Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon, known in Icelandic as Gamla Laugin or the Old Pool, is Iceland's oldest swimming pool, established in 1891 in the geothermal area of Hverahólmi near the village of Flúðir in South Iceland. The pool is fed entirely by natural hot springs and maintained at 38 to 40 degrees Celsius year-round without chemical treatment. A small geyser called Litli Geysir erupts every few minutes beside the pool. The lagoon closed from the late 1940s until 2014, when it was renovated and reopened.
Iceland's Oldest Swimming Pool, Still Heated by the Same Hot Springs Since 1891
Gamla Laugin predates Iceland's tourism industry by over a century. It was built in 1891 at Hverahólmi, a geothermal area beside the Litla-Laxá river near Flúðir, and became the social and recreational hub of the local community. In 1909, it became the site of Iceland's first ever organised swimming lessons, which continued annually until 1947 when a newer concrete pool was built closer to the village. The old pool was then largely forgotten for nearly six decades. It was reopened in 2014 after renovation, with modern changing facilities added while the pool itself was kept as close to its original character as possible. The surrounding geothermal area includes the hot springs Vaðmálahver and Básahver as well as Litli Geysir, a small active geyser that spouts to about one to two metres every few minutes. A walking path loops safely around the steaming vents beside the pool.
The pool water flows continuously from the natural hot springs and is completely replaced within 24 hours, which means no chemical disinfectants are needed to maintain water quality. The temperature holds at 38 to 40 degrees Celsius regardless of the season, making it equally pleasant in a January snowfall or a June midnight sun. Entry costs around 3,000 ISK for adults, which is significantly less than the major commercial lagoons in Iceland. The experience is correspondingly simpler: a natural pool, geothermal steam, Icelandic countryside, and the occasional small eruption from Litli Geysir a few metres away. Pre-booking is strongly recommended in summer when the pool can reach capacity.
The Secret Lagoon is in Flúðir, about 100 kilometres from Reykjavik on Routes 1 and 30, roughly a 1.5-hour drive. It sits just off the Golden Circle route, with Geysir 30 minutes northeast, Gullfoss 40 minutes, and Þingvellir about an hour west, making it a natural end-of-day stop on a Golden Circle circuit. It is open daily: 10am to 8pm in summer (June to September) and 10am to 7pm in winter. Note that the lagoon is closed for renovation from 11 to 21 May 2026, reopening 22 May.
