Iceland’s hot springs are more than the Blue Lagoon
Most visitors to Iceland choose the Blue Lagoon because it is close to Reykjavik. You can find Iceland’s hot springs in so many places. I will show you some of those I found around the island.
The Blue Lagoon
Do not get me wrong, the Blue Lagoon is, in a way, a must when you visit Iceland. And It often is included in the one-day Golden circle guided tour. It is also convenient that it is not so far from Reykjavik, so it is easy to do on a day trip. But, it is also the most expensive one, and you feel like you are in a bathing line, with so many people and stress, and limited time. The ones I will write about are further away, and it is easiest to reach if you have hire a car and drive the Circle line of Iceland as I did in 2020.
Guðrúnarlaug hot spring
The first hot spring I visited on my Circle road trip was Guðrúnarlaug, one of many “hidden” geothermal pools in Iceland, located in the western part of the country. Gudrunarlaug is named after one of the great heroines of the Icelandic Sagas Guðrún Ósvidurdttóir. Unlike most natural geothermal pools in Iceland, there’s a changing room just a couple of meters away from the pool.
I arrived here around 23 at night, it is near a camping site. When I arrived, one lady was in the water but was just about to leave. Therefore I had around 30 minutes in this pool all by myself. It was so hot to climb into, but oh, how nice. It was a chilly night, but I was sitting there sweating in my head. After 30 minutes, some cars stopped at the parking, and I enjoyed my stay and was ready to drive on. This pool is free.
Mývatn Nature Baths
I will say Mývatn Nature Baths is my favorite hot spring in Iceland. It is far from Rekjavik, but that is also why it is so appealing; in size, it compares to Blue Lagoon but without all the people and stress, and you can spend how much time you want here. It is also situated in a much more open space. So you can admire the view while enjoying the hot water and maybe a drink.
Krafla shower
One of the most amazing bathrooms is located next to the geothermal station Krafla in Iceland. A shower on the side of the road in the middle of a large patch of bare ground. It not have walls, but the shower is working perfectly fine. It is connected to a thermal spring, as a result of which there is hot water in the shower all year round. In 2017, a sink was installed on a drain pipe. It is not connected to a water pipe but is used for decorative purposes. An unusual bathroom where you can have some fun pictures taken.
Grettislaug Hot Springs
There are infinite places to visit in Iceland; one such destination is Grettislaug Hot Springs. Yes! A must-visit place if you love to be amidst the beautiful Icelandic landscape, in the lap of nature by the seaside. Grettislaug’s hot spring pool is located in North Iceland. It is inside a campsite, and I arrived here late at night. The picture above is taken around 01:00 at night. It was raining and cold and so heavenly to sink into the hot water.
Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River
Hiking into the steam-filled valley of Reykjadalur Hot Springs and bathing in a hot river make for the perfect combination of active adventure and relaxation. When I started from the bottom of the valley, it took me about one hour to get to the first spots where I could sink into the water. It was a very windy day; it almost felt like a storm; in some places, it was difficult to stand up. This meant it was an extra award when I finally could undress and get into the heated water. Dipping in a river is very different from a pond or pool. So if there were one thing that disappointed me a little bit, it was the fact the water was so shallow, so I had to lay out completely flat on the rocky bottom to get my whole body warmed up. Still, it was an extraordinary experience.
