Lagoons and Pools: Staying Warm in Iceland
Just the thought of Iceland will make you shiver. Vacationing in a place where the high in the summer is only 50 degrees, doesn’t sound very relaxing. However, Iceland’s lagoons and thermal pools can warm the chilliest of visitors.
Today, near every single Icelandic person is an able swimmer, since swimming lessons are conducted in pools and are mandatory for every Icelandic child.
The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland. It is the most popular attraction in Iceland that started as a pool of wastewater from the Svartsengi geothermal plant in 1976. The first person to bathe there was Valur Margeirsson in 1981. It best visited straight after arrival to the country or right before departure, as it’s a mere fifteen-minute drive from Keflavík International Airport, or a thirty-minute drive from Reykjavík, located between the two. Don’t worry; they will hold your luggage, and there is an airport shuttle.
I would suggest the premium package that includes the following:
Expedited Entry
Spa bathrobe
Flip Flops
Two silica mask
In-water Cocktail
The temperature in the bathing and swimming area is very comfortable, averaging 37–39° C (98–102° F). Also, there is a swim-up bar, restaurant, and cafe.
The Landbrotalaug Hot Pot
This two-person soaking pot is a hidden secret. Landbrotalaug hot spring is a small natural spring in the southeastern part of the Snaefellsnes peninsula.
You can find it by turning from road 54 into the dirt road with the sign Stóra Hraun, follow the path past an abandoned farmhouse, until you see the porta potties and trashcan. (GPS: N64°49.933 W22°19.110)
The hot pot is deep enough to cover your shoulders (I’m 5’4). If another car is there, then wait your turn to take a dip. Finding this hot pot is a fun hide and seek adventure.
The Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon (the oldest pool in the country) is a human-made hot spring of natural resources located at Hverahólmi, the geothermal area in the village of Flúðir, close to the waterfall of Gullfoss in southern Iceland. The pool was constructed in 1891 and is officially the oldest swimming pool in the entire country. Icelanders call it ‘the old pool’ or ‘gamla laugin.’
The Secret Lagoon is often compared favorably to the Blue Lagoon, for being cheaper and less busy. The lagoon has been modified to accommodate a much larger number of people, leaving the water at a temperature of 38-40° Celsius (100° Fahrenheit) all year long.
So with all of these options, don’t let the cold temperatures of Iceland deter you from vacationing here. It might just be warmer than you think.
Read about our Iceland winter experiences here.
