21-02-2024
An Icelandic fountain of wellness, Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths have begun to rival the famous Blue Lagoon for the best luxury geothermal bathing experience in Iceland. With pools, hot tubs, steam baths, a sauna, nearby lake and black sand beach, Fontana Geothermal Baths truly have it all!
The perfect place for a relaxing soak after a long day exploring the natural wonders all across the island, Fontana Spa in Iceland is a must-visit location during your vacation. Learn all you need to know about visiting this wonderful geothermal hotspot in our complete traveler’s guide to the wonderful Fontana Geothermal Baths.
First of all, you may be wondering what exactly Fontana Spa is. Well, this beautiful, natural geothermal wellness destination boasts a whole range of spa facilities, all centered around the natural geothermal pool at Laugarvatn. Here’s what you can expect when you visit Fontana Spa:
Locals have been relaxing in the natural steam baths of Lake Laugarvatn since 1929. At Fontana Spa, the steam flows through the cabin floors directly from the Earth itself. The healing vapors of Laugarvatn Fontana Steam Baths vary in temperature due to a number of factors, including the weather and the temperature of the hot springs, but usually sit somewhere between 40 and 50ºC (104 to 122ºF).
The lakefront pools at Fontana Geothermal Baths are interconnected, creating a beautiful tapestry of mineral-rich water to bathe in. Looking directly onto the serene Laugarvatn Lake, these pools offer an incredible bathing experience.
Raised slightly higher, the steaming hot tub at Fontana Spa is a phenomenal vantage point to soak in the breathtaking panoramas across the landscape at Laugarvatn, whilst nourishing your body with the warm, comforting water.
The toasty sauna at Fontana Spa remains at a sweltering 80 to 90ºC (176-194ºF), but with a lower humidity than the steam room. With an incredible lake view through the large window, this Finnish-style spa is the perfect place to warm up from the chilly Icelandic air.
If you fancy taking part in some hot and cold therapy, you can take a refreshing dip in Lake Laugarvatn before heading into the sauna or steam baths to warm up. While at Fontana Geothermal Spa, we also recommend enjoying a little stroll along the black sand beach here.
Located in southwest Iceland next to Iceland’s famous Golden Circle tourist route, Fontana Geothermal Baths are in an easily-accessible location close to many other major natural attractions in Iceland.
Just 1 hour and 15 minutes by car from the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík, you can easily reach Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths by taking the main Ring Road in Iceland (Route 1) in a northerly direction, until making a right turn onto Route 36. After following this road for most of the way, you’ll need to drive a short distance down Route 365 to reach the amazing Fontana Hot Springs.
Have you ever heard of Iceland’s baking bread in the ground tradition? Well, thanks to the prevalence of hot springs and geothermal areas all across this incredible country, there are many places on the island where it’s possible to actually bake bread from the heat of the Earth itself!
Fontana Bakery is one such place. This geothermal bakery in Iceland uses the volcanic heat of the area to freshly bake rye bread, which is made using a traditional recipe and left in the warm ground for 24 hours until it’s perfectly baked.
Fresh rye bread is baked at Fontana Bakery every day of the year between 11:45am and 2:30pm. For a unique Iceland ‘bread in the ground’ experience, you can join a Fontana Geothermal Bakery tour, where you’ll witness a pot of bread being lifted out of the hot black sand and have the chance to try a delicious slice of fresh, warm bread with Icelandic butter – yum!
If you’d like to join the unique geothermal bakery tour, the cost is 2990 ISK ($21 USD) per adult and free for children aged 0-12 years. As well as the bread and butter, you’ll also receive a slice of smoked trout to enjoy with your geothermally baked Icelandic bread!
Here are some important things to keep in mind when planning your trip to Fontana Geothermal Baths:
Opening times – Fontana Spa is open every day of year (yes, even during Christmas!) from 11am to 9pm, apart from the holiday season where opening hours are slightly reduced (11am to 4pm). In summer, opening hours are extended to 10am to 9pm. These extended opening hours apply from 1st June to 30th September.
Booking – To guarantee you can enter Iceland’s Fontana Spa during the busy period of summer, it’s recommended to book your entrance ahead of time.
Swimsuits and towels – You’ll need to bring along your swimsuit and towel when visiting Fontana Geothermal Baths, but if you forget, don’t worry! You can rent either or both of these items at the spa for a moderate fee.
Admission prices – To enter Fontana Spa, adults (17 and over) are required to pay 4990 ISK ($36 USD) and concessions (young people aged 10-16 years and senior citizens aged 67 and over) have to pay 2990 ISK ($22 USD). Children aged 9 and younger go free with an accompanying adult.
Explore Fontana Geothermal Baths in style with one of these top-recommended tours and activities:
Golden Circle and Fontana Geothermal Spa guided tour – An adventurous 9.5-hour tour from Reykjavík, this day trip takes you to all the most famous attractions along the Golden Circle route, including the historic Thingvellir National Park, the cascading Gullfoss Waterfall and the steaming Geysir hot spring area. You’ll, of course, spend some time soaking in the gorgeous natural sauna and spa of Fontana Geothermal Baths during this tour, enjoying the incredible views and luxurious experience among nature.
Hot and cold snorkeling and spa tour – Invigorate your senses with a hot and cold snorkeling and spa tour that takes you to the amazing Silfra fissure for a cold-water dive, followed by a relaxing soak in the warm Fontana Geothermal Baths. You’ll also be treated to a hot chocolate and cookies after your snorkeling trip!
Northern Lights and Fontana Geothermal Spa – This revitalizing evening trip gives you plenty of time to enjoy a blissful soak at Fontana Geothermal Spa, as well as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the amazing Northern Lights dance across the sky.
Laugarvatn Fontana General Admission – If you’re just looking for a general admission ticket to enjoy soaking in the luxurious waters at Fontana Spa, this is the one for you. With this ticket, you can access all the spa facilities and you’ll get a personal locker to use, too. Shower gel, shampoo, creams and cotton pads are all available in the showers/locker rooms free of charge.
Who’s excited to take a dip in Fontana Spa for themselves? We definitely are! Get started making this dream trip a reality by booking a reliable rental car in Iceland to take you to all the top sights and natural wonders across the country.
Need some help or want to ask any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us and our friendly team will be happy to help. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful country, the Land of Ice and Fire, very soon for the adventure of a lifetime!