Laugarás · New

Laugarás Lagoon

Photo: Laugarás Lagoon

The Golden Circle’s newest lagoon, with a waterfall of its own

Opened in October 2025 on the banks of the Hvítá river, Laugarás Lagoon spreads over two levels joined by a seven-metre-wide waterfall, with a forest pool, a quiet cave and a restaurant from one of Iceland’s most talked-about chefs.

Water: 38–40°C
From Reykjavík: 1 h 20 min · 94 km
Opened: 2025
Entry from: 6,900 ISK
Best for: Golden CircleFood loversCouples
More like this: Lagoons on the Golden Circle →Lagoons with saunas and bathing rituals →Lagoons with the best views →

Why it’s worth the drive

Laugarás is a tiny greenhouse village on the Hvítá river, between Skálholt and Flúðir, where geothermal heat has been growing vegetables for generations. In October 2025 it gained one of Iceland’s newest lagoons: around 1,000 square metres of warm water laid out on two levels on the riverbank.

The two levels are joined by a waterfall nearly seven metres wide, and you can swim through an underwater passage to come up right beneath it. Elsewhere there’s a quiet cave, a forest pool among birch and larch, and an infinity edge looking out across the river to the mountains. The hot water comes from a spring a few metres away and is cooled with filtered glacial water from the Hvítá, so no chlorine is needed.

“Swim through an underwater passage and come up right beneath the waterfall.”

Food is a big part of the draw. Ylja, the lagoon’s restaurant, is led by chef Gísli Matt, who made his name at Slippurinn in the Westman Islands, and cooks with produce from the neighbouring farms, greenhouses and fisheries. Book the Ösp package and a two-course lunch is included.

A bather silhouetted behind the waterfall at Laugarás Lagoon at sunset

Bathers in the forest pool among snow-dusted spruce trees

A bather at the infinity edge, looking over misty water to the mountains

Two bathers by the lagoon’s stone-arched walls and bar, with snow on the roofs

Photography: Laugarás Lagoon.

Signature experiences

What to look forward to

01
The waterfall
A seven-metre-wide curtain of warm water linking the lagoon’s two levels.
02
Forest pool & cave
A pool among the trees and a hushed grotto for doing absolutely nothing.
03
Sauna by the woods
Dry sauna and steam bath at the forest edge, looking over the Hvítá.
04
Ylja restaurant
Farm-to-table cooking by chef Gísli Matt, from produce grown and caught nearby.

Good to know

Insider tips

Children under 5 can’t enter the lagoon, and ages 5–15 must be with an adult.
Prices change by date and time, so book early for the best rate.
Geysir is 27 minutes away and Gullfoss 39, making this an easy end to a Golden Circle day.

Planning a visit

Quick answers

Prices and details last checked October 2026.

Where is Laugarás Lagoon?

Laugarás Lagoon is in Laugarás, in South Iceland, near the Golden Circle. It’s about 1 h 20 min (94 km) by car from Reykjavík.

How hot is the water at Laugarás Lagoon?

Usually 38–40°C. From a natural hot spring a few metres away, cooled with filtered glacial water from the Hvítá river. No chlorine needed.

How much does Laugarás Lagoon cost?

Adult entry starts from 6,900 ISK. Prices change with the day, time slot and package, so check the latest when you book.

Can you book Laugarás Lagoon in advance?

Yes. You can check live availability and book Laugarás Lagoon through Lagoon Land. Popular times, like summer sunsets and winter evenings, sell out first, so it’s worth booking ahead.