akureyri. The Myvatn lagoon is heated to roughly 36 to 40 degrees Celsius. Myvatn's geothermal water arrives from the Bjarnarflag borehole at around 130 degrees Celsius and is cooled before it reaches the lagoon. Myvatn Nature Baths first opened in 2004.

Forest Lagoon opened in 2022 in Vadlaskogur forest, a few minutes drive from Akureyri. Forest Lagoon overlooks Eyjafjordur, one of Iceland's longest fjords, and is surrounded by birch and pine trees. Forest Lagoon's main pool is kept at about 37 degrees Celsius, with a separate cold pool at about 11 degrees Celsius. Forest Lagoon's geothermal water was discovered in 2015 during construction of the Vadlaheidi road tunnel.

Vok Baths sits on the shore of Lake Urridavatn, a few minutes from Egilsstadir in East Iceland. Vok Baths opened in 2019 and has the first floating infinity pools in Iceland. Vok Baths is the only geothermal spa in Iceland whose water is certified safe to drink. Vok Baths uses no chemicals in its natural geothermal water.

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Choosing the lagoon that fits your trip

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