Hoffell Hot Tubs (Hoffell Baths)

What to expect

Hoffell is a farm at the foot of Hoffellsjökull, one of the outlet glaciers that spill off the southeast edge of Vatnajökull. The family-run Glacier World guesthouse here has a set of geothermal hot tubs in the open, facing the glacier and the steep mountains around it.

The story goes back to around 2000, when hot water was found near the farm. The first soaks were in a large fish tub. Over the years the family built proper tubs, and the place became a regular stop for Ring Road travellers who wanted something smaller and cheaper than the big lagoons.

Today Glacier World calls it the Hoffell Baths and lists:

• Four large hot tubs with views of Hoffellsjökull
• A sauna
• A bar that serves drinks you can take into the water
• Changing rooms with hooks for clothes, and a shower area

Older guides describe five tubs at different temperatures and no café, and they quote much lower prices. The operator’s current site lists four tubs, a sauna and a bar, so trust that description over older write-ups. Glacier World does not publish water temperatures. Test each tub with your hand before you get in and pick the one that suits you.

The view does most of the work. On a still day you look straight up the valley to the ice, and in the dark months the area is open and unlit enough for a good northern lights show.

Getting there

Hoffell is in Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður, west of Höfn.

• From Höfn: Drive out of town to the Ring Road (Route 1) and head west. Turn north onto Route 984, signed for Hoffell, and follow it to the guesthouse. The total is about 19 km (12 miles), roughly 20 minutes.
• From Jökulsárlón and the west: Head east on Route 1 toward Höfn and turn left onto Route 984 before you reach town.
• From Reykjavík: Höfn is about six hours’ drive along the south coast, so Hoffell works as part of a Ring Road trip, not a day out.

The guesthouse is about 3 km (2 miles) from Route 1. Park at the guesthouse; the tubs are next to the buildings. Glacier World gives the address as Hoffelli II b, 781 Hornafjörður.

When to go

The baths run from February to November and are closed in December and January.

May to September brings the longest opening hours (10:00 to 21:00), long light evenings and the easiest roads. It is also the busiest time on the Ring Road.

February to April and October to November have shorter hours (12:00 to 21:00) and darker skies. These are the months to soak while watching for northern lights, as long as you arrive before the last booking at 19:00. Weather on the southeast coast can be wild, with strong wind and sleet, so check road.is and the forecast before you drive.

Prices and booking

Glacier World lists one price for day visitors:

• ISK 4,900 per person (as shown in October 2026)

Guests of Hoffell Guesthouse use the tubs free, and the operator says wifi and tub access are included in all room prices. You can also buy a gift card or an annual pass for the Hoffell Baths through the website.

Glacier World does not publish separate child prices, age rules or payment methods for day visitors. If you are travelling with children or need to know whether to book ahead, call the guesthouse on +354 894 5566. The site says the last booking each day is at 19:00, so do not plan to turn up at 20:30 expecting to get in.

Opening hours:

• May to September: 10:00 to 21:00
• October, November and February to April: 12:00 to 21:00
• December and January: closed

Etiquette

• Shower before you get in. Wash fully without your swimsuit first, as at every pool in Iceland.
• Swimsuits on. The tubs are shared and in view of the guesthouse.
• Drinks from the bar are fine; glass you bring yourself is not a good idea around hard edges and wet decking.
• Keep your voice down in the evenings. People are staying a few metres away.

Where to stay nearby

• Hoffell Guesthouse (Glacier World): On site. Rooms are spread across three renovated farm buildings. The old two-storey farmhouse has eight single, double, twin and triple rooms that share three bathrooms. The former barn and sheep house, opened in July 2014, has eight rooms with private bathrooms, four with glacier views. The former cowshed has five larger double, twin and triple rooms, all with private bathrooms. Tub access is included.
• Höfn: About 19 km (12 miles) away, Höfn is the main town of the southeast, with hotels, guesthouses, a campsite, fuel and supermarkets. It is known for its langoustine restaurants.

Safety notes

• Heat: The operator does not publish tub temperatures. Hot tubs feel hotter after a cold drive, so get in slowly and get out if you feel lightheaded. Go easy on the bar between soaks.
• Sauna then cold air: Moving from the sauna into a freezing wind is part of the fun, but take it slowly if you have heart or blood pressure problems.
• Slippery ground: Decking and paths can ice over from October onward. Wear sandals between the changing rooms and the tubs.
• Glacier walks: Hoffellsjökull is about 3 km (2 miles) from the guesthouse. Do not walk onto the ice or close to the glacier front without a guide; glacier lagoons and ice edges are unstable.
• Wind on Route 1: The southeast coast is known for sudden strong gusts. Check road.is and the Met Office before driving.

Nearby stops worth adding

The walking routes around Hoffell lead toward Hoffellsjökull and its lagoon, and the guesthouse says there are routes for most fitness levels. To the west along Route 1, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is the best-known stop on this stretch of coast. In Höfn, the harbour and the views across the lagoon to the Vatnajökull ice cap make a good evening walk after dinner.