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Reykjadalur Hot Springs: Everything You Need to Know About This Hidden Gem in Iceland

September 14, 2018

Iceland is a country filled with hidden gems. Though it is exponentially gaining popularity as a tourist destination, there are still sites that are less crowded and only reachable by those with adventurous spirits. The Reykjadalur Hot Springs is one of these hidden gems.

I visited the Reykjadalur Hot Springs on my 26th birthday, and it ended up being one of my favorite places in Iceland. Reykjadalur Hot Springs can be done as part of a Golden Circle trip, as part of a South Iceland trip, or just a day trip from Reykjavik. Either way, this spot is too fun to pass up.

The trailhead to Reykjadalur Hot Springs!

 

How to Get There

From central Reykjavik, it takes about 45 minutes to drive to the town of Hveragerði. Once you get into town, follow the main road (Breiðamörk) which will begin to veer to the left. Follow the signs for Reykjadalur until it comes to a dead end at a parking lot. Parking in this lot is free.

There will be a small coffee shop in the parking lot that’s open during the summer months. If you think you’re lost, you can search for Hot River Coffee in Reykjadalur, and you should be led to the correct place. 

Once you’ve parked your car, go ahead and use the toilet behind the coffee shop. There will be no place to go to the bathroom once you’re on the trail nor at the hot springs. Then, take the small wooden bridge over the river to the trailhead. From there, it will take about one hour to reach the Reykjadalur Hot Springs.

READ » The Best Iceland Golden Circle Self Drive Itinerary

Cross the small river to start your hike!

 

Hiking to Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Most people and information you’ll find will tell you it’s an easy hike. If you’re a non-hiker like me, those people are mean and full of lies. The hike to the river is mostly up a small mountain and then through the range a bit. The hike will take you an hour or so, maybe less if you hike on the regular and have a good level of fitness.

Nevertheless, it’s so worth it to power through the hike. The path is well worn and easy to follow. There are some fairly steep sections, so do be careful and make sure to wear proper footwear. You’ll find some incredible views once you get up into the mountains, as well as some waterfalls, and a few bubbling mud pits.

When you get to the bubbling hot spring that steams so much it covers the trail, you know you’re close to the end of your hike. Just about a 10 minute walk from this landmark, you’ll see the hot springs and the wooden boardwalk that lines it.

Beautiful waterfalls on the way to the thermal river

 

Enjoying the Hot Springs

Unlike many of Iceland’s other well-known hot springs, like the Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon, Reykjadalur is not a public pool, but rather a small river that runs from natural hot springs in the mountains. Because of this, visiting Reykjadalur is one of the most untouched locations to really enjoy hot springs in nature.

Its rural setting means that there are very few amenities at Reykjadalur. The most man-made parts of this site are the wooden boardwalks along the sides of the river, the small wooden steps that lead into the water, and the wooden partitions built for changing your clothes.

That’s right, there are no private changing rooms at Reykjadalur Hot Springs- just a small wooden wall to crouch behind. And even then, your body will be exposed to whatever weather Iceland feels like having that minute. Honestly, after building up a sweat from the hike in, the cold Iceland air feels great and your naked butt may never see a more picturesque setting without getting arrested. Take it all in.

Your first glimpse of the thermal river

You can store your belongings anywhere along the river, but it’s best not to leave your bags out of sight. Iceland is a very safe country, but that doesn’t mean you need to risk it!

Once you’ve changed into your swimsuit, it’s finally time to enjoy the thermal river! There are some shallower parts and some deeper parts, and the water’s temperature gets hotter the further upstream you travel. I suggest getting in around the midpoint and walking up or downstream to find the perfect temperature for you.

There is no entry fee or time limit for enjoying the hot springs, so feel free to kick back and relax once you’ve found your perfect spot. Just know that when it comes time to leave you’re going to have to get yourself psyched up to get out of the warm water and back into the cold Iceland air to change back into dry clothes!

Time to relax in the warm water!

  

What to Bring

Bringing the right stuff on your Reykjadalur adventure will ensure you have a great time! This is a longer hike, so it’s not a place where you want to forget anything in the car! Here are the basic things you’ll want to bring with you.


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and purchase one of these items, I will get an itty bitty (no, really…) commission at no cost to you! Thanks!


  •  Sturdy Hiking Shoes: A hike this long will not go well without proper footwear. The sturdier the shoe, the better. Something with decent traction and a bit of ankle support will fare well on a hike like this. 
  • Water Shoes: This one is up to preference. The riverbed can be quite rocky, so if you have sensitive feet it may help to bring some kind of water-friendly footwear.
  • Swimsuit and Towel: To be honest, this one is based on preference too. I saw plenty of people who were comfortable enjoying the thermal river au naturale. It’s not a big deal in Iceland. Either way, it is nice to have a small towel to dry off afterward. I recommend a lightweight microfiber towel.
  • Snacks: It is my personal philosophy that all hikes should be rewarded with good snacks. It was my birthday when I visited, so I carried in a bag of tortilla chips, salsa, queso and some drinks, and was very happy snacking away in the warm water. Just be careful if you bring anything in glass. You don’t want to leave broken glass in the water for people to step on!
You don’t want to get all the way here and start wishing you had snacks!
  • Water Bottle: After a hike like this, you are going to want some rehydration. Make sure to bring a water bottle or two to keep yourself well hydrated and healthy on this adventure! This is one of my favorite water bottles!
  • Sunglasses & Sunblock: Even though the temperature outside may not feel warm, there are still a good amount of sun rays beating down. Make sure your skin and eyes are protected by using sunglasses and sunblock on your hike!
  • Raincoat: Iceland’s weather is crazy unpredictable. I recommend bringing your raincoat wherever you go in Iceland. Even if it’s bright and sunny out. You never know when the weather will turn. This lightweight, packable raincoat is perfect to tote around Iceland!
  • Small Day Pack: Of course you’ll need something to carry all this around with you! My favorite day bag is my packable daypack from Eddie Bauer. 

 


The Reykjadalur Hot Springs make an excellent adventure in Iceland, getting off the beaten path hiking to one of Iceland’s best hidden gems. If you’re visiting Iceland and looking for something adventurous, outdoorsy and outside of the typical tourist sites, definitely add the Reykjadalur Hot Springs Thermal River to your trip!

Everything you need to know before visiting Reykjadalur Hot Springs: How to get there, what to bring, what to expect and more!

 

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An adventurous stop on a Golden Circle tour or a South Iceland day trip, you've got to visit Reykjadalur Hot Springs! Also a great day trip from Reykjavik, Iceland. Here's everything you need to know before visiting Reykjadalur Hot Springs: How to get there, what to bring, what to expect and more! Iceland Travel | Things to do Iceland | Iceland Hot Springs | #Iceland #IcelandTravel #IcelandHotSprings #Reykjadalur #Reykjavik
An adventurous stop on a Golden Circle tour or a South Iceland day trip, you've got to visit Reykjadalur Hot Springs! Also a great day trip from Reykjavik, Iceland. Here's everything you need to know before visiting Reykjadalur Hot Springs: How to get there, what to bring, what to expect and more! Iceland Travel | Things to do Iceland | Iceland Hot Springs | #Iceland #IcelandTravel #IcelandHotSprings #Reykjadalur #Reykjavik

 

 

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22 Comments


karen
September 14, 2018 at 10:26 am
Reply

Seeing so many inspiring posts about Iceland, seriously looking at heading that way for our 30th next year. Looks amazing, thank you.



    Brianna
    September 14, 2018 at 11:31 am
    Reply

    That sounds like the perfect occasion to go!

Donna Janke
September 14, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Reply

Reykjadalur Hot Springs looks like a great spot even if the uphill hike to get there might be a challenge for my legs that are used to prairie flat. I’d be willing to make the effort.



    Brianna
    September 14, 2018 at 3:22 pm
    Reply

    It was a challenge for me too, but definitely worth it!

Cheryl Garcia
September 14, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Reply

Thank you for this post! We will arrive there in 16 days for 13 days of exploring Iceland’s wonders! On our list is to enjoy some natural hot spots and this one has made the cut – woo hoo! We appreciate your insights.



    Brianna
    September 14, 2018 at 6:11 pm
    Reply

    Oh fun! Come back and let me know what you think after you’ve been there!

Carly | Fearless Female Travels
September 14, 2018 at 8:36 pm
Reply

I was with you up to the tortilla chips… I have NEVER heard of someone lugging tortilla chips on their hike before! Spas, thermal baths and hot springs are one of my favorite things to do when traveling through!



    Brianna
    September 14, 2018 at 8:52 pm
    Reply

    Hahahaha! You must be new to this blog. I am very motivated by snacks and bring them with me on every hike!!

Danielle
September 15, 2018 at 10:08 am
Reply

So nice to read about hot springs in Iceland other than the Blue Lagoon! Love this post – Iceland is very high on my bucket list!



Zoe
September 19, 2018 at 11:03 am
Reply

I need to check this off my bucket list!! Those hot springs look gorgeous to sit in the sun in!! And much better within these nature areas than paying touristic prices for a hyped up location instead! Great post thanks for sharing.



Ketki
September 19, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Reply

Iceland is so high up on my bucketlist and things just keep on adding to visit there. Awesome photos and great guide.



Valerie
September 19, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Reply

Wow I want to go to Iceland !!! I feel like a man traveler lol … only been to US Mexico and Canada.. hoping overseas next yr !

Your pics are fab and this river oasis sounds amazing!

Valerie



Nafisa Habib
September 20, 2018 at 1:33 am
Reply

So cool, no entry fee needed and possible to enjoy the unlimited time. Indeed a comfortable choice for the cold Iceland air.



Sanne
September 20, 2018 at 3:52 am
Reply

These hot springs look like an amazing off the beaten path spot in Iceland. The hike is also something I would absolutely love to do!



madhu
September 20, 2018 at 6:42 am
Reply

I so want to visit Iceland.. looks like you had a great time and surely this hot spring is not crowded which is good. But one thing i find it quite challenging to announce the names of the places in Iceland.



    Brianna
    September 20, 2018 at 9:31 am
    Reply

    That’s true! The Icelandic language is pretty complicated for non-native speakers!

Katherine
September 20, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Reply

I’m so jealous of people who do such cool, memorable things for their birthdays! I would love to visit a hot springs for my birthday… and you got the added bonus of it being in one fo the most beautiful countries in the world!



Karen
September 20, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Reply

Never heard of these hot springs before. Would definitely sign up for the hike! So cool!



Anneklien
September 21, 2018 at 2:47 am
Reply

I love hiking and walking around, i been to Iceland but it was wintertime so not much of hiking was on the itinerary. But Reykjadalur Hot Springs looks like a great day trip during summer and soak and indulge to the hot spring. Looks like a good excuse to revisit Iceland.



Meredith
March 2, 2019 at 11:39 am
Reply

Super helpful and inspiring post! Iceland is very high on our list and these hot springs spot looks like such a gem. Makes me want to book a flight!



Carrie
March 2, 2019 at 10:54 pm
Reply

I so wish I’d had time for this when I was in Iceland! One of my travel buddies who had been before said it was one of his favorite places in Iceland. Good reason to go back 🙂



    Brianna
    March 3, 2019 at 5:29 pm
    Reply

    I think it was one of my favorites too!

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  • I’m Brianna and I’m possibly the funniest person I know. I’m a total goofball who loves to travel. I fell in love with the world in 2007, when my family and I moved to Sydney, Australia. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to see the world. I'm an ordinary adventurer here to show you how the average person can travel the world.

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