Locals gather at their neighbourhood pool the way others meet at a café — it's cheap, social and deeply Icelandic. Around Reykjavík the options range from polished design-led lagoons to wild natural hot springs, and choosing between them depends entirely on what kind of experience you're after. Here's the full menu, and how to choose.
Worth adding to your Reykjavík itinerary
Whether you're planning a soak at Sky Lagoon on the city's oceanfront edge in Kópavogur, a wilder experience at Hvammsvík Hot Springs in Hvalfjörður, or a hike to the natural hot river at Reykjadalur near Hveragerði, Reykjavík is the perfect base for Iceland's geothermal world. The Secret Lagoon near Flúðir on the Golden Circle route and the high-altitude hot springs at Landmannalaugar are also within easy reach on a day trip.
The geothermal lagoons — the spa experience
These are the polished, design-led spas built for a relaxing soak — with towels, bars and the full treatment.
Sky Lagoon
The standout right on the edge of the city, in Kópavogur. Sky Lagoon pairs a dramatic oceanfront infinity edge with the seven-step Skjól ritual — warm lagoon, cold plunge, sauna, cold mist, sea-salt scrub, steam and a crowberry elixir. It's about 15 minutes from downtown, making it the easiest premium soak from Reykjavík — and a magical spot to watch the sunset or, in winter, the northern lights. The 12+ age limit keeps the atmosphere calm and genuinely spa-like. (See our complete Sky Lagoon guide and how to get there.)
Hvammsvík Hot Springs
About 45 minutes north of the city in Hvalfjörður, Hvammsvík is a more natural-feeling collection of pools right at the sea's edge, where the tide actually influences the water level and temperature. A lovely, less-polished alternative for those wanting something wilder but still curated — the views across the fjord are genuinely beautiful.
Blue Lagoon
The famous one, out on the Reykjanes Peninsula (~45–50 minutes from Reykjavík). Iconic milky-blue silica water and face masks, but pricier and farther than the city options. Works particularly well as an airport-bookend stop on arrival or departure day, since it sits just 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport. (See our Blue Lagoon guide and the Sky Lagoon vs Blue Lagoon comparison.)
The local geothermal pools — the authentic (and cheap) option
This is where Icelanders actually bathe. Every neighbourhood has a public sundlaug (swimming pool) heated by geothermal water, with lap pools, warm hot pots (heitur pottur) at varying temperatures, often a steam room, and sometimes a sauna or cold tub. They're cheap — usually around 1,300 ISK for adults — and gloriously local.
- Laugardalslaug — Reykjavík's largest pool, with multiple hot pots, a steam bath, a saltwater tub and a waterslide. The all-rounder.
- Sundhöllin — The oldest pool in the city, a handsome 1930s building near Hallgrímskirkja, with indoor and outdoor pools and rooftop hot pots.
- Vesturbæjarlaug — A beloved west-side favourite with a great hot-pot social scene.
- Seltjarnarnes — A bit out of the centre, prized for its quieter oceanside setting.
Why bother when there are lagoons? Because the local pools are where you'll feel real Reykjavík life — for the price of a coffee. Many visitors do both: a spa lagoon as a treat, and a neighbourhood pool for the everyday magic.
Natural hot springs near Reykjavík
Want to soak in nature, not a built pool?
- Reykjadalur ("Steam Valley") — Near Hveragerði, about 45 minutes from the city, this is a naturally warm river you reach via a scenic ~3 km uphill hike (allow ~45–60 minutes each way). You bathe in the river itself, choosing your spot by temperature. Bring sturdy shoes, a swimsuit and a towel; there are basic changing screens but no permanent facilities in the water.
- Hvammsvík (above) straddles the line between natural and curated — its tidal pools are genuinely shaped by the fjord.
The Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin) near Flúðir on the Golden Circle route is another excellent natural-feeling option — one of Iceland's oldest public pools, small, unpretentious and genuinely warm at around 38–40°C.
Nauthólsvík geothermal beach
A quirky Reykjavík favourite: Nauthólsvík is a small golden-sand beach where geothermal water is pumped in to warm a lagoon-like area, alongside hot pots and open sea for the brave. It's a fun, low-cost and very local way to combine "beach" and "hot tub" in a country not known for either.
Hot-pool etiquette — read before you go
Iceland's bathing culture comes with firm, simple rules. Follow them and you'll fit right in:
- Shower thoroughly without a swimsuit before entering. This is non-negotiable at all Icelandic pools and lagoons — it's how Iceland keeps lightly chlorinated water clean.
- Wash the key areas highlighted on the signs in the shower room.
- Keep it calm in the hot pots — they're for soaking and chatting, not splashing.
- Shower again after, and wring out your swimwear in the designated spots.
- No photos in changing rooms. Privacy is respected strictly everywhere.
Which should you choose?
- Want a memorable treat with a view and a ritual: Sky Lagoon.
- Want the authentic local experience for a few hundred krónur: a public pool like Laugardalslaug.
- Want nature and a hike: Reykjadalur hot river.
- Want the famous bucket-list spa: Blue Lagoon.
- Want something quirky and cheap: Nauthólsvík geothermal beach.
Many visitors mix and match — and honestly, you can't go wrong. Soaking in geothermal water might be the most quintessentially Icelandic thing you do on your trip.