Lýsuhólslaug (Lýsulaugar)

What to expect

Lýsuhólslaug, which now mostly goes by the name Lýsulaugar, is a small country pool at the farm settlement of Lýsuhóll in Staðarsveit, on the south side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It is not a spa and does not try to be one. What makes it worth the detour is the water.

The pool is filled with naturally hot mineral water straight from the ground, and nothing is added. No chlorine, no other chemicals. In that water, green chlorella algae thrive, so the pool has a green, slightly murky look that surprises first-time visitors. The bottom can feel a little slick. That is the algae, not dirt. West Iceland’s tourist board repeats the local belief that the mineral and algae water is good for the body. Treat that as local lore rather than a medical fact. The real appeal is a long soak in untreated geothermal water with mountains and, on a clear day, the Snæfellsjökull glacier in view.

The setup is simple:

• One large geothermal pool, usually 82 to 93°F28 to 34°C. Good for slow laps or floating.
• Hot tub 1, usually 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C.
• Hot tub 2, usually 104 to 108°F40 to 42°C.
• A cold tub, 39 to 43°F4 to 6°C, for a quick plunge between hot soaks.

The operator says the water can be cooler on some days because of wind, rain and the weather in general. Everything was renovated in 2019. There are showers and changing rooms, plus a small kiosk.

Getting there

Lýsuhóll lies just north of Route 54, the road that runs along the south coast of Snæfellsnes. The pool’s own coordinates are 64° 50.483’ N, 23° 12.839’ W.

• From Reykjavík: About 170 km (105 miles), roughly 2.5 hours. Take Route 1 north through the Hvalfjörður tunnel to Borgarnes, then follow Route 54 west toward Snæfellsnes. Watch for the signed turn to Lýsuhóll on your right after you pass the junction with Route 56 (Vatnaleið) to Stykkishólmur.
• From Arnarstapi: About 29 km (18 miles), around 30 minutes east on Route 54.
• From Stykkishólmur: About 63 km (39 miles), roughly an hour. Cross the peninsula on Route 56 and turn west on Route 54.
• From Borgarnes: About 96 km (60 miles), roughly 1.5 hours on Route 54.

The final stretch is a short local road. Park at the pool building and walk a few steps to the changing rooms.

When to go

The pool opens only in summer. For 2026 the season runs from 15 May to 31 August, every day from 11:00 to 21:00. Any extra opening times are posted on the pool’s Facebook page, according to West Iceland’s tourism office.

Two things to know before you plan around it:

• Last week of August: The big pool may close to the public when the local school uses it for swimming lessons. The hot tubs and cold tub stay open.
• Wednesday cleaning: The baths are cleaned each week, mostly on Wednesday evenings. On Thursday mornings the big pool may not be completely refilled yet.

June and July evenings are the nicest time. The sun stays up very late, and the day-trippers driving the Snæfellsnes loop have usually moved on by then. Midday in July is the busiest time. On a cold, wet or windy day the large pool feels noticeably cooler, so you may spend most of your visit in the hot tubs.

Outside the season the pool is closed. Do not drive out in winter expecting a soak here.

Prices and rules

The pool’s website lists these prices. They are marked 2025 and were still the posted prices for the 2026 season:

• Adults: ISK 1,800
• Ages 10 to 17: ISK 500
• Ages 0 to 9: free

Older press coverage from 2017 gave lower prices, so ignore any figures you find in old guides.

Lýsulaugar is a swimming pool, so Icelandic pool rules apply. Regulation 814/2010 requires every guest to shower without a swimsuit before going in, and it requires children under 10 to be with a swimmer aged 15 or older. Swimsuits go on after the shower and stay on in the water.

Bathing culture

If this is your first Icelandic pool, a few habits will save you an awkward moment:

• Shower naked, with soap, before you swim. This is a legal requirement at Icelandic pools, not a suggestion. It matters even more here, because the water is not chlorinated.
• Leave shoes at the changing room entrance.
• Dry off in the shower area before you walk back to the lockers.
• Keep your voice down in the hot tubs. They are small, and locals use them for quiet conversation.

Where to stay nearby

• Lýsuhóll: The settlement itself has a guesthouse close to the pool, which makes an evening soak easy.
• Arnarstapi and Hellnar: About 29 km (18 miles) west, on the edge of Snæfellsjökull National Park, with guesthouses, a campsite and summer cafés.
• Stykkishólmur: About an hour away on the north coast, the largest town on the peninsula, with hotels, a supermarket and the Baldur ferry to the Westfjords.
• Borgarnes: About 1.5 hours east, with hotels and full services.

Safety notes

• Untreated water: The pool adds no chlorine. If you have an open cut or a weak immune system, think twice before a long soak, and do not swallow the water.
• Hot tub 2: At up to 108°F42°C, it is hot. Keep soaks short and get out if you feel dizzy, especially after a plunge in the cold tub.
• Cold tub: Water at 39 to 43°F4 to 6°C is a shock. Step in slowly and stay only a minute or two if you are not used to it.
• Slippery surfaces: The algae make pool floors and steps slick. Walk carefully and hold the rails.
• Driving on Snæfellsnes: Wind can be strong along Route 54. Check umferdin.is for road conditions and safetravel.is for weather alerts, especially in May and late August.

Nearby stops worth adding

The pool sits on the classic Snæfellsnes loop. To the west are the coastal cliffs and rock arches between Arnarstapi and Hellnar, and Snæfellsjökull National Park beyond them. Closer by, the black wooden church at Búðir stands alone in a lava field near the shore. On the north coast, Stykkishólmur has a pretty harbour and is the place to catch the ferry across Breiðafjörður if you are heading on to the Westfjords pools such as Hellulaug.