Mývatn Nature Baths Tours
Iceland’s natural hot springs, fed by volcanic activity and dotted all around the country, are world renowned. The most famous is the Blue Lagoon, but it’s almost always crammed with day-trippers from nearby Reykjavik. Myvatn Nature Baths, on the other hand, remain a pocket of tranquility, hidden away in the less-visited north.
The Basics
With water bubbling between 96.8°F (36°C) and 102.2°F (39°C) and an idyllic backdrop of looming volcanoes and picturesque Lake Myvatn, visiting the baths is the perfect way to soothe tired limbs after a day spent exploring the surrounding volcano- and glacier-laced landscape.
Visitors to Myvatn Nature Baths have access to saunas, heated pools, and massage services. You can spend the whole day soaking in the milky blue, mineral-rich water, reaping its health benefits. The man-made lagoon makes use of the run-off from the Bjarnarflag geothermal borehole nearby and is full of natural silicates and volcanic microorganisms renowned for their restorative and relaxant properties. Visits to the baths are often included in day tours around northern Iceland, leaving from Akureyri.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Myvatn Nature Baths is a must-visit attraction for nature lovers and those who want to reap the benefits of its mineral-rich waters.
- Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit and towel, although both (and a robe) can be rented on-site.
- Geothermal water in Iceland usually contains sulphur so do not bring brass or silver jewelry into the baths as the water can turn those metals black.
- Built on top of a geothermal area, the humidity can reach 100 percent. Take turns cooling off in the outdoor showers.
- The bath complex has lockers for safekeeping your valuables.
- There is a restaurant on-site, serving lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks.
How to Get There
Myvatn Nature Baths is about an hour-and-a-half’s drive along Route 1 (or, the “Ring Road”) from Akureyri, the nearest city. Public buses are infrequent and tricky to fit to a visitor’s schedule, but you can rent a car from downtown Akureyri or at Akureyri Airport. If you would rather skip the hassle of driving, join one of the guided day tours that visit the baths as part of a larger tour around North Iceland.
When to Get There
The Myvatn Nature Baths are open daily year-round, although opening hours differ slightly from summer to winter. In summer, due to the long days experienced in North Iceland, they stay open late, allowing you to experience the midnight sun in a setting that couldn’t be more idyllic. With fewer visitors, winter offers a quieter experience, as well as the chance of spotting the northern lights—and, despite the northerly location, the region enjoys a temperate climate.
The Healing Waters of Myvatn Nature Baths
The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s busiest attractions, but you can experience all the benefits of that hot spring without the drawbacks of crowds and a hefty price tag by heading north for the Myvatn Nature Baths instead. Surrounded by pristine nature, the hot water is bound to make you feel revitalized after a day of hiking across the volcanic region’s steaming lava fields.
Address: Jardbadshola, Mývatn, Iceland
Admission: Varies
5 Tours and Activities to Experience Mývatn Nature Baths
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Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss and Goddafoss Waterfalls Day Tour from Akureyri
Discover the Natural Wonders of Lake Myvan, Nature Baths, Goddafoss waterfall AND the spectacular Dettifoss waterfall all in one day on this popular and great value tour with an experienced local guide. We set off from Akureryi stopping at the beautiful Godafoss waterfall also known as 'The Waterfall of the Gods' and then onto the famous Lake Myvatn. In Lake Myvatn we visit popular destinations including the Myvatn Nature baths, a geothermal lagoon with mineral rich water in the middle of lava fields, Skútustaðagígar, the psuedocrater area, with stunning views of the Lake Myvatn area, the Dimmuborgir Lava formations also known as 'The Dark Castle', Game of thrones filming locations, the Mount Námafjall area where you can view the bubbling Hverir Mud pools and Natural steam vents/fumaroles and also the Grjotagja rift and cave. We also visit Dettifoss waterfall, Europes most powerful waterfall (conditions dependant). *Please note the entrance fee to the Nautre Baths is not included*
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From
$263.32
From
$263.32
Day Trip to Lake Mývatn And The Nature Baths from Akureyri
Hop on a small group tour for an exploration of northern Iceland’s natural wonders from Akureyri. Visit Goðafoss waterfall, see Lake Mývatn, admire the volcanic landscape of lava and craters, and check out the Mývatn Nature Baths—the ‘blue lagoon of the north’—where you can enjoy a warm soak in the geothermal waters.
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From
$129.08
From
$129.08
Akureyri North Iceland Waterfalls and Nature Baths Small Group Tour
North Iceland boasts many natural wonders, including lava formations, waterfalls, thermal pools, and more. This small-group tour from Akureyi covers the best in a convenient day trip, including an optional swim at Myvatn Nature Baths. Marvel at the waterfalls at Godafoss, Dettifoss, and Selfoss; view Lake Myvatn, hot springs, and the Dimmuborgir lava fields, and then choose to bathe in the naturally heated Myvtan baths. Hotel and airport pickup and drop-off are included.
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From
$240.95
From
$240.95
Private Grand Lux Lake Mývatn
Your private tour to lake Myvatn that includes most of the pearls of there north like Goðafoss waterfall, the Nature baths, and local 2-course lunch all included in this VIP version of Grand Lake Myvatn tour in a luxury SUV ride with a professional guide.
Quality service at your style for up to 6 persons.
Enjoy an amazing journey by a private tour through this area of extreme contrasts with great birdlife and flora, geothermal activity, geology and many places which feature in the Icelandic Sagas. The Lake Myvatn area is considered by many to be the most dramatic and also the most beautiful place in Iceland.
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From
$1,878.67
per group
From
$1,878.67
per group
Arctic Fox Travel Dettifoss lake Mývatn winter private super jeep tour
Explore the highlights of northern Iceland without the crowds on this private guided tour. Starting in Akureyri, head for the teeming Goðafoss waterfall and Lake Mývatn, before continuing on to Europe's largest waterfall Dettifoss.
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From
$1,352.28
per group
From
$1,352.28
per group
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