Hot Spring Pools in Reykjavik

Swimming and soaking at pools and hot springs is part of daily life in Iceland. During the cold, dark winter months, the hot water makes a decent stand-in for the sun. In summer, when it barely gets dark, the pools turn into the place to relax, catch up with friends, and soak up whatever sunshine there is.

Most of what you'll find in and around Reykjavik isn't a natural hot spring. The water is geothermal, pumped up from deep underground, and the pools and lagoons are built around it. That takes nothing away from the experience. Icelanders care enough about their pool culture that it's now on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, as the city likes to point out.

You have three kinds of places to choose from: the cheap neighborhood pools where locals go, the designed lagoons with spa rituals and bars, and a couple of spots in between. Here's how they compare in 2026.

City pools: the local way to soak

If you only do one thing on this page, go to a city pool. The City of Reykjavik runs eight of them, and they're where you'll see Icelanders of every age sitting in the hot pots and arguing about politics or the weather. Each has lap pools plus hot tubs, and most have steam rooms.

As of 2026, a single adult entry costs 1,500 ISK. Kids aged 10 to 17 pay 400 ISK and children under 10 swim free with a guardian. Forgot your gear? Towel rental is 860 ISK and a swimsuit is 1,270 ISK, or you can get entry, towel and suit together for 2,770 ISK. If you'll swim most days, the 10-visit adult pass is 7,000 ISK.

Which pool to pick

• Laugardalslaug (Sundlaugavegur 30) is the biggest pool in Iceland, with a 50-meter outdoor pool, a cold tub, a saltwater tub, a steam room and water slides. It's my pick if you only visit one, and it's a short walk from the zoo and botanical garden in Laugardalur.
• Sundhöll, the old pool near Hallgrímskirkja, is the most central. Check its hours before you go, because it closes in the middle of some weekdays.
• Vesturbæjarlaug in the west end is a neighborhood favorite and walkable from downtown.
• Árbæjarlaug and Grafarvogslaug are further out but good with kids.

Most city pools are open 6:30am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm on weekends. Laugardalslaug and Sundhöll open at 8am on weekends. Holiday hours are much shorter, so check before Christmas and New Year.

For more on each pool, see our page on Reykjavik city pools.

Sky Lagoon: the one closest to town

Sky Lagoon opened in 2021 at the tip of Kársnes in Kópavogur, the next town over, about 13 minutes by car from downtown. It's an infinity-edge lagoon right on the sea, with a turf-roofed building for its seven-step "Skjól ritual": the warm lagoon, a 5°C cold plunge, a sauna with a big ocean window, a cold mist, a body scrub, steam, and a crowberry drink at the end.

As of September 2026, the Saman pass starts at 14,990 ISK and the Sér pass, which adds private changing rooms, starts at 17,990 ISK. Both include the ritual and a towel. Children under 12 aren't allowed, and 12 to 14 year olds need an adult with them (Sky Lagoon FAQ).

Hours change by season: 10am to 9pm in winter (October 21 to April 30), 8am to 11pm in high summer (June 21 to August 20), and in between the rest of the year. The ritual closes an hour before the lagoon does, so don't book your slot too late.

Getting there without a car is easy enough. From Hlemmur, take bus 4 to Hamraborg, then bus 35 or 36 to Bakkabraut and walk a few minutes. Parking is free. You can also book a ticket with a shuttle from town.

The Blue Lagoon: bigger, pricier, and near the volcano

The Blue Lagoon isn't in Reykjavik. It's out on the Reykjanes peninsula near Grindavík, which makes it an easy stop on the way to or from Keflavík Airport. The milky blue water runs 37 to 40°C and you have to book ahead.

As of September 2026, the Comfort ticket starts at 11,990 ISK, Premium at 14,990 ISK and Signature at 18,490 ISK. Even Comfort includes a silica mud mask, towel, and one non-alcoholic drink. Prices move with the date and time you book. It's open every day of the year: 8am to 10pm from June 1 to 14, 7am to 11pm from June 15 to August 20, 8am to 10pm from August 21 to the end of January, and 8am to 8pm from February through May. Building work is going on there through 2027, including a new walkway from the parking lot.

Check the volcano first. The lagoon sits right next to the Sundhnúkur crater row, which erupted nine times between December 2023 and August 2025, and the Blue Lagoon has had to close and evacuate during eruptions. The last eruption ended on August 5, 2025, but on September 15, 2026 the Icelandic Met Office said the ground under Svartsengi is still rising and a new magma intrusion into the same crater row, which could lead to an eruption, is the most likely outcome. Look at safetravel.is before you go, and have a backup plan (Sky Lagoon is the obvious one).

More on the Blue Lagoon itself: Soaking in the Blue Lagoon and getting from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon. If you want to sleep nearby, see hotels near the Blue Lagoon.

Two more worth knowing

Nauthólsvík geothermal beach

Reykjavik has its own beach. At Nauthólsvík, the city imported golden sand, built sea walls, and pumps warm water into a small lagoon that averages 15 to 19°C in summer. There are hot tubs, a steam bath and changing rooms, and a lot of locals swimming in the open sea next to it. Entry is 1,500 ISK for adults, the same as the city pools. Opening hours are short and change with the season. In mid-September 2026 it's open 11am to 7pm Tuesday to Friday and 11am to 4pm Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday.

Hvammsvík Hot Springs

About a 45-minute drive north in Hvalfjörður, Hvammsvík has eight natural hot springs on the edge of the fjord, some of which rise and fall in temperature with the sea, plus a steam bath and a bistro. It's quieter than the big lagoons and daily transfers run from Reykjavik. Book ahead.

Pool etiquette

The rules matter here. Icelandic pools use very little chlorine, so everyone showers naked, with soap, before putting on a swimsuit. Locals will tell you if you skip it. Nobody is looking at you, I promise. Leave your towel at the lockers or on the shelf by the showers so you don't drip water back into the changing room. After a soak, condition your hair well, because geothermal and silica water can dry it out.

If you're planning your days around the water, pair a pool visit with the free and cheap things to do in Reykjavik, or head further afield to the Mývatn Nature Baths in the north. There's more on the rest of the country on our hot springs and swimming pools page.

FAQ

Is Sky Lagoon or the Blue Lagoon better?

Sky Lagoon is closer to Reykjavik, has the ocean view and the ritual, and doesn't depend on the volcano. The Blue Lagoon is bigger, the water is that famous milky blue, and it works well on the way to or from the airport. If you only have one evening in town, go to Sky Lagoon.

Can I bring kids?

To the city pools, yes, and children under 10 get in free. Sky Lagoon doesn't allow anyone under 12. Check the Blue Lagoon's own rules for young children before booking.

Do I need to book ahead?

Not for city pools or Nauthólsvík, just walk in. Book the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon and Hvammsvík in advance, especially for summer evenings.

Photo by Ewan McIntosh