Which Lagoon Should I Choose on a Winter Golden Circle Day?
Choose Secret Lagoon if you're driving the full loop or travelling with children. Choose Fontana if you want to soak after dark or want more of a spa. Choose Sky Lagoon only as a separate evening near Reykjavík. Location settles most of it: Secret Lagoon sits near the Geysir–Gullfoss end of the loop, Fontana sits between Þingvellir and Geysir, and Sky Lagoon is back in the capital area.
Comparison Table (Winter 2026–27)
| Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin) | Laugarvatn Fontana | Sky Lagoon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult price | 4,500 ISK (about $37) | 7,490 ISK (about $62), age 16+ | Saman from 14,990 ISK (about $124); Sér from 17,990 ISK |
| Child / youth price | 260 ISK (14 and under, max 3 per adult) | 4,990 ISK (6–15); free for 0–5 | Youth 12–14: Saman from 7,495 ISK, Sér from 8,995 ISK |
| Senior / disabled | 3,300 ISK (67+, with ID) | 6,490 ISK | No separate senior rate published |
| Winter hours | 1 Oct–31 May: 10:00–19:00 | 1 Oct–31 May: 11:00–21:00 | 21 Oct–30 Apr: 10:00–21:00 daily |
| Holiday hours | 24 and 31 Dec: 10:00–18:00 | "Can change during holidays" (not yet published) | Not yet published; check before booking |
| Water temperature | 38–40°C all year | Pools vary; steam room 40–50°C; sauna 80–90°C | Lagoon 38–40°C; sauna 80–90°C |
| Size and feel | One historic gravel-bottomed pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold plunge. Rustic, social, steamy | Several connected pools, a geyser steam room, a panoramic sauna and the lake. Calm, Nordic spa | A large lagoon with a 75 m infinity edge, the ritual circuit and an in-water bar. Polished, design-led |
| Food and drink | Bistro with snacks and drinks, no hot meals | Bistro; rye bread tastings | Smakk Bar and Keimur Café |
| Towels | Rent for 1,200 ISK (swimsuit 1,200 ISK) | Check on site | Included |
| Booking | "Pre-booking is highly appreciated"; walk-ins not guaranteed | Recommended; walk-ins fine unless sold out | Timed booking, effectively essential |
| Age limits | All ages | All ages (0–5 free) | 12+; ages 12–14 with a guardian aged 18+ |
| Distance | About 97 km (1.5 h) from Reykjavík; about 35 km (40 min) from Gullfoss | About 80 km (1h15–1h20) from Reykjavík; about 25 km from Þingvellir | About 6 km from central Reykjavík |
| Aurora odds in the water | Low to moderate (dark from about 16:45 to closing at 19:00 in December) | Best of the three (dark until 21:00, rural, lakeside) | Possible, but city light pollution |
| Crowds | Busy 12:00–16:00 with tour buses; quieter at opening and in the last hour | Moderate; tour groups at midday | Busy evenings and weekends |
| Best for | Families, budget travellers, full-loop self-drivers, anyone after an authentic hot spring | Couples, sauna lovers, aurora hopefuls, food lovers | Luxury, ritual and design fans, travellers without a car, a final night |
Prices and hours come from the official websites (secretlagoon.is, fontana.is and skylagoon.com), checked in October 2026.
Other Experiences You Might Enjoy
A soak works best as the end of a longer winter day on the Golden Circle: the rift at Þingvellir, Strokkur at Geysir and the Gullfoss waterfall, perhaps with lunch at the Friðheimar tomato greenhouse, the Kerið crater, a Langjökull snowmobile ride or Silfra snorkelling, followed by an evening northern lights tour from Reykjavík.
Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin), Flúðir: the Classic
Secret Lagoon is the cheapest, most historic and most family-friendly of the three, and it sits in the right place to finish a full Golden Circle loop. It's a natural, gravel-bottomed hot pool built in 1891 at the Hverahólmi geothermal area beside Flúðir, which makes it Iceland's oldest swimming pool. Our Secret Lagoon guide covers it year-round.
What Makes It Special?
- A live geyser at the poolside. Litli Geysir ("Little Geysir") erupts roughly every 5 minutes, according to Arctic Adventures, spouting about one to two metres high beside the pool. Together with the Vaðmálahver and Básahver springs it supplies all of the lagoon's water.
- Water that is never chlorinated. According to the lagoon, "the pool water flows continuously, and it takes only 24 hours to its complete replacement." It's warm, sulphur-rich and 38–40°C all year.
- Real history. Iceland's first swimming lessons were held here from 1909 to 1947. After decades of disuse the pool reopened as the Secret Lagoon on 7 June 2014.
- A walking path around the springs lets you watch the boiling, gushing vents safely. In winter, walk the loop in boots before you change, because the path can be icy.
Secret Lagoon Prices 2026 (Official)
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (15+) | 4,500 ISK |
| Senior (67+) and people with disabilities | 3,300 ISK (current ID required) |
| Child (14 and under) | 260 ISK (max 3 children per adult) |
| Towel rental | 1,200 ISK |
| Swimsuit rental | 1,200 ISK |
| Multi-pass (10 entries) | From 36,000 ISK (valid 1 year) |
| Gift card | From 4,500 ISK (valid 1 year) |
Secret Lagoon Winter Opening Hours
- 1 October – 31 May: daily 10:00–19:00.
- 24 and 31 December: 10:00–18:00.
- 25 December and 1 January: no exception is listed, so expect normal winter hours, and confirm a few days before.
- Individual tickets have no time limit, so you can stay until closing.
Do I Need to Book Secret Lagoon?
Yes, book ahead, especially for 12:00–16:00 and holiday weeks. The official site says: "Pre-booking is highly appreciated. Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee a spot if you do not book in advance." Walk-ins often work on quiet winter weekdays, but you won't want to find out after a 40-minute drive in the dark. Iceland Secret Lagoon Admission Ticket (4.7/5 from 2,199 reviews) lets you book the entry with free cancellation.
Facilities, Food and Accessibility
- A modern changing building sits right beside the pool. Showers are traditional Icelandic ones, separate for men and women (communal, not cubicles).
- The bistro sells snacks and drinks, including beer, but no hot meals, so eat in Flúðir or bring lunch.
- Parking on site is free during opening hours.
- Besides the main pool there are a hot paddling pool and a cold plunge.
- Accessibility: there's a discount for seniors and people with disabilities, but this is a natural pool with a gravel bottom and uneven edges. Wheelchair users should call reception (+354 555 3351) before booking.
- Staying over: the lagoon rents 4 double rooms in the historic house Garður next door, and guests get pool access during opening hours.
Can You See the Northern Lights from Secret Lagoon?
It's possible but unlikely. Closing time (19:00) leaves only about two hours of real darkness in December, and less in November and February. Arctic Adventures puts it bluntly: seeing the aurora there "is possible but unlikely. The lagoon closes at 7:00 PM in winter, while the night sky spectacle usually appears after 10 PM." If seeing the aurora from the water is your main goal, choose Fontana, or add a separate tour from our Golden Circle and northern lights combo guide.
Our Verdict on Secret Lagoon
It's the best value and the best fit for a full-loop day. It's rustic rather than luxurious: expect a sulphur smell, a gravel bottom and busy mid-afternoons when the tour coaches arrive. In falling snow, with steam rising and Litli Geysir going off, it's hard to beat.
Laugarvatn Fontana: Reopened in 2026, and What's New
Fontana reopened on 1 August 2026 after a complete renovation that began in October 2025. It's now the most spa-like of the Golden Circle options, and its 21:00 closing makes it the best of the three for a soak after dark.
- Location: on the shore of Lake Laugarvatn, on Route 37 between Þingvellir and Geysir.
- History: Fontana dates the earliest bathing mentions here to "around the year 1000". In 1929 locals built two small bathhouses right on top of a geyser, just as today's steam bath sits directly above one. The modern facility opened in 2011.
Some third-party guides gave a June 2026 reopening date. Fontana's own site says "Our facilities opened after a complete renovation 1 August 2026."
What's New at Fontana
According to Fontana's reconstruction page, the new facilities include:
- Baths that extend into Laugarvatn lake, with the pools expanded and new pools added.
- A steam room built directly above a geyser. Floor grates let you hear and smell the boiling spring underneath, and temperatures usually run 40–50°C depending on the geyser's activity.
- A new sauna with a panoramic window over the lake and towards Hekla volcano.
- Improved and expanded locker rooms.
- The lake dip is still there: you can go "straight from the hot baths into the cold lake."
Early reviews since the reopening are positive. One Tripadvisor reviewer who knew the old Fontana called the new pools "more spacious" with "different water temperatures."
Fontana Prices After the Reopening (Official)
| Ticket | Baths | Geothermal bakery (rye bread) tour |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16+) | 7,490 ISK | 3,350 ISK |
| Senior / disabled | 6,490 ISK | 3,000 ISK |
| Youth (6–15) | 4,990 ISK | 2,500 ISK |
| Child (0–5) | Free | Free |
On GetYourGuide, the baths are sold as Fontana Geothermal Baths - Classic Entry Ticket (from $47, 4.4/5 from 183 reviews).
Fontana Winter Opening Hours
Plan on 11:00–21:00 from 1 October to 31 May.
- Why 11:00: both Fontana's "Hours and prices" page and its homepage FAQ say "Oct 1 to May 31: Every day from 11:00-21:00."
- Why some pages say 10:00: the site footer says "Baths are open daily 10:00-21:00", but that's the summer schedule (1 June to 30 September).
- Holidays: Fontana adds that "opening hours can change during holidays and special events". Before the renovation it closed at 16:00 on 24 and 31 December, so expect something similar, but the 2026 holiday hours aren't published yet.
The Fontana Rye Bread Tour (Hverabrauð)
This is the most unusual 30-minute food stop on the Golden Circle. Staff dig up a pot of dark, sweet rye bread that has been slow-baked for about 24 hours in the hot black sand by the lake, and you eat it warm with Icelandic butter. Book it as Laugarvatn Fontana: Geothermal Bread-Baking Experience (from $27, 4.6/5 from 947 reviews).
- Winter times (1 October to 31 May): 11:45 and 14:30 daily. The bakery page and the footer agree on this, although one FAQ line still mentions a 10:15 tour, so check the booking calendar.
- Book it first, then the baths. Fontana warns that the tours "are often sold out", so plan your day around the tour slot.
- Quarter loaves are sometimes sold at the bistro (take-away only, no shipping).
Booking and Cancellation at Fontana
- Booking is recommended. Walk-ins are fine "as long as we're not sold out."
- Baths: cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Bread tour: at least 48 hours. After that, there's no refund.
- If Fontana closes suddenly (in a storm, for example), you can reschedule or get a full refund.
- Groups of more than 15: email fontana@fontana.is.
Can You See the Northern Lights from Fontana?
Yes, and it has the best odds in the water of the three. It's open until 21:00 in a dark rural village, its pools and sauna face the open lake, and in December it's fully dark from about 16:50, which leaves around four hours of possible aurora time. Pick a clear night near the new moon (around 9 December 2026 or 7 January 2027) and book an 18:30–19:00 slot.
Our Verdict on Fontana
It's the best overall winter soak if you don't need the cheapest option: quieter and more grown-up than Secret Lagoon, and cheaper than Sky Lagoon. It's the only one where you can eat geyser-baked bread, sweat in a sauna looking towards Hekla and jump in a lake. It's new and still settling in, and its hours, holiday times and some prices differ across Fontana's own pages, so check before you go.
Sky Lagoon, Kópavogur: the Luxury Evening Option
Sky Lagoon is the most beautiful and the most expensive of the three. It's a ritual spa with an ocean view about 6 km from downtown Reykjavík, so it works best as its own evening, not squeezed into a Golden Circle day. It opened on 30 April 2021 at the tip of the Kársnes peninsula (Vesturvör 44–48, Kópavogur).
What's Included?
- A 75 m infinity edge that seems to merge with the North Atlantic.
- The seven-step Skjól ritual: (1) the lagoon at 38–40°C, (2) a cold plunge, (3) the sauna at 80–90°C (a classic sauna and a phone-free sauna, both with sea-view windows), (4) cold mist, (5) the Sky Body Scrub, (6) steam and (7) a shower.
- Towels are included. Swimsuits are mandatory and can be rented or bought on site.
- A swim-up bar, plus Smakk Bar and Keimur Café.
Sky Lagoon Prices 2026 (Official Starting Prices)
| Pass | Adult from | Youth (12–14) from | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saman (formerly Pure) | 14,990 ISK | 7,495 ISK | Shared changing rooms |
| Sér (formerly Sky) | 17,990 ISK | 8,995 ISK | Private changing room, signature body lotion |
| "For Two" packages | Varies | None | Two passes plus a Sky platter and drinks |
Sky Lagoon uses demand-based pricing, so evening and weekend slots cost more. Older listings that show 13,990 ISK for Saman are out of date. Reykjavik: Sky Lagoon Entrance Pass With 7-Step Spa Ritual starts from $107 (4.8/5 from 8,066 reviews).
Sky Lagoon Winter Hours
From 21 October to 30 April, Sky Lagoon is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00, according to its own opening-hours page, and guests are asked to leave the lagoon 30 minutes before closing. Third-party guides add that the ritual and the bar close an hour before. Some listings, such as icelandtours.is and vacatis.com, still show an older schedule of "Mon–Fri 11:00–22:00 / Sat–Sun 10:00–22:00"; ignore those and go by your booking.
Age Limit, Accessibility and Getting There
- The minimum age is 12. Officially: "Children under the age of 12 are not permitted at Sky Lagoon. Visitors ages 12 – 14 must be accompanied by a guardian (18 years or older)."
- Wheelchair access: accessible changing rooms and showers, plus a chairlift into the lagoon.
- Shuttle: Sky Lagoon sells timed transfers run by Reykjavik Excursions (Icelandia), which lists departures from the BSÍ bus terminal from about 2,199–2,499 ISK; confirm whether that's one way or return. On GetYourGuide it's Sky Lagoon Admission with Transfer (4.8/5 from 2,820 reviews).
- Weather flexibility: you can change your booking time up to 24 hours ahead by emailing reservations@skylagoon.is.
Can You See the Northern Lights from Sky Lagoon?
Sometimes, but expect a weaker show. The lagoon faces the sea, but Reykjavík's lights wash out faint aurora. A strong display will still show, and your best chance is a late slot on a clear night near the new moon.
Our Verdict on Sky Lagoon
It's the best treat-yourself soak, and the easiest without a car. For a Golden Circle day, though, it means driving back to the city first, and you lose the geothermal countryside. Book it for your arrival or departure evening.
Where Does a Lagoon Fit in My Winter Golden Circle Day?
Self-drivers: do the loop clockwise (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss), soak at Secret Lagoon from about 15:30 or at Fontana after about 16:30, and drive back to Reykjavík in the dark. Gullfoss to Secret Lagoon is about 35 km (40 minutes), and Þingvellir to Fontana about 25 km. Use the daylight for the waterfalls and the lagoon after dark. Our winter daylight planner has the sunrise and sunset times for each month.
Sample Timings by Month (Self-Drive from Reykjavík)
| Month (approximate daylight*) | Secret Lagoon plan | Fontana plan |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-November (about 10:00–16:10) | Leave Reykjavík 08:30, Þingvellir 09:30 (first light), Geysir 11:30, Gullfoss 12:45, Kerið or lunch, Secret Lagoon 14:45–16:45, back about 18:30 | Þingvellir 09:30, Geysir 11:00, Gullfoss 12:15, back west via Route 37, Fontana 15:00–17:30 (bread tour at 14:30 if you reverse the loop) |
| December (about 11:20–15:30; civil twilight about 10:03–16:48) | Leave 09:00 in the dark, Þingvellir 10:15 (blue hour), Geysir 12:00, Gullfoss 13:15, Secret Lagoon 14:15–16:30 (soak through dusk; it closes at 18:00 on 24 and 31 December) | Reverse loop: Gullfoss 11:45, Geysir 13:00, Fontana bread tour 14:30, then the baths to about 18:00; skip the Þingvellir viewpoints or do them the next day |
| January (about 11:00–16:00) | Same as December; aim to be in the water by 15:00 | Fontana 16:30–19:30 for a dark-sky soak on clear nights (new moon around 7 January) |
| February (about 09:40–17:40) | More light: add lunch at Friðheimar, then Secret Lagoon 16:00–18:30 | The full loop, then Fontana 18:00–20:30 (new moon around 6 February) |
*Daylight times are approximate for South Iceland. Friðheimar is reported closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Parking: Þingvellir 1,000 ISK, Geysir 1,080 ISK plus an 89 ISK Parka fee, Kerið 700 ISK, and the Gullfoss upper car park 1,080 ISK (a charge Heimildin reported in October 2026). Secret Lagoon parking is free. For the full budget, see our Golden Circle cost guide and parking guide.
Driving home at night: check road.is and vedur.is before you leave the lagoon, because Route 35 and Route 37 can be icy and you'll be driving back after a soak with damp hair. If you're not confident on winter roads, a tour is the better choice.
Which Tours Include Each Lagoon?
Secret Lagoon is the lagoon most often bundled into Golden Circle tours. Fontana combos are rarer, and Sky Lagoon combos are mostly premium small-group days. These are "from" prices seen in October 2026, and they change constantly.
| Tour | Lagoon | Duration | Price from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour | Secret Lagoon | About 10 h | $130 | 4.8/5 from 6,577 reviews; check whether entry is included for your date |
| From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Day Trip | Secret Lagoon | 9.5–10.5 h | $153 | 4.5/5 from 905 reviews |
| Arctic Adventures: Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Kerið Small Group | Secret Lagoon | 9 h | $157 | Max 19 people, minimum age 6, entry included |
| Arctic Adventures: Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon, Kerið and Northern Lights | Secret Lagoon | 12 h | $256 (sale; list $306) | August to April; aurora hunt after the soak |
| Iceland Highlights: Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights | Secret Lagoon | Full day and evening | 21,990 ISK (not re-verified) | Check what's included |
| Mountaineers of Iceland: Super Jeep, Snowmobile and Secret Lagoon | Secret Lagoon | Full day | 56,900 ISK | Adds a Langjökull snowmobile ride; see our Langjökull snowmobiling guide |
| Arctic Adventures: Golden Circle and Laugarvatn Fontana Small Group | Fontana | 9 h | $199 | Sold on the operator's site; check whether the rye bread tour is included |
| Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater and Sky Lagoon Tour | Sky Lagoon | 11 h | $243 | 4.9/5 from 638 reviews; Sky Lagoon at the end of the day, back in town |
| Golden Circle, Farm & Sky Lagoon Small-Group Tour | Sky Lagoon | 10.5 h | $232 | 4.8/5 from 337 reviews; adds Friðheimar |
| Arctic Adventures: Small-Group Golden Circle, Sky Lagoon and Kerið | Sky Lagoon | Full day | $249 | Sky Lagoon at the end of the day, back in town |
| Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour | Blue Lagoon | 11 h | $255 | 4.9/5 from 6,177 reviews; a long day, and the Blue Lagoon is on Reykjanes, not the Golden Circle (Arctic Adventures runs a similar small-group day from $259) |
| Sky Lagoon Admission with Transfer (Reykjavik Excursions) | Sky Lagoon | About 2.5 h | About $174 | 4.8/5 from 2,820 reviews; the no-car evening option |
Combining a soak with snorkelling? See our Silfra snorkelling guide. Travelling over the holidays? See our Christmas and New Year Golden Circle guide, and for more lagoon combos, our Golden Circle lagoon tours page.
What About the Blue Lagoon, Laugarás Lagoon and Other Alternatives?
If none of the big three suits you, the best Golden Circle alternative is the new Laugarás Lagoon. Hrunalaug is the wildest option, and Reykjavík's public pools are the budget answer. The Blue Lagoon is a choice for a Reykjanes or airport day, not a Golden Circle one; our Blue Lagoon guide explains how to combine them.
| Alternative | Where | Winter price (adult) | Winter hours | Age | Good for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laugarás Lagoon (opened October 2025) | Laugarás, about 31 km from Geysir and 40 km from Gullfoss | Birki 6,900 / Lerki 9,400 / Ösp 15,900 ISK (dynamic) | 10:00–21:00, last entry 19:30 | 8+ | A modern spa right on the loop, a restaurant, an evening aurora chance | No under-8s; timed booking required |
| Blue Lagoon | Reykjanes (Grindavík), about 50 km from Reykjavík | Comfort from 11,990 / Premium 14,990 / Signature 18,490 ISK | 21 Aug–31 Dec 08:00–22:00; 1 Jan–31 May 08:00–20:00; 24 Dec 08:00–16:00; 31 Dec 08:00–18:00 | Children allowed (age 2+, check) | An airport arrival or departure day | A volcanic zone where precautionary closures happen; check the status the day before |
| Hvammsvík Hot Springs | Hvalfjörður, about 45 min north of Reykjavík | From about $82 online (dynamic) | 10:30–20:30, last entry 19:00 (21 Aug–31 May) | About 10+ on some ticket sites | 8 tidal pools; pair it with a West Iceland day | Not on the Golden Circle |
| Krauma | Deildartunguhver, West Iceland | 7,900 ISK; teens 4,160; children 500 | 11:00–21:00; closes 16:00 on 24 and 31 Dec; closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan | All ages | Silver Circle and West Iceland trips | About 1.5 h from Reykjavík, in the other direction |
| Hrunalaug | Near Flúðir, on private farmland | About 3,000 ISK before 14:00, 3,500 after (reports vary) | About 10:00–20:00 in winter (set by the owner) | All ages | Tiny stone pools, very wild | No booking, a 90-minute limit, room for about 25–30 people; a 60,000 ISK fee for entering outside hours |
| Reykjadalur hot river | Hveragerði | Free (parking fee) | Daylight only | Fit walkers | A free soak after a hike of about 3 km | An icy, exposed trail in winter; microspikes essential; no changing rooms; not safe after dark |
| Public pools (for example Laugardalslaug, Reykjavík) | Reykjavík; also Selfoss, Laugarvatn and Reykholt | 1,500 ISK (Reykjavík 2026); swim, towel and swimsuit 2,700 ISK | Usually 06:30–22:00 on weekdays | All ages | Budget travellers, families, real local culture | Chlorinated and less scenic |
| Landmannalaugar | Highlands | None | Inaccessible in winter (F-roads closed) | None | Summer only | Only reachable on super jeep tours |
| Vök Baths | East Iceland (Egilsstaðir) | None listed | None listed | None listed | Ring Road trips | Not realistic from the Golden Circle |
What Are the Lagoon Rules and Etiquette in Iceland?
Shower naked with soap before you get in. Every pool and lagoon in Iceland requires it, and it's the reason Secret Lagoon needs no chlorine. The other rules are mostly common sense.
- The naked shower rule. Wash without your swimsuit, especially your head, armpits, groin and feet, using the soap provided. Staff will remind you if you skip it. Secret Lagoon's showers are communal and separate for men and women; Sky Lagoon's Sér pass and some Fontana changing areas offer more privacy.
- Hair. Mineral and sulphur water can leave hair dry and tangled. Use plenty of conditioner before and after, and tie long hair up. (The Blue Lagoon's silica is the worst offender.)
- Jewellery. Take off silver, which sulphur-rich water like Secret Lagoon's can tarnish.
- Phones and photos. Never use them in changing rooms or showers. Sky Lagoon also bans smart glasses and has a phone-free sauna. Use a waterproof pouch at the lagoon and keep other bathers out of your shots.
- Quiet steam and sauna rooms. Treat Fontana's geyser steam room and the saunas as calm spaces.
- Alcohol. One drink at the bar is fine. Hot water plus alcohol plus a night drive is not.
- Health. If you have a heart or blood-pressure condition, ask your doctor before using hot pools, saunas or cold plunges. Sky Lagoon says the same in its FAQ.
What Are the Best Tips for Soaking in Winter?
Bring a warm hat, flip-flops and a plastic bag for wet swimwear, and dry your hair before the drive home. Winter soaking is wonderful, but the 20 metres between the door and the water can be brutal.
- Wear a wool hat in the water. You lose a lot of heat through your head, and locals do it.
- Bring flip-flops or pool shoes. Decks and paths ice over, and Secret Lagoon's paths and Fontana's lake edge get slippery.
- Dry your hair before you leave. Wet hair freezes at −5°C. Every lagoon has hairdryers, but Secret Lagoon has only a few.
- Pack a dry bag for wet swimwear. Secret Lagoon has a swimsuit spinner.
- Get in quickly and get out slowly, then dress in layers straight away: base layer, fleece and dry socks. Our Golden Circle packing list has the rest.
- Drink water. 38–40°C water dehydrates you faster than you'd think.
- Limit sessions to 15–20 minutes in the hottest pools and the 80–90°C saunas, then cool down.
- Check road and weather alerts before you drive home in the dark (road.is, vedur.is, safetravel.is). If a storm closes the roads, our winter driving guide covers what to do.
Which Lagoon Is Best for My Kind of Trip?
Families: Secret Lagoon. Couples: Fontana. Luxury seekers and travellers without a car: Sky Lagoon. Aurora chasers: Fontana. Budget travellers: Secret Lagoon or a public pool.
| Traveller | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Families with young children | Secret Lagoon | Children 14 and under pay 260 ISK, all ages are allowed, and the edges are shallow. (Fontana is free for 0–5; Sky Lagoon bans under-12s; Laugarás bans under-8s.) |
| Families with teenagers | Fontana | The lake dip and sauna make it fun; youth tickets cost 4,990 ISK |
| Couples | Fontana (or Sky Lagoon's Sér pass) | Quiet steam rooms, a lake-view sauna, a dark-sky evening |
| Aurora chasers | Fontana | Open until 21:00 in a rural spot, then a drive home looking up |
| Budget travellers | Secret Lagoon (4,500 ISK) or a public pool (1,500 ISK) | The best-value warmth |
| Food lovers | Fontana | The rye bread tour at 11:45 or 14:30 |
| No car, or a short stopover | Sky Lagoon | 6 km from downtown, with a shuttle from BSÍ |
| History and authenticity seekers | Secret Lagoon | The 1891 pool, unchlorinated spring water and a geyser at the poolside |
| Accessibility needs | Sky Lagoon | A chairlift and accessible changing rooms; call the others first |
| Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve | Secret Lagoon (open 10:00–18:00) | Published holiday hours; the others aren't confirmed yet |
Booking Checklist
- Choose by route: a full loop means Secret Lagoon; the western half and an evening soak mean Fontana; a city evening means Sky Lagoon.
- At Fontana, book the rye bread tour first (11:45 or 14:30), then a bath slot.
- Book Secret Lagoon online for midday slots and for 20 December to 2 January.
- Check holiday hours for 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January on the official sites within a week of travel.
- Check cancellation windows: Fontana baths 24 hours and the bread tour 48 hours; Sky Lagoon changes 24 hours ahead; tours usually 24 hours. If the weather cancels your day, see winter tour cancellations and refunds.
- Watch the age rules: Sky Lagoon is 12+ and Laugarás 8+, and the youth bands differ.
- Pack a swimsuit, wool hat, flip-flops, conditioner, a dry bag and a quick-dry towel (it saves 1,200 ISK at Secret Lagoon).
- Bring a card. Iceland is nearly cashless, but carry a little cash for Hrunalaug.
- Driving home: check road.is and vedur.is, leave a buffer, and don't drink before driving (Iceland's limit is very low).
- Blue Lagoon? Check its status the day before because of volcanic activity on Reykjanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana is better if you want a more spa-like experience and a soak after dark. Secret Lagoon is better for value, families and history. Fontana costs 7,490 ISK and has a geyser steam room, a lake-view sauna and a lake dip, and it's open until 21:00. Secret Lagoon costs 4,500 ISK, is open until 19:00 and has an unchlorinated 1891 pool with a live geyser beside it.
They're different products. Secret Lagoon is a rustic natural hot spring on the Golden Circle for 4,500 ISK. Sky Lagoon is a luxury ritual spa near Reykjavík from 14,990 ISK. On a Golden Circle day Secret Lagoon is the logical choice; for a polished city evening, choose Sky Lagoon.
Secret Lagoon for most visitors, and Fontana for evenings and a chance of the aurora. The new Laugarás Lagoon (opened October 2025) is a strong modern alternative for anyone aged 8 or over.
4,500 ISK for adults (15+), 3,300 ISK for seniors 67+ and people with disabilities, and 260 ISK for children 14 and under. Towel and swimsuit rental are 1,200 ISK each.
Yes, it's strongly recommended. The lagoon says it cannot guarantee a spot without pre-booking. Walk-ins sometimes work on quiet winter weekdays.
10:00–19:00 daily from 1 October to 31 May, and 10:00–18:00 on 24 and 31 December.
Yes. Fontana reopened on 1 August 2026 after a complete renovation. New features include baths that extend into Lake Laugarvatn, a steam room directly above a geyser, expanded locker rooms and a sauna with a panoramic window over the lake towards Hekla.
Adults (16+) 7,490 ISK, seniors and people with disabilities 6,490 ISK, youth aged 6–15 4,990 ISK, and children under 6 free.
11:00–21:00 daily from 1 October to 31 May, according to Fontana's hours page. Hours may change on holidays.
In winter it runs daily at 11:45 and 14:30. Adults pay 3,350 ISK, seniors 3,000 ISK and youth 2,500 ISK. It often sells out, so book it before the baths.
Fontana gives the best odds, because it's open until 21:00 in a dark rural spot. Sky Lagoon is possible but dulled by city light. Secret Lagoon closes at 19:00, so your chances there are low. You need a clear sky, solar activity and darkness. New moons fall around 9 November, 9 December, 7 January and 6 February, and full moons around 24 November, 24 December, 22 January and 20 February.
Secret Lagoon, where children 14 and under pay 260 ISK and all ages are welcome. Fontana is also fine and free for under-6s. Sky Lagoon doesn't admit under-12s, and Laugarás Lagoon doesn't admit under-8s.
12 years. Guests aged 12–14 must be with a guardian aged 18 or over.
The Saman Pass is from 14,990 ISK and the Sér Pass from 17,990 ISK for adults; youth passes are from 7,495 and 8,995 ISK. Prices vary by time slot.
Blue Lagoon for an airport-day stop (from 11,990 ISK), Sky Lagoon for a luxury city evening (from 14,990 ISK), and Secret Lagoon for a Golden Circle day (4,500 ISK). Check the Blue Lagoon's status before you go, because it is in an active volcanic area.
In the latest reports we found (August 2026) it was operating normally, and the most recent Reykjanes eruption ended on 5 August 2025. It has closed briefly as a precaution during past eruptions, so check bluelagoon.com and safetravel.is the day before.
No. Hot spring water flows through continuously and replaces the whole pool within 24 hours, which is why showering first is mandatory.
About 35 km (40 minutes) from Gullfoss and about 97 km (1.5 hours) from Reykjavík.
Holiday hours published so far: Secret Lagoon 10:00–18:00 on 24 and 31 December; Blue Lagoon 08:00–16:00 on 24 December and 08:00–18:00 on 31 December; Krauma closes at 16:00 on 24 and 31 December and is closed on 25 December and 1 January. Fontana and Sky Lagoon hadn't published 2026 holiday hours when we checked.
The Bottom Line
On a winter Golden Circle day, Secret Lagoon is the easy answer: 4,500 ISK, 40 minutes from Gullfoss, open until 19:00 and happy to take children. Fontana costs more and suits couples and aurora hopefuls, because it stays open until 21:00 by a dark lake, and its rye bread tour gives the day a fixed point to plan around. Sky Lagoon is the polished one, best booked for a separate evening in Reykjavík. Whichever you pick, book ahead, check the holiday hours for your dates, and check the roads before you drive home in the dark.
Notes on Prices and Sources
Prices and hours were taken from the official sites (secretlagoon.is, fontana.is, skylagoon.com and bluelagoon.com) in October 2026 and cross-checked against operator and tour listings. Sky Lagoon's ISK prices come from its Icelandic-language site and its winter hours from its opening-hours page; sundlaugar.is lists lower, older prices (Saman 13,990 and Sér 16,990 ISK). Fontana's own pages conflict: winter opening is 11:00 on the hours page and FAQ but 10:00 in the site footer, and one FAQ line mentions a 10:15 winter bread tour; we use the hours page (11:00, bread tour 3,350 ISK for adults, 11:45 and 14:30). Holiday hours for Fontana and Sky Lagoon were not published when we checked; ignore unofficial sites such as skylagooniceland.is, which publish contradictory holiday times. The Sky Lagoon shuttle price (about 2,199–2,499 ISK from BSÍ) comes from the transfer operator, and it's unclear whether it's one way or return. The Blue Lagoon's status can change within hours if Reykjanes erupts again; the most recent status we found (20 August 2026) said no eruption was under way. Tour prices are dynamic "from" prices seen in September and October 2026; the Iceland Highlights 21,990 ISK combo and the Mountaineers 56,900 ISK price weren't re-verified, and GetYourGuide ratings and review counts were read on the live listings in October 2026. Hrunalaug's prices and hours are set by the owner and reported inconsistently (2,500–3,500 ISK). Secret Lagoon's accessibility details and any Sky Lagoon senior pricing weren't confirmed, so call ahead. Village pool prices in Selfoss, Laugarvatn and Reykholt weren't verified for 2026; only Reykjavík's 1,500 ISK adult rate was. Moon phases follow standard lunar calendars, and daylight times by month are approximate.