Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
GeoSea is a geothermal sea bath on the Húsavíkurhöfði headland, on the northern edge of Húsavík in North Iceland, with infinity-edge pools looking out over Skjálfandi Bay towards the Arctic Circle. The water is heated seawater at 38–39°C. It is open all year, entry costs around ISK 7,490 for adults, and most visitors spend 1.5–2 hours there.
GeoSea draws on the same geothermal heat used across Iceland, but instead of fresh water it uses hot seawater from two boreholes on the headland, kept at around 38–39°C. The water flows through the pools constantly, so it stays clean without chemicals. The result is a mineral-rich soak with a different feel to a typical hot spring, milder and slightly salty, and said to be good for the skin, especially for people with conditions such as psoriasis.
The setting is the main draw. The baths sit 49 metres above the sea on the edge of the Húsavíkurhöfði cliffs, next to the yellow lighthouse, with views across Skjálfandi Bay to the mountains on the far side and, on clear days, towards the Arctic Circle. Fishing boats and whale-watching boats pass below, and seabirds glide along the cliff at eye level. Húsavík is Iceland's whale-watching capital, so it is common to combine a boat tour with an evening at GeoSea afterwards.
Húsavík's harbour below GeoSea has been a working fishing port for generations, and geothermal water has been known in the area for just as long. The sea baths themselves are a modern addition, opened in 2018 as part of the town's turn towards tourism, alongside its long-running whale-watching trips.
The hot seawater was found by accident. In the middle of the 20th century, drilling for hot water on Húsavíkurhöfði produced seawater that was too rich in minerals to heat houses. Locals put it to another use and bathed in an old cheese tub set up on the headland, and people with skin problems found it did them good. GeoSea is the modern version of that tub.
The design places the pools on the edge of the cliff rather than behind a wall, so the horizon over the bay is visible from the water at almost every angle. It is one of the few geothermal baths in Iceland built specifically around a sea view rather than a landlocked valley.
GeoSea is small and simple: a few connected pools on the cliff edge, a bar and a view.
Changing rooms, showers, lockers, a swim-up bar and towel or swimsuit rental are available on site.
Húsavík has hotels and guesthouses in and around the harbour town, making it a comfortable base for the Diamond Circle and Mývatn area.
Around ISK 7,490 for adults, with lower rates for children, students and seniors. Prices can change, so check the operator's site before visiting.
Yes, with shorter hours from September to May (noon to 10pm) and longer hours in summer (noon to midnight).
Children over 6 are welcome at a reduced rate; check current age and supervision rules before visiting.
In winter, on clear nights, yes. The open, cliffside pools give an unobstructed view of the sky over the bay.
On the Húsavíkurhöfði headland at the northern edge of Húsavík, by the lighthouse, 49 metres above Skjálfandi Bay. It is about 1.5 km from the harbour.
About 38–39°C. It is geothermally heated seawater, rich in minerals.
Sometimes. Humpbacks, minke whales and dolphins are common in Skjálfandi Bay, and the baths look straight over it, but they are usually far out. A boat tour from the harbour is the reliable way to see them.
Tours and trips that include GeoSea, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
