Mývatn Nature Baths consists of a lagoon fed by natural hot springs amid picturesque terrain. Feel rising jets of vapour engulf you in the steam room, before you relax in the warm waters of the vast pool. The baths draw hot water from a depth of 8,200 feet (2,500 metres) below the ground.
The site has large, elegant changing rooms that have hundreds of lockers. Relax in a steam bath that is built atop a geothermal jet. Then make your way to the bathing lagoon, where water stems from the borehole in Bjarnarflag. Feel the sand and gravel of the base between your toes.
The use of chlorine is not necessary, as the chemical composition and minerals of the water keep it clean. Note the white, cloudy appearance of the lagoon, which owes its appearance to the high levels of sulphur.
Enjoy a massage in the baths or in a designated room. These include foot massages and full body services, which last 90 minutes.
Stay in the lagoon late into the evening for a special atmosphere. Experience the extraordinary sensation of being in a hot pool bathed in daylight close to midnight in the summer months. In winter, the snow generates spectacular scenery in the surrounding terrain.
Hike through the white forests nearby and enjoy the tranquil ambiance. Gaze up at the green wonder of the northern lights that illuminates the night sky.
Dine at the Kvika Restaurant, which overlooks the pool, for its bread that is baked in the geothermal springs. The restaurant serves hot beverages, sandwiches and many other dishes.
There is a fee to access the baths, with a discount for teenagers, students and seniors. Kids visit for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Towels, swimsuits and bathrobes are available to rent. The spa is open year-round from morning until around midnight.
Mývatn Nature Baths is just northeast of the vast Mývatn Lake in northeastern Iceland. Take the short journey north from the volcano of Hverfjall and the lava fields of Dimmuborgir.
