Hvammsvik Hot Springs or one of Iceland's big lagoons
Most visitors to Iceland weigh one soak against another, and the Blue Lagoon is the name everyone knows. We only track the Hvammsvik tours, so we compare where each place sits and what Hvammsvik's own listings promise. For the other lagoons' prices and hours, go to their own websites.
Three soaks in three directions
The Blue Lagoon lies on the Reykjanes peninsula near Keflavík airport, southwest of the capital. Sky Lagoon sits in Kópavogur, on the edge of Reykjavík.
Hvammsvik is the odd one out. It lies north of the city on the shore of Hvalfjörður, about 45–60 minutes away by road, in the opposite direction from the airport.
In a short stay, direction counts for more than it seems. Each soak pairs best with whatever else lies along the same road, so the right choice often depends on the day around it rather than on the water.
What sets Hvammsvik apart
Hvammsvik is the smaller place, a row of pools on a natural shoreline that mix geothermal water with seawater. Some are covered at high tide and come back as it drops, so the place changes through the day, as our guide to the pools and the tide explains.
You can leave the warm water and walk straight into the fjord for a cold dip, then return to the pools. Next to them you find the sauna and the steam bath. A swim-up bar and changing rooms with private showers complete the set.
The listing describes limited capacity, and the setting comes up again and again in reviews. One reviewer who had been to three hot springs liked this one most, because it felt less commercial.
Food is at Stormur Bistro on site, where reviewers praise the seafood and the fish soup. The springs do not admit children under 10, and teenagers need an adult with them.
Pick by the road you are already on
If you land or fly out that day, the Blue Lagoon sits on the airport side of the capital and fits between the plane and the city. Hvammsvik would take you the other way, north along the coast past Mount Esja.
If you are based in the capital without a rental car and want the shortest hop, Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur is the nearest of the three. For a free half day out of town with fjord views, Hvammsvik is the one that delivers it.
If the Golden Circle is on your list, Hvammsvik can close the same day. Nicetravel's 11-hour minibus tour at ~$222 visits Þingvellir and Strokkur as well as Gullfoss and Kerið, then ends with about 2 hours in the pools. Our Golden Circle combo guide covers the route.
Nicetravel rates 5.0 from 200+ reviews on Viator and 4.9 from 97 on GetYourGuide, and keeps the group to 19 people. Entry to Kerið and the geothermal park in Hveragerði comes with the fare, along with the pools.
First visit or a repeat trip
First-timers often want the famous name, and a lagoon near the airport is easy to fit into an arrival day. That choice makes sense when time is short and the soak is a stop rather than the plan.
Repeat visitors, or anyone who has already seen a big lagoon, tend to look for something different. A shoreline with tidal pools and a sea dip gives a second Iceland soak its own character.
Getting to Hvammsvik without a car
Our top pick is ICELANDIA's bus with entry from ~$160, a 4.5-hour round trip from the BSÍ bus terminal. Travelers score it 4.8 on GetYourGuide over 600+ reviews and 4.9 on Viator over 200+.
The ride takes about an hour each way and leaves you about 2 hours at the springs. Reviewers say those two hours go fast. Towel and swimsuit rental cost extra, as does food, so see our packing list.
The easy way north from the city
ICELANDIA's bus leaves BSÍ with entry included and brings you back about 4.5 hours later. Be at the terminal 15 minutes early, or check the hotel pickup options when you book.
For more freedom, the springs sell their own admission package from ~$80 to people who drive. A private car with entry at ~$330 lets you agree the return time. Our bus or self-drive guide weighs the options.
What we leave out of the comparison
We do not follow the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon listings, so we quote no prices or opening hours for them and say nothing about size or crowds. Numbers we had not checked would only mislead you.
For those details, look at each lagoon's own website. Then come back to the Hvammsvik side, where our price comparison lists what each of the four tours costs and includes.
Two soaks on one trip
Nothing stops you from doing both. One way to split them is a lagoon near the airport on your arrival or departure day, and Hvammsvik on a free day in the middle, when you can give it a half day or more.
In the dark months, an evening at Hvammsvik may bring northern lights over the fjord, if the sky clears. Our northern lights guide says what to expect, and our timing guide covers the tide and the light.
Who should pick Hvammsvik
- Travelers who want a sea dip between hot pools
- Golden Circle days that should end in warm water
- Visitors in Reykjavík with a free half day and no car, using the bus from BSÍ
- Repeat visitors who have done a big lagoon and want a quieter shore
Choose a lagoon on the other side of the city if your free hours fall on the way to or from the airport. The same goes if you have only an hour or two in Reykjavík and no wish to leave town.