***UPDATED***Iceland Lagoon Comparisons

Hvammsvik Hot Springs--Located about 45 minutes north of Reykjavik. You can book a transfer and ticket similar to Sky Lagoon. This is a great stop if you are headed up north at all, or on your way back down. Prices start at about $50, but towels and water shoes are extra and prices depend on time of day. Just like at Sky, you need to take your shoes off before you even enter the locker room.There are 8 pools with varying temperatures, all connected by stone walking paths so the water shoes are very helpful. There is a cold plunge pool, but most people use the fjord as the cold plunge. The locker rooms are small and there are only a handful of showers. The vanity table is tiny and has just one hair dryer. There is no swimsuit spinner here nor plastic bags. There are a couple private shower stalls as well as open ones, and there is a private changing room. Towels can be an issue because if you rent one and put it in a cubby in the proper area, people will sometimes take them and leave you without a towel. If you take your towel outside, keep it in a protected spot as the wind gets quite strong here and will often blow things around. The swim up bar has N/A beer as well as hot cocoa besides the usual beer/wine/sodas. There is a steam room, but we have not used it. The bistro on site is quite good for lunch and the sandwiches are plenty to share. The minimum age here is 10.

Forest Lagoon--This lagoon sits across from the town of Akureyri. It is quite large and the surrounding trees are nice to block the wind. The sauna and cold pool are very nice. The way the lagoon is laid out, there are plenty of spots to sort of sit. The swim up bar has N/A beers as well as the other usual drinks. Their signature drink is very good! Prices start at about $60 and go up depending on if you need a towel etc. There is a free shuttle that they offer from town.There are no private changing rooms, but the showers are private stalls and you can use changing cubbies if you are modest. The age limit varies by time of day. Swimsuits are avaialble for rental. There is a restaurant on site, but we have not eaten there. In the parking lot is a burger food truck that is really good! There is only one picnic bench for seating though, so you may have to eat in your car or take it back to where you are staying.

GeoSea--Located in Husavik right on a fjord. Prices start at $60 and go up depending if you need a towel suit etc. There is a swim up bar, but you have to get out of the water for a few steps to get back into the pool where the bar is. The pool is the infinity style and with sitting on the fjord, the views are very nice. There are some private showers.

Myvatn--This lagoon has been completely renovated since we went, so I can't properly comment on it.

Secret Lagoon--This is located in the Golden Circle. The showers are all open, so no private showers here. They do have a swimsuit spinner! They also have pool noodles since the lagoon is very family friendly. I am very short, so the noodles were nice for me as the deeper areas I was on my tippy toes, but the noodles really helped. Prices start at $36, so the cheapest commercial lagoon by far. They do have towels for rent as well as swimsuits. This is a very basic lagoon, so you are not going to find any extras here, but it is a great place to go, IME. They do have a small cafe, but not a real restaurant, more like a snack bar. They do have drinks you can take in the lagoon, but you have to get out of the pool to go get the drinks. There are a number of day tours that do include this lagoon.

Fontana Laugarvatn--This lagoon is currently closed for renovations but is due to open June 1st. This lagoon sits right on a lake, so that is the cold plunge. There are about 4 different pools, including one long one that is super shallow, maybe a foot deep, and is ideal for families with young kids. The renovations look like it will be really nice! This will include a new steam room that is being built directly over a geysir, a new sauna, locker room revamps, baths that go into the lake and a swim up bar. They do have a small restaurant here, and the rye bread baking tour is very popular. You can book the tour even if you are not wanting to book the lagoon. Towels, swimsuits and bathrobes are all available for rent. Prices for the lagoon starting in June are $62. This is also very family friendly, just like Secret Lagoon.

Laugaras--This lagoon is the newest as it just opened a couple of months ago. We went this past week and absolutely loved it! Hvammsvik has been our favorite for a while, but this one is tied with it. Once again, you take your shoes off before you enter the locket room and there are plenty of benches to sit and do this. The locker room is huge and there were plenty of vanity stations with hair dryers and plastic bags for your swimsuit. There are towels on shelves in each locker area, but you don't need to take one with you as when you get out they will hand you a towel. The showers were all private stalls. The sauna and cold pool were very nice, and just a couple steps from the regular pool. When you first enter the pool, you are on the upper level. You can get to the lower level either by using the stairs to the side of the walkway down, or take the walkway down and go under the waterfall. There is a swim up bar here, with N/A beer and various drinks. I was debating about what I wanted and they offered me a taste which was very nice. Apparently there are 2 swim up bars, but we were not looking and only saw the one. Throughout the pool there are underwater benches with big boulders above the water, and then built in tables so you have somewhere to set your drinks. There are also drink buckets scattered about so you can put your used glasses in those. This one reminded us a lot of Forest Lagoon with the trees, but it has an infinity pool. The age limit here is 8 years old. Prices start at $55. This lagoon does not have luggage storage. There is a restaurant on site, but we did not eat there. They do have a vending machine with drinks, includiing skyr, and sandwiches and cookies. The oat cookie was pretty darn good!

The one thing that I really wish they all would have are the swimsuit spinners, or even just plastic bags. So plan ahead and bring ziplock bags just in case.

Really looking forward to checking out Laugaras on our next visit! Hopefully 2027.

We also enjoyed Vok Baths in Egilsstadir on our last visit in 2025. Situated on a lake with floating pools - there are 3 pools with hot, hotter, and hottest. Also, a mist room and a bar, but one must get out of the pool for a bit. Easy to take a cold plunge in the lake populated with swans. Lovely views across the lake. Choice of teas upon leaving, with outdoor seating overlooking the lake and pools. Favorite of locals with families, which to us is always delightful. We found the walkways and pool bottoms quite slippery - almost slimy.

Inside separate showers, lots of seating, and private lockers. Will start looking for swimsuit spinners, but I always bring a plastic bag!

I really liked the Infinity pool at Sky Lagoon as well as the sauna with a huge window to look out over the ocean.
Hope to visit some more of these on my next trip.

Gail--We have not made it to Vok yet. I have only heard good things about it!

MsJo--Laugaras has the same infinity style pool as Sky, and the view from the sauna there is of the entire rest of the pool as well as out into nature. The expansion of the 7 step ritual at Sky is so nice!!! In the sauna it used to be cramped.

My husband reminded me the pool bottoms were somewhat slimy. Here is a great link, I found yesterday: https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/the-top-7-geothermal-spas-in-iceland

Gail--I have seen that before. I am surprised at it though as it says it was updated on March 6th, and it says Fontana will reopen in April, but it is actually June. So as always, double check directly with the source, for anything. I have not felt any slimy pool bottoms, but sometimes more rocky. Either way, they are all different. At Husafell last week the bottoms were quite rough, and the guide was great at sharing that with us as well as the best way to get in each one. The "rustic" ones I have found to be slippery getting in. At Helulaug, just as I was asking my husband if it was slippery , whoosh down I went , face first. I was fine and could not stop laughing, but apparently a lady did the same thing a few days before and broke her nose.

mikliz, thanks again for the reviews! We are definitely going to Secret Lagoon in July but may want to try a second one, and was thinking about Laugaris. I'm intrigued by Fontana, too, as that sounds super nice!

I'm not worried about the showering. I'm probably the least modest person I know. 😂

By the way, this is totally irrelevant (although you did mention the rye bread baking tour), but I have been intrigued by Icelandic rye bread since I first started reading about it. So the other day, I actually found a recipe for it and made it. Oh wow, it was so good! I had it with a smear of butter, but want to try it with some pickled food or cured meat. I'm sure it's not as good as the bread in Iceland, but It was still pretty delicious and so, so easy to make! It calls for a Pullman pan, which I actually have because I've made German rye breads in the past, but you can make it without it.

https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/icelandic-rye-bread-rugbraud-recipe

mardee--I have made that recipe, lol! It is good! I need to try this new one and compare it though:) If you go to Fontana, I look forward to hearing how it is. We have been, but obviously before the renovation. Hvammsvik and Laugaras would be a good combo as they are so different.

I will definitely let you know, mikliz!

What wonderful reviews the lagoons! Thank you! Mikliz97, what is the “seven step ritual” that you mentioned?
Also, can we bring our own flip-flops to wear at the lagoons instead doing the water shoe rental that you described?
I am really looking forward to exploring and relaxing in the lagoons!

The 7 steps are lagoon, cold plunge, sauna, cold mist, salt scrub, steam room and a final drink of crowberry juice.

All delightful though the steam room, for us, was a bit slippery. The sauna is so peaceful, looking out over the sea.
No rush, but you do these in order. You can repeat the cold plunge as it is by the lagoon. We really enjoyed the experience.

tlj--The only place we have needed/wanted sandals is Hvammsvik and that is because it is right on the fjord, so the walk between some of the pools is on rocks. This is especially true of you do the cold plunge in the fjord. All other lagoons we have never bothered with any sort of water shoes.

Question re practicalities in the pools/spas - if visiting in the daylight, what is the protocol re: sunscreen?
Also, did I read what you do if you’re not washing your hair?

No sunscreen at all. You must shower to get everything off of you before entering a pool/lagoon. They do not use chlorine or any chemicals, so you must be as clean as possible. If you are not washing your hair, put it up so it does not get in the water either. You don't want any hair product getting into the water.

I just read a recent post about reservations at lagoons. Are they required or recommended?
We will be in Iceland between May 22 and June 2 and plan to go to several lagoons: probably Hvammsvik and Laugeras and maybe also Sky and Secret Lagoons. Thanks!

I would absolutely book ahead. The lagoons do book up in advance as they limit the number of people at any given time, so I would book now. Those are all great lagoons, BTW!

I thought I would update this with some of the rustic lagoons we have been to as well.

Hrunalaug is in the Golden Circle and you need to know where you are going as you will not just stumble upon this one. It is quite small, so they limit the number of people at any given time. There is one shower and one toilet at the little building right as you park. You pay there, and when we were there it was cash only. The cost was 3000 ISK per person, so about $25, and a bit more in the afternoon when pricing goes up to 3500 ISK. From the main building you walk down a path to the two changing huts, one for men and one for women. They have little handbaskets, like what you see at the grocery store, and you can put your stuff in those. There are no lockers. You can either leave your things in the hut or take the basket with you. You definitely want some form of sandal/water shoe for walking on these paths. There are three pools, adjacent to each other. They are very slippery to get into, so be careful. We left everything in the hut and just took our phones in water cases. They do have a time limit here of 90 minutes and you cannot bring any drinks etc. NOTE, in 2026 they did a big upgrade and now have lockers etc and towels for rent. With the expansion, they may take cards now, but double check before you go.

In the Westfjords, on the far west side is Dragsnes, and there is a wonderful area with 3 hot tubs right on the ocean there, cold warmed hot. There is a little gate to enter, and on the inside of the gate is a little box to pay, cash only. We did not see the box when we arrived and it was very windy, so we figured we would pay when we were done. Nope, the lady up at the gas station is the one who monitors this and you absolutely have to pay as you walk in. Everyone else had planned to do the same thing, but we all had to go out in the wind to our vehicles and get our cash. I think it was only about 1000 ISK pp. There are some benches inside the gate so you can put your towels, shoes etc on there. There is a public changing room across the street.

Also in the Westfjords is Heydalur. We camped here, so I am not sure if they allow people to visit their hot springs if they are not guests or not. They have a hot spring just before you enter the greenhouse/pool area, and then another one down the hill and over the creek. There are showers adjacent to the greenhouse building. No towel rental, no drinks, no extra cost, just you:)

Another in the Westfjords and not far from Heydalur is Horgshlidarlaug. It is down a long bumpy dirt road. You used to need to get permission from the land owner, but not anymore, according to the locals. There is no toilet, but there is a changing room. This one sits right on the fjord, so the fjord is the cold plunge. Most people, including us, just changed in their camper vans or besides their vehicles. The walk down to the pool is short. There is no cost for this one and we did not see a donation box.

Yet again in the Westfjords, is Hellulaug. If you take the ferry over, this is about 10 minutes west of the ferry dock. The parking is a small lot net to the road, an then you walk down to the hot springs. There is a donation box in the parking lot. There is no toilet, shower, etc. Wear some good shoes to walk down. This sits adjacent to the ocean, with a rocky beach. This was one very slippery to get into. As soon as I asked my husband if it was slippery, whoosh, down I went face first. I was ok, and laughing very hard, but was fine. Apparently a lady did the same thing a day or two before though and broke her nose. This one is protected by the wind so is a nice place to relax for a while.

Krossneslaug Is also in the Westfjords, and we tried to go but had to turn around. This road you have to time with the tides as part of the road is at sea level. The road is very narrow and we had a camper van so were a bit leary. Even though the camper was a 4x4, it was raining and the road was slippery. We went about 15 minutes in and found a place to turn around. Which, even doing that was extremely unnerving because of how narrow the road was. I would only try this in good weather.

Gudrunarlaug is on the way back down from the Westfjords. it is about 15 minutes north of Dalakot. It sits behind a campground and there is no cost, but there is a donation box. There is plenty of parking and a little hut to change in. The hot spring is tiny, but very relaxing.

Landbrotalaug is on Snaefellsness, just south of the Gerduberg Cliffs. It is just north of the 54/55 junction and there is no sign, but look for a dirt road to the left. Take the long road in, park in an empty parking lot and then walk. There is no cost, no services, nothing, just a hot spring. It can be quite warm the closer you are to the spigot. We just changed next to our vehicle and took jackets with us and kept our boots on.

If anyone wants to look at Laugaras Lagoon, the woman who does the Iceland with a View blog just issued a new video showing her day there. It looks really nice!

https://youtu.be/DLJQ6xZAUXI?si=suWAPcrA2t1NK_Qt

Hauganes Hot Pots--This is on the Trollaskagi Peninsula, about 30 minutes north of Akureyri. This sits right on the fjord. There are no signs for it until you get there, but just keep following the road and you will see it on your right. Parking is on the left. It cost 2500ISK pp, so about $20. They take cards and the lady that runs it is very nice, There is a building with toilets, and then you walk down to the hot pot area. The changing rooms, one for men and one for women, were spotless. The showers are outside of that, and then there is a walkway to 3 hot tubs as well as a small boat that has been converted to a hut tub. The fjord is the cold plunge, and because the hot tubs are not chlorinated you must shower again after coming out of the fjord and back into the hot tubs. We went early in the morning and had it to ourselves, but when we were leaving quite a few people were walking in. There is also a good fish market/artisan market across from the parking area.

Hjalteyri Hot Tub--We did not go to this one since it is just a few minutes from Hauganes, but I thought I would include it here. This is just one hot tub that sits on the fjord. Cost is 700ISK cash only per person. There is a changing room, toilet and shower.

Fosslaug--This is at the bottom of the Trollaskagi Peninsula and most people just go to see the falls, but if you continue down the path, you can bath in the hot river. Note that you have to pay to park here, which is 1500 ISK so about $12. The walk down to the waterfalls is about 15 minutes. The waterfalls look like a mini Dynjandi. There are toilets in the parking lot, but no showers and no facilities at all down by the falls/river. We ended up skipping the soak in the river as it was very crowded.

Fontana Laugarvatn--This lagoon is currently closed for renovations but is due to open June 1st

UPDATE: I was just on the Laugarvatn Fontana website, and they just pushed back their opening date to July 1 (it was June 1). I'm still hoping to be able to go there, as we don't leave Iceland until July 15, but I guess I'll wait and see what happens. Hopefully they won't change the date again.

That said, the geothermal baking there is going on now.