Hvammsvik Hot Springs Tours

Hvammsvík is a row of geothermal pools on the shore of Hvalfjörður, the long fjord north of Reykjavík, about 45–60 minutes away by road. Hot water pumped up from 1,400 m (about 4,600 feet) below ground mixes with the sea, and the tide floods some pools while it leaves others alone. We compared four ways to get there, from a shared bus with entry to a private driver, and set out the price and the catch of each.

  • Summer light or winter darkLong bright evenings from about May to August; from about September to April the dark nights bring a chance of northern lights, never a promise
  • Look up the tideAt high water the sea covers some of the pools, so the shore you soak on changes from one hour to the next

In a hurry? Our top pick is ICELANDIA's bus from BSÍ with entry: ~$160 a person for about four and a half hours, with roughly two hours in the pools and no driving on Icelandic roads. Book it here.

Book on GetYourGuide Book on Viator

Compare all 4 tours

If you only have a minute

Which Hvammsvik Hot Springs tour should you book?

Picture a friend who lands at Keflavík tomorrow and wants a soak by the sea without any fuss. Over a bowl of soup in Reykjavík, this is the advice we would give them.

For most people the trip to book is ICELANDIA's Hvammsvík Hot Springs Experience, from ~$160. The bus leaves from BSÍ in Reykjavík, your entry is already paid, and you get about two hours in the water before the ride home. From start to finish it takes around four and a half hours.

Want the famous sights as well? Nicetravel's Golden Circle day at ~$222 visits Gullfoss and Þingvellir before it ends at the pools. Driving a rental car? The springs' own admission package starts at ~$80. For a car that leaves when you do, a private return transfer with entry costs ~$330 a person.

No company can schedule the tide. Check what the visit costs once towels and food are added and how the pools change with the sea, see how the bus trip runs, and go through eight details the listings bury before paying.

Our pick

The soak we would book: ICELANDIA from BSÍ

It is the simplest way to the fjord without a car, and it carries more reviews than any other Hvammsvik trip on GetYourGuide. The trade-off is a fixed two hours in the pools.

Bathers resting in the Hvammsvik hot pools at golden hour on the Hvalfjörður shore Our pick

Hvammsvík Hot Springs Experience from Reykjavík, ICELANDIA

★★★★★ 4.8 from 600+ reviews on GetYourGuide · 4.9 from 200+ on Viator

You meet the bus at the BSÍ Bus Terminal on Vatnsmýrarvegur, a short walk from the city center, and the listing asks you to arrive 15 minutes early. Pickup is offered too, if you would rather not walk there.

The drive takes about an hour past Mount Esja and along the shore of Hvalfjörður. Your ticket opens every pool and the changing rooms with their showers, and you have around two hours to enjoy them.

The same bus then takes you back to BSÍ. Allow about four and a half hours for the whole outing, which leaves the rest of the day free for Reykjavík.

Duration
About 4.5 hours
In the pools
About 2 hours
Group
Up to 16 on GetYourGuide, 30 on Viator
Route
BSÍ, the Hvalfjörður shore, BSÍ
Departure
BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10; pickup offered
At the springs
All pools, plus changing rooms with showers
Age
10 and over
Extra cost
Towel and swimsuit rental; food
Price per person from ~$160 Bus + entry · about 2 h soaking
GetYourGuide Viator

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

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How the trip runs, step by step

This follows the order in the listing. Traffic and the weather on the fjord road can stretch any part of it a little.

Out of Reykjavík

  • Meet at BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 15 minutes before departure
  • About an hour by bus to the Hvalfjörður shore

At the springs

  • Change and shower in the changing rooms
  • About 2 hours in the pools, with the fjord a few steps away for a cold dip
  • About an hour back to BSÍ

What the price covers

The fare pays for the ride and the ticket at the door. What you wear in the water and what you eat afterwards is a separate bill.

Included
  • The return bus from BSÍ
  • Entry to Hvammsvík Hot Springs
  • Use of every pool
  • The changing rooms
Not included
  • A towel
  • A swimsuit
  • Food and drinks
  • Any say over the tide

Between us, before you go

One soaker to another. The listing sets the minimum age at 10, so this is not a trip for small children. Bring a towel and a swimsuit from home unless you are happy to pay for renting them at the springs.

Reviewers keep saying the two hours pass quickly. Eat before you board, or plan part of that time for the bistro. Our packing list covers everything else.

Why it beats the rental car

Driving yourself with the admission ticket costs less, from ~$80, but the bus takes the fjord road in winter darkness off your hands. It also leaves from a fixed terminal in town, so nobody in your group has to skip the swim-up bar to drive home. Bus tour or self-drive weighs the two.

What you give up is the clock. The bus decides when you arrive and when you leave.

Who we would not send on it

Families with children under 10, whom the springs turn away. Travelers after a whole afternoon in the water, who will be happier with the admission ticket and their own car. And first-time visitors who also want Gullfoss and Þingvellir, who should look at Nicetravel's Golden Circle day.

Book it if

You want a few easy hours in hot seawater without renting a car. You can reach BSÍ on time and will bring or rent a towel. Two hours in the pools sounds about right, and the trip suits couples and friends on a short stay in Reykjavík.

Skip it if

Ready to head up the fjord?

The trip sells on GetYourGuide (4.8 from 600+ reviews) and on Viator (4.9 from 200+). The price is the same on both, and either lets you cancel for free up to 24 hours before.

GetYourGuide Viator

The day itself

How a Hvammsvik bus trip works

Every trip on this page settles two things in its own way. How do you reach a shore an hour from the city? And how long do you want to stay in the water once you are there?

Style · half a day

Straight to the pools and back

ICELANDIA · your own car · a private driver

4–5 habout an hour of road each way, around two hours soaking

Most of the time goes on the pools rather than the road. The bus keeps to a fixed schedule. A rental car or a private driver lets you linger, and either way the fjord shore is the only sight on the route.

Style · a full day of sights

The Golden Circle, then a soak

Nicetravel, up to 19 people

About 11 hfive stops on the loop, then about two hours at Hvammsvik

You see the big sights of the south-west and finish in hot water instead of on a bus seat. The catch is the length. Lunch is at your own cost, and you reach the pools after many hours on your feet.

Reykjavík weather and daylight across all twelve months

  • Hours of daylight, roughly
  1. Jan3°C high37 °F

    About 5 hours of light, thick steam over the pools

  2. Feb3°C high37 °F

    Light returning, long nights for aurora hunting

  3. Mar4°C high39 °F

    Day and night about equal, snow on the hills

  4. Apr6°C high43 °F

    Spring light, the last properly dark skies

  5. May10°C high50 °F

    Bright evenings, the fjord slopes turning green

  6. Jun12°C high54 °F

    Close to 21 hours of light, no real night

  7. Jul14°C high57 °F

    The mildest month in Reykjavík

  8. Aug13°C high55 °F

    Dusk comes back toward the end of the month

  9. Sep11°C high52 °F

    Autumn colors, dark skies again at night

  10. Oct7°C high45 °F

    Shorter days, longer nights for watching the sky

  11. Nov4°C high39 °F

    Dark early, cold air above warm water

  12. Dec3°C high37 °F

    About 4 hours of daylight, the darkest month

Temperatures are rough daytime highs in Reykjavík; on the open fjord shore the wind can make it feel colder. The bars show roughly how many hours of daylight each month gets, and the summer months run past the top of the scale. Highlighted months give you some light for the fjord view and some dark for the sky. The best time to go.

How each trip spends its hours

  • On the road and sightseeing
  • In the pools
  • May run longer

Hours run from departure and are taken from the listings; the split between road and pool time is approximate. On the Golden Circle row the first bar holds five sightseeing stops as well as the driving. With your own car the dashed part stands for staying longer, since the admission listing runs from about 1.5 hours to a full day.

  1. Be at BSÍ earlyThe listing asks for 15 minutes before departure at the terminal on Vatnsmýrarvegur, or you can book the pickup instead. Bus or self-drive.
  2. Ride out along the fjordAbout an hour on the road, with the city falling behind and the water of Hvalfjörður opening up. When the light is kindest.
  3. Soak for about two hoursChange, shower, then move between the pools as the tide allows, with the sea one step away. How the pools work.
  4. Ride back to the cityThe same bus brings you back to BSÍ about four and a half hours after you set off. What to pack for it.

There is a third way, for groups who want no timetable at all. A private driver to the springs handles the road both ways and agrees the return time with you.

How to choose

How to pick your Hvammsvik trip

The pools are the same however you arrive. What changes is the vehicle, the hours you get in the water and how much else you see on the way there.

Time

About 4.5 hours on the bus and 4–5 in a private car. The Golden Circle day runs to about 11, and with your own car the clock is yours. Bus or self-drive.

Who drives

Winter roads up the fjord can be dark and icy. The bus and the private car leave them to a local driver, while the admission ticket assumes you bring your own wheels. The private option.

Ticket type

Classic gets you in. Comfort throws in a towel and wading shoes for the rocks, and a drink in the water too. The two tickets compared.

Budget

From ~$80 for the ticket alone up to ~$330 a person for a private car with entry. Every price in one table.

Sights too?

Nicetravel's day takes in Þingvellir and Gullfoss, with stops at Kerið and Strokkur, before the soak. Golden Circle plus Hvammsvik.

Lagoon or shore?

Hvammsvik sits on a quiet fjord where the sea and its tide are part of the visit. How it compares with the Blue Lagoon.

Everything else to do around Reykjavík

The 4 tours

Four ways to the hot springs, side by side

We read every Hvammsvik listing on GetYourGuide and Viator and kept a single trip of each shape. Every card names the company with its price and length, then spells out the catch, with a button for both sites.

A couple sharing a drink in one of the steaming hot pools at Hvammsvik Our pick

Hvammsvík Hot Springs Experience from Reykjavík, ICELANDIA

The one we would book for a first soak.

About four and a half hours from BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík. A bus of about an hour each way brings you to the springs, where the ticket at the door is already paid. You get around two hours in the pools, with the changing rooms included.

  • Rating4.8 from 600+ reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 4.5 hours, from BSÍ
  • Tour companyICELANDIA
  • Minimum age10 years
  • StrengthsNo driving; entry included; the most reviews
  • Ideal forCouples and friends without a car

Good to know: Towels and swimsuits cost extra, and so does food. Reviewers find two hours on the short side, and Viator's version takes up to 30 people. What to bring.

~$160per person
GetYourGuide Viator
Spray rising from Gullfoss waterfall as it drops into its canyon on the Golden Circle Full day

Golden Circle Route & Hvammsvik Hot Spring, Nicetravel

The sights of the south-west, with a soak to finish.

Nicetravel's minibus collects you in Reykjavík for an 11-hour loop. It begins with a rye bread tasting at the geothermal park in Hveragerði, then visits Kerið crater and Gullfoss before lunch at Strokkur. After Þingvellir it ends with about two hours at Hvammsvik.

  • Rating5.0 from 200+ reviews on Viator
  • DurationAbout 11 hours, with pickup
  • Tour companyNicetravel
  • GroupUp to 19 people
  • StrengthsKerið and the park entry plus your Hvammsvik ticket included
  • Ideal forFirst-timers with one day for everything

Good to know: Lunch near Strokkur is at your own cost. You choose the admission type for the springs when you book, so read the options first. Two hours of soaking after a full day of stops can feel tight. The long loop in detail.

~$222per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A wooden walkway leading between steaming geothermal pools at Hvammsvik Hot Springs Lowest price

Hvammsvik Hot Springs Admission Package

The ticket alone, for travelers with a car.

Sold by the springs' own company. Classic is entry only. With Comfort you also get a towel and wading shoes, and one drink comes from the swim-up bar. The drive from Reykjavík takes about 45–60 minutes, and the listing gives a visit of anything from 1.5 hours to a full day.

  • Rating4.8 from 300+ reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationFrom about 1.5 hours to a day
  • Sold byHvammsvík Hot Springs
  • Age10 and over, under 18 with an adult
  • StrengthsLowest price; you set the pace
  • Ideal forSelf-drivers who want a longer soak

Good to know: No transport at all. Swimsuit rental costs extra on both tickets, and if you travel without a towel, compare the two prices before you choose. Classic or Comfort.

~$80per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A bather sitting on dark rocks beside a hot pool with the fjord behind Private

Hvammsvik Hot Springs: Private Return Transfer with Entrance

Your own driver, on your own timing.

A private car takes you to the springs, about 55 minutes each way, and stops for photos when you ask. Entry is included, and on GetYourGuide North Escape adds the steam bath and a bar wristband, plus a safety box for valuables. You agree the return time with the driver.

  • Rating5.0 from 2 reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 4–5 hours
  • Tour companyNorth Escape on GetYourGuide
  • DriverSpeaks English and Russian
  • StrengthsYour own car; return time agreed; photo stops
  • Ideal forSmall groups who dislike timetables

Good to know: Only a handful of reviews on either site, and the two listings differ. Viator's version runs about 4 hours with a towel and a drink, and its price follows the size of your group. Neither covers food or tips. The private car explained.

~$330per person
GetYourGuide Viator

A quick heads-up: the buttons are GetYourGuide and Viator affiliate links. If you book through one, we earn a small commission; it costs you nothing extra and has no say in the order above.

Before you go

Eight details the Hvammsvik listings tuck away

You will not find these in the headline of any booking page. Any one of them can decide whether you leave warm and unhurried or cold and short of time.

What you should know

  1. The tide rearranges the pools. At high water the sea covers some of them, and they come back as it falls. If your trip lets you choose a time, look up the tide for the fjord first. Pools and tides.
  2. The bus fare has nothing to dry off with. ICELANDIA covers entry and the changing rooms. Towels and swimsuits cost extra, so either pack both from home or budget for renting them at the springs. The packing list.
  3. Two hours goes fast. Reviewers of the bus trip say the time at the springs feels short. Keep the shower brief, and decide before you arrive whether you want to eat or soak longer.
  4. Children under 10 cannot come. The springs set 10 as the minimum age, and the admission listing asks for an adult with anyone under 18. Families with small children need another plan.
  5. Comfort is Classic with extras. It adds a towel and wading shoes to the entry, with one drink at the swim-up bar. If you would rent a towel anyway, set the two prices side by side. The two tickets.
  6. The Golden Circle day leaves lunch to you. Nicetravel stops near Strokkur for a meal you pay for yourself. Carry a snack too, because the soak comes at the end of a long day. The full route.
  7. Food at the springs is a separate bill. Stormur Bistro on site takes walk-ins, and reviewers rave about its seafood soup. None of the four listings includes a meal there.
  8. The sea is part of the visit. From the pools you can step into the fjord for a cold dip, then climb straight back into the warm water. The Comfort ticket's wading shoes help on the rocky edge. How that differs from the lagoons.

Everything in one table

Four Hvammsvik trips, catch included

All four tours in one view. Each row weighs what a trip does well against the thing it gets wrong.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Starts from Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
ICELANDIA bus from BSÍ with entry (our pick) No car, a short stay ~$160per person About 4.5 h BSÍ Bus Terminal, pickup offered ICELANDIA
4.8 on GetYourGuide		 Entry included, no driving. About 2 hours in the water, towel extra.
GetYourGuideViator
Nicetravel Golden Circle and Hvammsvik One day for everything ~$222per person About 11 h Pickup in Reykjavík Nicetravel
5.0 on Viator		 Five sights plus your entry. A long day, lunch at your own cost.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Admission package, Classic or Comfort Self-drivers ~$80per person 1.5 h to a day At the springs, by your own car Hvammsvík Hot Springs
4.8 on GetYourGuide		 Lowest price, your own pace. No transport, swimsuit rental extra.
GetYourGuideViator
Private return transfer with entry Small groups, flexible timing ~$330per person About 4–5 h Reykjavík, by private car North Escape
5.0 on GetYourGuide		 Your own driver and schedule. Highest price, only a handful of reviews.
GetYourGuideViator

All prices are the usual per-person "from" rates in US dollars and move now and then. The booking page always has the final say.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who soaked at Hvammsvik

Fourteen travelers, some under a clear sky and some in sideways rain, on what won them over at the pools and what they would change next time.

★★★★★Bus from BSÍ + entry

We walked to BSÍ from our guesthouse and were on the bus with ten minutes to spare. The hour out of town went quickly, with Esja on one side and then the fjord opening up ahead of us. At the springs we showered, found a pool near the water's edge and stayed in it until the sea had crept close enough to touch. My husband did the cold dip twice and talked about it all the way home. We brought our own towels and saved the rental.

HBHannah B. · Leeds, UKClear and calm
★★★★★Bus from BSÍ + entry

Rain sideways and steam everywhere, yet the warmest I felt all week in Iceland. Two hours flew by.

DMDiego M. · Monterrey, MexicoWind and rain
★★★★☆Bus from BSÍ + entry

The pools were lovely and the bus ran smoothly both ways. My one complaint is the clock. By the time we had changed and showered, the two hours felt more like ninety minutes, and I would gladly have paid for another hour.

MFMarkus F. · Graz, AustriaWind and rain
★★★★★Bus from BSÍ + entry

Easy bus, quiet pools, mountains across the water. I went back to my hotel slow and happy.

YSYuki S. · Osaka, JapanClear and calm
★★★★★Bus from BSÍ + entry

My first hot spring with the sea right beside it. I stepped into the fjord for about ten seconds and ran shrieking back to the warm water. The fish soup at the bistro afterwards was the best thing I ate on the trip.

AOAdaeze O. · Lagos, NigeriaClear and calm
★★★★★Golden Circle + soak, 11 h

Pickup in Reykjavík was on time, and the minibus was small enough that the guide knew everyone's name by Kerið. We tasted the rye bread at the geothermal park in Hveragerði, got soaked by the spray at Gullfoss and watched Strokkur go off three times over lunch. By the time we had walked through Þingvellir our legs were done. Sliding into the hot pools at Hvammsvik after all that was the cleverest ending to a day tour I have seen.

RKRachel K. · Boston, USAClear and calm
★★★★☆Golden Circle + soak, 11 h

Eleven hours is a lot in grey weather. The soak at the end rescued my mood. Bring snacks.

LPLucas P. · Lyon, FranceWind and rain
★★★★★Golden Circle + soak, 11 h

We had one free day in Iceland and this covered it. Kerið was greener than I expected and Gullfoss was loud. Pick your ticket type carefully when you book; we took Comfort for the towel and were glad of the drink in the water at the end.

SNSanjana N. · Bengaluru, IndiaClear and calm
★★★★★Golden Circle + soak, 11 h

The wind at Þingvellir nearly took my hat. At Gullfoss it drizzled on and off, but none of it mattered at the last stop. Lying in hot water with rain on my face and the fjord going grey around me was the ending I wanted.

TJTom J. · Auckland, New ZealandWind and rain
★★★★★Entry ticket only

We drove up from Reykjavík in a rental car, and the road along the fjord was half the pleasure. We had booked the Comfort ticket, so there was already a towel and a pair of wading shoes waiting, and the drink from the swim-up bar came at the right moment. With no bus to catch we stayed most of the afternoon, moving from the steam room to the sea and back to the hottest pool we could find. Soup at the bistro before the drive home rounded it off.

INIngrid N. · Gothenburg, SwedenClear and calm
★★★★★Entry ticket only

Classic ticket, our own car, four hours in the water. No timetable is the real luxury.

CWChen W. · Taipei, TaiwanClear and calm
★★★★☆Entry ticket only

We arrived near high tide, so a few of the lower pools were under the sea and the rest felt busier. Still a lovely soak in the rain. Check the tides first, and pack a swimsuit, because renting one costs extra.

BGBeatriz G. · Lisbon, PortugalWind and rain
★★★★★Private car + entry

There were five of us including my parents, and nobody wanted a bus timetable. The driver collected us in Reykjavík. He spoke good English and pulled over twice on the fjord road so my father could photograph the mountains. At the springs the bar wristband and the safety box made life easy, and the toiletries in the showers were a nice touch. We told the driver when to come back, and he was waiting at exactly that time.

OKOlena K. · Warsaw, PolandClear and calm
★★★★★Private car + entry

Pricey, but no standing around in the rain. The driver came back when we asked him to.

GDGareth D. · Cardiff, WalesWind and rain

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Share your soak at Hvammsvik, by bus, on the Golden Circle day or on your own. We read every review before it goes up, and we publish the critical ones too.

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Towel packed

Book ICELANDIA for your Hvammsvik soak

If you are staying in Reykjavík without a car and want a few hours in hot water by the sea, we would take ICELANDIA's bus. Entry is paid before you arrive, and the ride is about an hour each way.

Bring your own towel and swimsuit to save the rental fees. Eat before you board, so the two hours go on the pools and not on the queue at the bistro.

~$160

per person · about 4.5 hours · from BSÍ

GetYourGuide Viator
  • ✓ Return bus from BSÍ Bus Terminal
  • ✓ Entry and changing rooms included
  • ✓ About 2 hours in the pools
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Good to know

Why the water is hot at Hvammsvik, and what the tide does to it

A few minutes of reading turns a row of steaming pools into something you can make sense of, from the borehole deep underground to the sea at your feet.

Hvammsvík lies on the shore of Hvalfjörður, a long fjord north of Reykjavík. Like much of Iceland it sits on ground warmed from below, the same heat that feeds the bathing pools in every Icelandic town. The springs draw their hot water from about 1,400 m down and run it into pools along the shoreline.

01A fjord named for whales

Hvalfjörður means Whale Fjord. The springs face its open water, with mountains rising on the far side, and the last part of the drive from Reykjavík follows the shore. Getting there by bus or car.

02Hot water meets the sea

The listings describe geothermal water from deep underground mixed with seawater in the pools. So what you sit in is part hot spring, part fjord, which sets Hvammsvik apart from a town swimming pool.

03Pools that come and go

The tide rises and falls on this shore, and some pools disappear under the sea at high water. At low tide more of them stand clear, so the place looks different from one visit to the next. The pools and the tide.

What people talk about on the ride home is leaving the hot pool for the cold fjord, then sliding back into the warmth with every inch of skin awake.

04A steam room and a bar in the water

Away from the pools there is a steam room and a sauna, and a swim-up bar sits right in the water. Stormur Bistro handles food, and reviewers often mention its fish soup.

05Under a dark sky

From about September to April the nights are long enough for the northern lights, and a hot pool is a comfortable place to wait for them. Nothing guarantees a show, and cloud over the fjord is common. Northern lights from the pools.

06Pool manners

The house rule in Icelandic pools is to wash without your swimsuit before getting in, and reviewers mention private shower stalls here. Give other bathers room in the smaller pools. What to bring and what to rent covers the rest.

1,400 mDepth the hot water comes from

45–60 minBy road from Reykjavík

10+Minimum age at the springs

2 hIn the pools on the ICELANDIA bus

Wondering how it stacks up against the famous lagoons? Hvammsvik or the Blue Lagoon sets the two side by side.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about Hvammsvik Hot Springs tours

Fourteen questions people ask before they book, each with a full answer.

How much does a trip to Hvammsvik Hot Springs cost?

The springs' own admission package starts at ~$80 per person, without transport. ICELANDIA's bus with entry costs ~$160, and Nicetravel's Golden Circle day ~$222. A private return transfer with entry is ~$330 a person. Our cost guide lists every extra on top.

Which Hvammsvik tour should I pick?

For most visitors without a car, ICELANDIA's bus from BSÍ, because entry is included and nobody has to drive the fjord road. Self-drivers do better with the admission ticket. First-time visitors short on days can fold the springs into Nicetravel's Golden Circle loop.

How far is Hvammsvik from Reykjavík?

About 45–60 minutes by road, depending on the traffic as well as the weather. The bus allows about an hour each way, and the private transfer about 55 minutes. Bus or self-drive.

How long does a Hvammsvik tour take?

About 4.5 hours on the ICELANDIA bus, with around two of them in the pools, and 4–5 hours by private car. The Golden Circle day lasts about 11 hours. With the admission ticket and your own car, the listing allows anything from 1.5 hours to a full day.

What is the difference between the Classic and Comfort tickets?

Classic is entry only. Comfort includes a towel and wading shoes on top, along with a swim-up bar drink. Swimsuit rental costs extra with either one. The two tickets compared.

Do I need to bring a towel and swimsuit?

Yes on the ICELANDIA bus, unless you rent them at the springs, since neither comes with the fare. The Comfort ticket includes a towel, and so does the Viator version of the private trip. What to bring.

Can children visit Hvammsvik Hot Springs?

Not under 10, since that is the lowest age the springs accept. Anyone aged 10 to 17 needs an adult with them, according to the admission listing.

How do the tides affect the pools?

Some pools sit low on the shore and vanish under the sea at high tide, then reappear as the water drops. If you can choose your time, a tide table for the fjord tells you what to expect. Tides and pools.

Can I see the northern lights from the pools?

It can happen on a clear, dark night between about September and April, but no one can promise it. Cloud often covers the fjord, and you need to be in the water after dark. Northern lights from the pools.

Is there food at the springs?

Yes. Stormur Bistro takes walk-ins, and reviewers praise its seafood soup. None of the four trips includes a meal there, and on the Golden Circle day lunch near Strokkur is at your own cost too.

How does Hvammsvik compare with the Blue Lagoon?

Hvammsvik sits on a fjord shore, with seawater in the pools and a dip in the sea itself. The Blue Lagoon lies on the Reykjanes peninsula, closer to the international airport. The two compared.

Is it better to take the bus or drive myself?

Driving with the admission ticket costs less and lets you stay as long as you like. The bus spares you the fjord road, which in winter means darkness and sometimes ice, and nobody has to stay off the swim-up bar. A private driver sits between the two.

When does a private transfer make sense?

When you want photo stops on the way or a return time of your own. On GetYourGuide it costs ~$330 per person and includes the steam bath and a bar wristband. With only a handful of reviews, you are relying on the listing more than on other travelers. A private driver to the springs.

Is the Golden Circle plus Hvammsvik too much for one day?

It is long, about 11 hours with five stops before the pools, so plan nothing for the evening. Its 5.0 from 200+ reviews on Viator shows most people finish it happy. The day in detail.

Read before you travel

Guides to soaking on the Whale Fjord

Ten questions travelers ask before they book, each answered at length.