Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
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Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Laugarás Lagoon is a geothermal spa beside the Hvítá river in Laugarás, on the Golden Circle route in South Iceland. It opened in 2025, is about 94 km (roughly 1 hour 20–30 minutes) from Reykjavík, has an entrance fee, is open all year, and most visitors spend 1.5–2 hours there.
Laugarás Lagoon is one of the newer additions to the Golden Circle, built on the banks of the glacial Hvítá river near the Iðubrú bridge. It uses natural hot spring water for the warm pools, with a cold plunge fed by the river itself, plus a restaurant, Ylja, serving food made with produce grown in geothermally heated greenhouses nearby.
The lagoon is built on two levels, an upper and a lower pool linked by steps, with a waterfall dropping between them and a grotto tucked in beside it. Around the main pools are a cold plunge, two saunas, quiet places to rest and bars you can swim up to without leaving the water. The water is kept at about 38–40°C.
It opened in 2025, which makes it one of the newest geothermal spas in the country. Compared with the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon it is smaller, more rural and less commercial in feel. You look out over the river, green fields and distant hills rather than a lava field or the city, and it tends to be calmer than the big-name lagoons.
Several admission tiers are available, from basic entry up to packages with a towel, a drink or a meal included. Whether you travel alone, as a couple or with friends, it works well as a slow end to a day of sightseeing.
There are three ticket types, named after trees. Prices change with date and time, so treat these as a guide.
A swimsuit is required. Bring your own; the old version of this page said swimsuits can also be rented on site for a small fee, so ask when you book if you need one.
The lagoon is a short detour from the three classic stops: Þingvellir National Park, where you walk between the tectonic plates in a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and Gullfoss, the two-step "Golden Waterfall".
It works best as the last stop. Do the sightseeing first, then drive about half an hour south from Gullfoss or Geysir and finish in warm water before the drive back to Reykjavík. Allow a good hour and a half for that drive, and remember that last entry is 90 minutes before closing.
Changing rooms with lockers, showers, toiletries, towel service, two saunas, a cold plunge, a swim-up bar and the on-site restaurant Ylja. Check current opening hours before travelling, as they vary by season.
Most visitors stay in Reykjavík or in one of the guesthouses and hotels around Reykholt, Flúðir or Laugarvatn, all within a short drive of the lagoon.
In the village of Laugarás in South Iceland, on the bank of the Hvítá river near Skálholt, about 94 km from Reykjavík on the Golden Circle route.
A two-level geothermal lagoon at about 38–40°C, a waterfall and grotto, a swim-up bar, a cold plunge, two saunas, changing rooms with showers, and a restaurant.
There are three admission tiers, roughly ISK 6,900 to ISK 18,900 depending on what is included. Check the lagoon's own site for current prices.
Full access to the lagoon, saunas and cold plunge, use of a towel, and one drink at the swim-up bar.
It is strongly recommended, especially in summer and at weekends, since capacity is limited.
There is a minimum age and children must be with an adult. The lagoon's own FAQ currently admits children aged 5–15 with an adult, while some ticket sellers state a minimum age of 8, so check when you book.
About 43 km, around 30–35 minutes by car, so it fits easily at the end of a Golden Circle day trip.
Yes. Hours are shorter outside summer, and winter evenings give a chance of seeing the Northern Lights from the water.
Tours and trips that include Laugarás Lagoon, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
