7 Iceland Hot Springs: Where To Find An Authentic Experience

Authentic travel in Iceland is a big deal; this country isn’t chock full of theme parks, flashing neon lights, giant malls, or other markers of a heavily touristic destination. Instead, traveling to Iceland feels more “back to basics” than most.

People come here for the outdoor adventure opportunities such as challenging hikes, rough campgrounds, riding on galloping Icelandic horses, and feeling as if we are living close to nature as it was and always has been.

And because of that, a visit to Iceland isn’t complete without stops at some of its natural hot springs. After all, they play an important part in Iceland’s history.

 

Family in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

There’s always time for a family face mask at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the biggest tourist attraction in Iceland, and it’s the only place in the country where I saw lines formed like they are in Disneyland.

Literally, the only theme-park-like part of the entire country were these blue waters! We had a moderate amount of fun there, but to be honest it felt absolutely antithetical to what Iceland stood for, for us anyway.

The Blue Lagoon isn’t a natural hot spring, it is actually run-off from the hydroelectric plant right next to it – more like a hot tub than hot springs.

With all the hot springs in Iceland that are natural and bubbling right up from the depths of the earth (or so it seems), it felt silly to spend much time in this man-made side effect of a power plant.

The main building’s gift shop is quite a shock as well; the prices for the facial scrubs, masks and so on would be right at home on 5th Avenue.

One benefit, admittedly, is that the artificial nature of the Blue Lagoon meant that there was no strong smell of sulfur. Those real hot springs can be reminiscent of boiled eggs at times.

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland with cranes in background

Juxtaposition of bathers trying to relax with construction equipment swinging around in the background

The Secret Lagoon

Iceland’s natural hot springs abound. One is in the small town of Fludir in the Golden Circle. The Secret Lagoon, which is the second most popular lagoon with tourists, is heated from natural thermal vents and hot springs; it’s natural and more authentic than The Blue Lagoon.

The water’s temperature is constantly around 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit (38-40 Celsius) so even in the summer steam rises from the water.

There are bathrooms and small changing rooms for men and women to get into their bathing suits, take a shower, and splash right in.

I also enjoyed the walking path around the Secret Lagoon, which takes us through muddy areas around geothermal pools.

When seen from more than a few yards away, the tall grasses obscure the rivulets so that all we see is steam coming from the ground and occasional small geysers.

Natural hot springs, thermal vents and the Secret Lagoon in Iceland

The ground is hot; this is some resilient moss we’re lookin’ at

Fun fact, The Secret Lagoon in Fludir has one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland. (The oldest is also in Fludir.)

The oldest one, Hveraholmi, started operating in 1908 and the younger one, in Fludir’s village, started in 1945. The swimming pool in Hveraholmi was first built in 1891, and both were created from the hot springs to help teach Icelanders how to swim.

The excess hot water from the natural hot springs heats all of Fludir’s residences and provides hot water for greenhouses as well.

Family soak in the Secret Lagoon for authentic travel in Iceland

When we were at the Secret Lagoon, we were the only English-speaking travelers there. Felt great!

Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar is my favorite of the natural hot springs we saw during our travel in Iceland. And it was so cold and miserable when we went there, none of us even got in the water!

Authentic travel in Iceland at Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar, in the Highlands of Iceland. Yes, it took me a full minute to type “Landmannalaugar”

That didn’t stop some hardy Germans and other Nordic types we saw though; I worked hard to get a photo at an angle that hid their nudity.

Being cold and miserable is part of authentic travel in Iceland, so we did our best to appreciate it — though we did splurge on some gift shop hats and gloves…remember, this was July: we were unprepared.

Lots of backpackers and campers stay in Landmannalaugar, and their tents were flapping in the wind as we walked by to the changing-slash-picnic area.

It’s chillier in Landmannalaugar than some areas in the southern half of Iceland because it’s up in the Highlands of Iceland, in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve.

Now, to get to Landmannalaugar, we need a four wheel drive vehicle; either be sure to specify 4WD when renting handling your car rentals, or hire a driver.

Some people ride horses there, but it’s a long way by horse, and again, the weather is often windy and cold in the Highlands of Iceland.

Authentic travel in Iceland at natural hot springs

After I stepped in some mud and soaked my socks, I thought, “would a Viking complain? No? So simmer down”

It’s worth the trip. The landscape of Landmannalaugar and the Highlands is stunning. The rivers coming down from icy knolls and hills, the lava fields, the hardy little flowers all look like something out of Middle Earth (indeed, the Lord of the Rings trilogy could have been filmed here if Iceland had the infrastructure).

Nordic bathers in thermal hot springs in Iceland

I met the challenge of getting a G-rated photo of these decidedly non-shy Nordic bathers

Landmannalaugar translates to “the people’s pools,” and yup, travelers of a certain sort absolutely take advantage of the clothing-optional aspect of the natural hot springs here.

Walking around the rivulets and springs, occasionally stepping off the pathways and sinking our feet into the mud, and hiking just out of sight of the huts and picnic area felt terrific.

Supposedly, Landmannalaugar is Iceland’s peak place to see the northern lights, though we left before sundown. Sundown, by the way, is around 10:30 at night in the summertime, so more precisely we left in the late afternoon. Travelers who wish to see the northern lights in Iceland should come to Landmannalaugar in September.

Thermal vents in Iceland's Highlands

Imagine being a Viking living here in the year 1100. I bet they couldn’t even charge their iPhones to be able to take photos like these

Snorri’s Pool

Snorri’s Pool is interesting from a historical standpoint, but people aren’t allowed to soak in it anymore. In the small town of Reykholt, this geothermal pool once belonged to the famous, real-life Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241).

He has taken on almost mythological status in Iceland, and is responsible either personally or tangentially for much of the great literature and Norse mythology of Iceland.

He lived here, on his farmland in Reykholt, and used an underground tunnel that connected his house to the natural hot spring’s pool.

Snorri's pool in Iceland

Snorri’s pool in Iceland

If Snorri’s name sounds somewhat dwarvish to you, it’s no surprise. JRR Tolkien was inspired by Norse mythology when he created Middle Earth — Midgard is a level below Asgard in Norse mythology, and elves, dwarves, and and other fantastical species were first conceived as living one of its Nine Worlds.

Deildartunguhver

Deildartunguhver thermal springs is really hot; the water temperature is around 212 Fahrenheit! The steam hits us in the face and cools right away (this being Iceland and all) and then immediately, our faces have billowing steam around then again.

This constant flow of very hot hot water and the mini-geysers spurting up from the earth are absolutely, and for very obvious reasons, off limits for bathers.

Authentic travel in Iceland includes visits to natural hot springs

Deildartunguhver is truly “nature in the raw.” Not pictured: a row of orange traffic cones to keep doofus tourists from getting too close

The hot water from Deildartunguhver heats the homes and provides hot water through distribution pipes to Akron’s, Borgarnes and Hvanneyri; one of Iceland’s biggest assets for residents is the abundance of free heating and hot water from its natural hot springs.

Deildartunguhver thermal hot spring in Iceland

I hope I spelled Deildartunguhver right the first time, cuz I’ve been copy/pasting it ever since

Clearly, travel in Iceland ought include visits to some of its amazing natural hot springs. The Blue Lagoon is worth a stop, I suppose, but hiking rugged terrain to see hot steam rise from cracks in the earth, while feeling the cold Icelandic air on our faces, can bring out the Viking in all of us.

Still on our bucket list….

Lake Mývatn

Located in the heart of north-east Iceland about 105 kilometres (65 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, Lake Mývatn with its unique nature and rich birdlife is one of Europe´s greatest natural treasures. We didn’t visit on this trip, but it is definitely worth mentioning.

Grjótagjá is a volcanic cave lake near here with another natural hot spring. For a long time it was too hot for people to swim in, but as of late it’s been the right temp…just talk with a guide before making the trek, though. Fun Fact: This secret sex cave where Jon Snow became one with Ygritte, in the Game of Thrones episode, Kissed by Fire.

Seljavallalaug

On the south coast, it’s one of the oldest still-standing pools in Iceland. We’ve heard there are pot holes on the road there and that the water is only luke-warm…but that it is still worth the effort because of the sensational scenery.

Well, taking a bath in the natural hot springs pools like Landmannalaugar would truly bring out our inner tough guy, but honestly, I’m not that much of a Viking.  Iceland taught me that much.

When we travel to Iceland, we can learn as much about ourselves as we do this amazing, almost fantastical country. Maybe next time I’ll head over to Laugarvatn Fontana for something a little more luxurious.

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Authentic travel in Iceland is a big deal; this country isn’t chock full of theme parks, flashing neon lights, giant malls, or other markers of a heavily touristic destination. Instead, traveling to Iceland feels more “back to basics” than most.

6 Comments on "7 Iceland Hot Springs: Where To Find An Authentic Experience"

  1. What!?! The Blue Lagoon is FAKE?!? (Meaning not a natural hot spring?) No one ever, ever, ever posts the industrial side, only the pretty scenic background. I am completely stunned.

    Love this post and nice job with the G-rated photos. That couldn’t have been easy!

  2. You saw a whole, gorgeous side of Iceland up north that I missed. Your article is very persuasive.
    And now I’m glad I skipped the Blue Lagoon.

  3. It’s understandable why the Blue Lagoon was named a wonder of the world by National Geographic.

  4. Those natural hot springs look amazing! I would definitely skip the power plant run-off in favor of the authentic natural hot springs. Thanks for sharing !

  5. Lovely pictures and thank you for enlightening me on the hot springs.

  6. Iceland is beautiful, I love how it can just visitors “back to basics.” And the Blue Lagoon is definitely worth experiencing.

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