My experience at Hvammsvik Hot Springs in Iceland
My visit to Hvammsvik Hot Springs was one of my favourite memories from my week in Iceland. It’s located on Hvalfjörður fjord which is stunning and so peaceful, and if you stay long enough it’s a great place to see the northern lights!
Hvammsvik is made up of eight natural hot springs, so it feels as though you’re getting a really authentic experience, with a few added comforts like toilets and changing rooms!
And unlike the busy Blue Lagoon, Hvammsvik is much quieter, so my boyfriend and I often had pools to ourselves. Whilst it is slightly further away from ReykjavÃk than some of the other hot springs, it’s definitely worth the journey.
Getting there
Hvammsvik is an hour’s drive from ReykjavÃk. We drove there as we hired a car for our week in Iceland, and the drive is part of the adventure because it’s SO beautiful. Allow extra time for your journey because you’ll want to pull over multiple times!
Once you arrive, there’s lots of free parking spaces in front of the entrance.
I would really recommend hiring a car for your trip to Iceland, as it means you can go at your own pace, stop off at the side of the road to take in the view, and get to all the popular spots before the crowds arrive.
I always use Discover Cars when I’m hiring a car abroad. They compare the cost of lots of different providers to find the cheapest option, their customer service is great, and I’ve never had any issues with the cars I hire through them.
If you don’t want to hire a car for your trip though, you can get Hvammsvik tickets that include transport from ReykjavÃk. There’s multiple bus stops in the city so there will be one close to where you’re staying.
Cost
There’s three ticket types at Hvammsvik, and there’s only a few small differences between them.
Cheapest tickets: These are around 5,900 ISK/£35/$48, and get you entry to the hot springs only. The changing rooms included with this ticket are split by gender, but there’s no private cubicles to get changed in, and the showers are open. There’s hangers for your clothes, and a locker for your valuables.
Mid-range tickets: 7,900 ISK/£47/$64. With this ticket you get access to a changing room with private booths to get changed in, as well as private and open showers.
Most expensive tickets: 11,100 ISK/£66/$89. These tickets get you the comfortable changing rooms, as well as a towel, shoes to protect your feet and a free drink at the swim up bar.
If you book the two lower price tickets, you’ll need to pay around 900 ISK/£5/$7 to rent a towel, so make sure you bring one with you, as well as a pair of flip flops.
We went for the cheapest tickets and they were absolutely fine. Being a prude British person, I don’t love getting naked in front of strangers, but there was a toilet I quickly locked myself in to get changed, so it wasn’t an issue.
There’s a £30 difference between the cheapest and most expensive tickets, and as long as you remember to bring your own towel and flip flops, you’re basically paying £30 for one drink and a private shower, which is not worth it in my opinion.
A cocktail at Hvammsvik is 2,290 ISK/£13/$18, and a beer is 1,690 ISK/£10/$13. So you could get three drinks with that £30 you’re saving!
Price versus other hot springs
Compared to two of Iceland’s most popular hot springs, Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, Hvammsvik is a lot cheaper.
The cheapest tickets at Sky Lagoon start from 13,990 ISK/£84/$114, and the cheapest tickets at Blue Lagoon start at 11,990 ISK/£72/$97.
So you’re talking double the cost compared to Hvammsvik.
But, Iceland does have lots of natural hot springs that are completely free to visit.
Obviously they’re much more rustic, without any facilities or fancy restaurants and spas. But it’s an authentic experience and great if you’re on a budget.
My experience and thoughts
I absolutely loved Hvammsvik, it was one of the best things I did in Iceland. I liked the fact that it felt like an authentic hot springs experience, but still had facilities to make it more comfortable.
The views are seriously stunning, and it was so peaceful getting to relax in the pools whilst watching the landscape change in front of us.
Because we spent the whole day there, it meant the weather changed a lot. We had sunshine, rain and even rainbows, and all of it was beautiful.
I loved that there were different hot springs to choose from, each one with a slightly different temperature so you can move about depending on how cold you are.
One of the greatest things about Hvammsvik is that it’s right on the ocean, so you can run in and do a cold dip before coming back to the warmth of the hot springs. I wasn’t brave enough to do it but plenty of other people did!
The only downside is that it’s quite far from ReykjavÃk, so you need to allow around two hours for getting there and back. But aside from that, there were no negatives for me!
Should you visit Hvammsvik or Sky Lagoon?
Hvammsvik and Sky Lagoon are two very different hot springs, so which one you choose depends on what kind of experience you want.
Distance from ReykjavÃk
Sky Lagoon is only a fifteen minute drive from ReykjavÃk, so it’s very easily accessible and can be visited in an afternoon.
Hvammsvik is an hours drive away, so it’s only worth going if you’re planning to spend most of the day there.
Sky Lagoon might be better for you if you only have a few days in Iceland, and just want to set aside a few hours to visiting a hot spring.
Whereas Hvammsvik is great if you’re spending longer in Iceland, and have a full day you can set aside to visit.
Authenticity
Sky Lagoon is entirely man-made, and I’d say it’s more of a spa than a hot spring. It’s designed around a seven step ritual, so there’s different pools, sauna’s and steam rooms to experience.
The main part is the huge infinity lagoon pool, with a swim-up bar and views over the Atlantic Ocean. This is where you’ll probably spend most of your time whilst you’re there.
Hvammsvik is made up of eight natural hot springs. The facilities have been added to make it more comfortable, but it’s a much more authentic experience than Sky Lagoon.
Cost
Sky Lagoon is around £50 more expensive than Hvammsvik, so there’s a considerable cost consideration here. If you’re on a budget, Hvammsvik is much better.
Choose Hvammsvik if:
- You prefer a more rustic experience
- You’re on a budget
- You’re in Iceland for longer and have a day spare
- You want to escape the crowds
Choose Sky Lagoon if:
- You only have a few days in Iceland and not much time to spare
- You want a full spa experience
- You prefer luxury
Read my other Iceland guides:
16 Best Things to do in Iceland
The Ultimate Iceland Winter Packing List
Renting a Car in Iceland in Winter
