The best spas in Iceland

Iceland turns geothermal water into some of the most beautiful spa experiences anywhere, ranging from large, polished lagoons to intimate baths in quiet corners. Here is a guide to the finest, and what makes each one worth your time.

The signature lagoons

The Blue Lagoon is the icon, milky blue water in a black lava field with a full spa and silica treatments. The ocean edge Sky Lagoon answers it with an infinity view and a seven step ritual that moves you through warmth, cold and steam. If you can only compare two, our note on Blue Lagoon versus Sky Lagoon helps you choose.

Spa baths with character

In the west, Krauma blends water from Europe's most powerful hot spring with glacial melt across a series of pools and steam rooms. The natural tidal pools of Hvammsvík bring a wilder, fjord side feel to the spa idea, with the cold sea right alongside.

The quiet north and east

Up north, Forest Lagoon sets warm water among birch trees above Akureyri, and GeoSea in Húsavík offers geothermal sea baths above a whale watching bay. In the east, the floating, certified pools of Vök Baths are a design highlight you often have almost to yourself.

Choosing the right one

If you want the famous experience, start with the big lagoons. If you want calm and space, head north or east. Either way, book ahead for the popular spas, especially in summer and around the winter holidays.

Iceland's best spas share one secret, the water was already perfect before anyone built around it.

Want the full picture? Read the twelve best hot springs in Iceland, or compare the two icons in Blue Lagoon versus Sky Lagoon.