Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin)

What to expect

The Secret Lagoon, signed in Icelandic as Gamla Laugin (“the old pool”), sits in a steaming patch of ground called Hverahólmi on the edge of the village of Flúðir. It is not a lagoon in the Blue Lagoon sense. It is an old swimming pool with natural rock and gravel around it, fed directly by the hot springs next door, and it feels a lot more like a village bath than a spa.

The operator calls it the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. It was built in 1891. Until 1894 the local community also used the site as its meeting place, and from 1909 it hosted the first swimming lessons in the country, which ran here every year until 1947. After that the pool fell out of use for decades. Restoration started from an idea in 2005, and it reopened to the public on 7 June 2014.

The water is the main event. The operator gives a steady 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C all year, fed by three springs: Vaðmálahver, Básahver and Litli Geysir. The water is fully replaced about every 24 hours. It carries a mild sulphur smell. Steam drifts off the pool most of the year, and you can watch boiling springs bubble just beyond the edge.

Litli Geysir, the “little geyser”, is the showpiece. It throws up a small burst of water every few minutes, close enough to see from the pool. A walking path loops around the pool so you can look at the springs safely. Stay on it, because the ground and water around the vents are boiling hot.

Guide to Iceland describes three bathing areas: the historic main pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold plunge pool. A newer building beside the pool holds the changing rooms, with lockers, soap and hair dryers, and gender-separated communal showers. There are no private shower cubicles or family room. A small bistro sells drinks, including alcohol, plus snacks, sandwiches and cup noodles. There is no kitchen for hot meals.

Getting there

The lagoon is on Hvammsvegur at the edge of Flúðir, in the Hrunamannahreppur district of South Iceland.

• From Reykjavík: About 100 km (62 miles), roughly 1.5 hours in good conditions. Take Route 1 east over Hellisheiði toward Selfoss, turn north onto Route 35 before the town, pass Kerið crater, then follow signs toward Flúðir (Route 359 and Route 30). The lagoon is signposted from the village.
• From the Golden Circle: Flúðir sits south of Gullfoss and Geysir, which makes the lagoon an easy add-on to a Golden Circle day.
• By bus: The operator does not run transport. Strætó routes 51 and 52 run from Reykjavík to Selfoss, and routes 72 and 73 run from Selfoss to Flúðir, but the operator warns the Flúðir service is very limited. Check Strætó timetables before relying on it. Many Golden Circle tours include the lagoon.

Parking is private, free for guests and open only during opening hours. Overnight parking and camping in the lot are not allowed.

In winter, check umferdin.is for road conditions on Route 35 and the roads to Flúðir, and safetravel.is for weather alerts.

When to go

The lagoon is open every day of the year:

• Summer (June 1 to September 30): 10:00 to 20:00.
• Winter (October 1 to May 31): 10:00 to 19:00.
• December 24 and 31: 10:00 to 18:00.

Midday is busiest, when Golden Circle tours arrive. Turn up at 10:00 or come for the last couple of hours. The operator says the average stay is 1.5 to 2 hours. Individual guests have no set time limit and can stay until closing, while organised groups get 1.5 to 2 hours.

Winter evenings are dark from mid-afternoon, so in December and January you can soak under the stars, and with luck the northern lights, before the 19:00 close.

Prices and booking

Prices per person on the operator’s site in October 2026:

• Adults (15 and over): ISK 4,500
• Children (14 and under): ISK 260, with a parent. Up to three children per adult.
• Seniors (67 and over) and disabled visitors: ISK 3,300, with current ID
• Swimsuit rental: ISK 1,200
• Towel rental: ISK 1,200
• Multi-pass, 10 entries: from ISK 36,000, valid for a year

Admission covers the showers, a locker and the pool. Towels and swimsuits are extra.

Booking: Book online. Payment is taken in full when you book. The operator says it cannot guarantee a spot without a booking, and a booking does not completely rule out waiting at busy times. Cancel or change at least 24 hours ahead by emailing info@secretlagoon.is. Later cancellations get no refund. If the lagoon cancels for weather or operational reasons, you get a full refund or a free change.

Rules worth knowing:

• Shower without your swimsuit first, and dry off in the shower room before you walk back to the lockers. This is a firm Icelandic custom and part of the lagoon’s terms.
• Children: Under-17s must be with an adult, and children aged 8 and under must wear armbands. Children cannot go into the pool on their own.
• No outside alcohol, food or drink. Staff can refuse entry to anyone who arrives drunk, with no refund.
• No running, diving or jumping. No pets.
• Take off silver jewellery. The sulphur can tarnish it.
• Entering outside opening hours is banned, and the operator treats it as an offence.

Where to stay nearby

• Secret Lagoon guest house: The operator rents four double rooms with private bathrooms, a shared kitchen and laundry. Guests get pool access during normal opening hours.
• Flúðir campground: About 1.5 km from the lagoon, according to the operator.
• Flúðir village: Hotels and guesthouses, a shop and restaurants. Flúðasveppir, a mushroom farm with a bistro, is about 2 km away.
• Laugarvatn and Reykholt: Short drives north, both handy bases for the Golden Circle.

Safety notes

• Heat: 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C is hot for a long soak. The operator asks guests to take breaks and drink water before, during and after bathing.
• Boiling springs: The springs and Litli Geysir around the pool are at boiling point. Stay on the path and keep children close.
• Slippery edges: The natural rock and gravel edges can be slick. Walk, do not run.
• Alcohol: Drinks are sold at the bistro. Hot water and alcohol together cause dizziness, so go easy.
• Valuables: Use the locker. The operator does not take responsibility for lost items.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hrunalaug, a small privately run natural pool on the farm Ás, is only a few kilometres east of the Secret Lagoon and makes a good pair if you want a quieter, rustic soak. To the north, Laugarvatn Fontana has steam baths over hot springs on a lake. Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir, the classic Golden Circle stops, are all within reach for a full day, and Skálholt, the old bishop’s seat, and Kerið crater sit on the drive in.