Spas in Iceland

From the capital, Reykjavik, to remote outposts dotted around this frozen island nation, naturally heated pools and hot tubs are complemented by spas offering a range of therapies and treatments. Here is our guide to spas in Iceland.

Blue Lagoon – The Retreat Spa

Around a 40-minute drive outside Reykjavík, the vaguely otherworldly Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most popular geothermal spa destinations. Visitors can savour the experience of soaking in its creamy turquoise, hot outdoor pools surrounded by jagged volcanic rocks. For a more luxurious experience you can reserve a package in the Retreat Spa including entry to an exclusive lounge and a private entrance to the lagoon, as well as a facial scrub, algae and silica mask to cleanse, nourish and exfoliate your skin. To really splurge, treat yourself to an in-water massage followed by lunch in Lava Restaurant which overlooks the lagoon through floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Beer Spa

Surrounded by mountains in northern Iceland, overlooking Hrísey Island from the coast of one of the longest fjords in the country, the Beer Spa offers a use for the much-loved alcoholic brew that you may well not have thought of before. Here, you can slip into a curved, oversized wooden bath tub for two in a private room, filled with a steaming hot blend of young beer, fresh spring water, hops and brewer's yeast. As it is in the early stages of fermentation, the beer’s low pH cleanses your skin and hair to leave it feeling wonderfully soft. There is a beer tap next to each tub so you can enjoy a draught beer while you soak, before you retire to the relaxation room to doze. Outside, tubs filled with hot spring water offer the opportunity for a relaxing soak while taking in the breathtaking scenery, and there’s a welcoming on-site bar and restaurant should you feel like an extra glass or two and a bite to eat.

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Krauma

Around a 90-minute drive north of Reykjavík, Krauma blends waters from the most powerful hot spring in Europe and Iceland’s smallest glacier, to provide water at the ideal temperature for bathing. Chic, minimalist design across five outdoor geothermal baths and a cold plunge pool makes this spa one of the most elegant in the country. There are two steam rooms with timber benches, as well as a relaxation room complete with loungers and an open fire. The refined, contemporary restaurant serves Icelandic cuisine prepared from seasonal produce and has a terrace for when the weather is fine, from where you can take in views of the surrounding hot springs and countryside. 

Laugarvatn Fontana

Within the Golden Circle, to the east of Reykjavík, Laugarvatn Fontana spa is built over a natural hot spring on the shores of a small lake. In stylish modern surroundings, savour the therapeutic warmth of geothermally heated waters in a small outdoor swimming pool, splash pool and hot tub, while taking in sweeping views over the lake. You can simmer in the high humidity of cabins heated by healing steam rising up through grids in the floors from the bubbling, churning hot spring directly underneath. Cool off with a dip in the lake, from the pier or the black sand beach, before experiencing the spa's Finnish-style sauna. 

Photo: Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock

Laugar Spa

East of central Reykjavík in the geothermally active Laugardalur valley, the Laugar Spa makes up part of the Laugardalslaug complex. In addition to thermal outdoor pools, there are indoor and outdoor hot tubs, as well as steam rooms, saunas, a plunge pool and a relaxation room. You can work up a sweat with a fitness class in the fully equipped gym, before treating yourself to some serious relaxation as part of a package including a facial treatment and scalp rub, as well as a back or full body massage to relieve any remaining tension.

Ready to take a trip to Iceland?

Our local experts can create wonderful tailor-made trips to Iceland for you. Simply get in touch to let us know when you'd like to travel and your ideas for the trip. We will then create a personalised itinerary, which you can amend until you're completely happy with every detail before booking. You can browse our existing Iceland itineraries for more inspiration, and keep in mind that all of our itineraries can be tailored to your needs and interests.