Akranes
Guðlaug
Photo: Akranes municipality
A three-tier hot pool built into a beach breakwater
On Langisandur beach in Akranes, Guðlaug is a small concrete sculpture of a bath set into the sea wall: a viewing deck on top, a hot pool in the middle and a shallow beach pool at the bottom, where the waves reach at high tide.
- Water
- Hot & beach pools
- From Reykjavík
- 45 min · 49 km
- Opened
- 2018
- Entry from
- 2,800 ISK
- Best for
- Local lifeSea swimmersArchitecture
- More like this
- Lagoons near Reykjavík →Lagoons in West Iceland →
Guðlaug is the smallest bath in this issue and one of the most charming. It opened in December 2018 on Langisandur, the long sandy beach in the fishing town of Akranes, paid for partly by a local memorial fund. It is run by the town as a public bath, so this is where you’ll bathe with locals and the members of the sea-swimming club.
The structure is about 100 square metres of marine-grade concrete built into the stone breakwater, with rocks from the old sea wall set into the pools. The top deck is shaped like the bow of a boat. Below it is the hot pool, and below that a shallow pool on the beach itself. The tidal range here is over four metres, so at high tide the sea comes right up to the walls.
“At high tide the sea comes right up to the walls.”
The water is untreated geothermal water from Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring, piped all the way to the coast. Alternate the hot pool with a dip in the sea, and look out across Faxaflói bay to Reykjavík on the far side.
Photography: Akranes municipality.
What to look forward to
- 01
Three tiers
Viewing deck, hot pool and beach pool, stacked into the sea wall.
- 02
Hot and cold
Warm up in the hot pool, then run into the North Atlantic from the beach.
- 03
Blue Flag beach
Langisandur is one of Iceland’s Blue Flag beaches, with a long walk at low tide.
- 04
City views
Look across Faxaflói bay to Reykjavík and Snæfellsnes.
Insider tips
- Opening hours vary through the year. Check Guðlaug’s Facebook page before you go.
- Time your visit with the tide: high tide is the most dramatic.
- There are stairs throughout, and wheelchair access isn’t confirmed.
Quick answers
Prices and details last checked October 2026.
Where is Guðlaug?
Guðlaug is in Akranes, in West Iceland. It’s about 45 min (49 km) by car from Reykjavík.
Where does the water at Guðlaug come from?
Untreated geothermal water from Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring, piped all the way to the coast.
How much does Guðlaug cost?
Adult entry starts from 2,800 ISK. Prices change with the day, time slot and package, so check the latest when you book.
Can you book Guðlaug in advance?
Yes, on the official Guðlaug website. It isn’t bookable through Lagoon Land yet.
What is Guðlaug best for?
It’s a good pick for local life, sea swimmers and architecture. Highlights: three tiers, hot and cold, Blue Flag beach and city views.
When did Guðlaug open?
It opened in 2018.
Which lagoons are near Guðlaug?
The closest are Sky Lagoon (23 km), Hvammsvík Hot Springs (25 km) and Krauma (50 km), as the raven flies.
Also nearby
See the map →
Kópavogur
Sky Lagoon
An ocean-edge infinity pool a short hop from downtown
23 km away as the raven flies
Hvalfjörður
Hvammsvík Hot Springs
Eight hot springs on the shore, rising and falling with the tide
25 km away as the raven flies
Reykholt
Krauma
Europe’s most powerful hot spring, cooled with glacier water
50 km away as the raven flies