Getting to Myvatn
Myvatn Nature Bath is located near the village of Reykjahlio. It is easily accessed for those with a rental car or doing a group tour*. If you are planning a road trip along Ring Road this is the perfect stop to relax. Fun Fact: Myvatn Nature Baths are only 65 miles from the Arctic Circle and enjoy never-ending daylight during the Summer months!
Myvatn Nature Bath Tickets
To visit the baths, you’ll want to pre-book your tickets. It costs 4,500 ISK (~$45) for the basic level ticket. Adding a drink or bathrobe/towel to your purchase will increase the price of your ticket. For more information, visit Myvatn Nature Baths.
Myvatn Amenities
Myvatn Nature Bath have locker rooms for both men and women with space to lock your personal items and shower before entering the baths. There is also Café Kvika on site if you’re looking to grab a bite after your soak.
Myvatn Experience
When visiting thermal baths in Iceland, it’s important to note that you are required to shower naked before entering the water. The sulphur and minerals in the water are known to dry out hair. If you have long hair, I recommend wearing it completely up (to avoid getting it wet) or add conditioner to it before going in the water to help protect it. If you wear contact lenses, avoid touching your eyes or getting water near them as it can dissolve them. The water in the large lagoon is kept between 94-104 degrees Fahrenheit (36-40 degrees Celsius) so is perfect in any weather (even the Winter months)!
The Blue Lagoon vs. Myvatn Nature Bath
For those who have visited the Blue Lagoon outside of Reykjavik, Myvatn will be a similar experience. While the water is the same colored bright blue, Myvatn is much smaller than the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a very touristy spot, where I found Myvatn to be quieter and less crowded. There are no fancy face masks or swim up bars at Myvatn but the surrounding views are far nicer than the Blue Lagoon. The landscape around Myvatn feels desolate and other-worldly. At the Blue Lagoon, it is difficult to see above the highly stacked lava rocks to appreciate any potential scenery. In terms of price tag and amenities, the Blue Lagoon is more expensive but comes with more inclusions (i.e. drink, face mask).
Overall, I found Myvatn to be a similar experience to the Blue Lagoon. Myvatn felt quieter and the Blue Lagoon felt more luxurious. You can’t go wrong with visiting either (or both). If you’re looking for a truly authentic hot-spring experience, I recommend checking out Iceland’s oldest swimming pool and taking a soak in the Secret Lagoon in Southern Iceland.
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong when visiting a thermal bath in Iceland. It is such a large part of their culture that they take it very seriously and even in the smallest public pools you’re sure to have a relaxing experience!
