Thermal baths in Reykjavík
Reykjavík spreads along Faxaflói bay in south-west Iceland, about 40 km from Keflavík airport. Both places here use the city's geothermal hot water: a heated sea lagoon at Nauthólsvík on the south shore, and Vesturbæjarlaug, a neighbourhood pool in the west end. About 2 km from either, a lift runs up the tower of Hallgrímskirkja to a deck looking over the city's roofs.
- Baths2
- Water30 to 39°
Baths in Reykjavík compared
Entry, swimwear rules, age limits and ticket type, side by side.
| Bath | Entry | Swimwear and rules | Age | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Nauthólsvík Geothermal BeachReykjavík |
| Wash without swimwear before entering the hot tubs (operator rule, Icelandic page), swimwear in the tubs and lagoon. Changing rooms with showers and a steam bath; no diving into the hot tubs. | none stated | Day ticket |
| 2VesturbæjarlaugReykjavík |
| Everyone must shower thoroughly without swimwear before entering the pool, then wear clean swimwear in the pools. Changing rooms are single-sex; a private changing room is available. The steam room and saunas are mixed; in the saunas you must sit on a towel and under-16s need an adult. | none stated | Day ticket |
Every bath in Reykjavík
Open all year unless the hours say otherwise.
1Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
Thermal bath, Reykjavík · Swimming is banned around the Siglunes sailing club's pier and pontoons and boarding moored boats is forbidden. Staff cannot guarantee safety in the sea; the supervised area is inside the breakwater. No phones or cameras in changing rooms. Visibly drunk visitors are removed.
A man-made beach on Reykjavík's south shore, opened in 2000, where imported golden shell sand and two breakwaters close off a lagoon fed with the city's geothermal hot water, which the operator says holds 15 to 19 °C in summer.
2Vesturbæjarlaug
Thermal bath, Reykjavík · No cameras or phones in changing rooms or pool areas. No alcohol, tobacco or nicotine products anywhere on site. No scented oils in the saunas.
A neighbourhood outdoor pool in west Reykjavík, opened in 1961 and part-funded by residents, where the city says all pool, tub and shower water is thermal spring water.
Nothing here for that filter.
Questions about Reykjavík
How warm is the sea at Nauthólsvík in Reykjavík?
The open sea reaches about 15 °C in July and August and drops to about -2 °C from December to February, the operator says. Inside the breakwaters the lagoon is warmed to 15 to 19 °C during summer opening hours only, and the hot tub at the tideline runs at 30 to 39 °C.
How hot are the hot tubs at Vesturbæjarlaug in Reykjavík?
From 38.6 °C to 43.6 °C across the five hot tubs. The cold tub is 8 to 12 °C and the main 25 m pool 27 to 30 °C.
Can children go to the pools in Reykjavík on their own?
From age 10. Under-10s at Nauthólsvík and Vesturbæjarlaug need a swimmer aged 15 or older with them, and at Vesturbæjarlaug that's at most two children per adult unless it's their parent or guardian. Under-16s use the Vesturbæjarlaug saunas only with an adult.
Which buses go to Reykjavík's geothermal pools?
Strætó bus 8 ends at its Nauthóll terminus beside Nauthólsvík, and bus 5 to HR stops a short walk away. For Vesturbæjarlaug take bus 11 to Melaskóli or Ægisborg, or bus 15 to Kvisthagi or Ægisborg.