Hot spring bathing near Reykjavik: cheap and fun
Hi,
One of the most popular hiking day tour from Reykjavik is Hot Spring Hunt. Because it is close to Reykjavik, easy for beginners and very interesting.
This daytour costs 81 EUR without hotel pick-up and 105 EUR with hotel pick-up. Fun of its trip costs much more but I want to advice you how to get same tour for 13 EUR. This is price for bus transfer to and back excluding meal and guide.
What is Hot Spring Hunt tour
Hot spring hunt starts at a little town of Hveragerði, 30 minutes drive from Reykjavik to the South. Beautiful hiking path from Hveragerði through geothermal areas leads to Reykjadalur (Smokey Valley) where you can take geothermal bath in natural hot springs.
Reach Hveragerði by Car
As I said, this is just 30 minutes drive from Reykjavik. Hveragerði is a first town after you leave Capital Area on the way to the South. When you reach Hveragerði turn on the circle to left on Breiðamörk road and drive to end of the road. Starting point situated on the parking lot. Distance from parking lot to the hot springs is 3 km, apprx. 45 minutes of easy hiking.
Here is the map to Starting Point:
Reach Hveragerði by Bus
Choose the bus 52 of Stræto bus company. You can get the bus at the BSI Bus Station (Umferðamiðstöðin) close to downtown or Mjodd Bus Station (get by bus 3,4,11,12). Shell Hveragerði is your stop. Then just walk to starting point (3,5 km from Shell station) or call the taxi by phone 8992940 or 4835700.
Here you can see the schedule.
One way ticket from Reykjavik to Hveragerði on Stræto bus costs 1050 ISK, approx. 6,5 EUR. You can pay by ISK cash in the bus or use ordinary bus tickets for urban bus. Trip from Reykjavik to Hveragerði costs 3 bus tickets as three rides inside Reykjavik.
Here is the map from Starting point to Hot springs:
Bring with you:
It would be better for you to wear hiking shoes and waterproof clothing for activities (as always in Iceland). Don't forget to bring with you towel and bathing suit. I'm not recommend to go there without guide on a winter time. There is a lot of hikers during summer so this is no chance to lost behind the mountains.
You can buy some meal on the Gas station, Bakery or Bonus food store near Bus stop. Bus shedule is very convenient to spent all day in Hveragerði and neighbourhood. Visit also Geothermal park, Greenhouse or take Horse riding tour. It would be good day tour for the less. Check you bus schedule to return to Reykjavik on time.
You can also read Regína's blog Bathe in a hot river in the beautiful Reykjadalur valley for more photos of the hike and the valley.
Welcome to Iceland and have a nice hike!
Best regards,
Konstantin
Hello, dear friends of Iceland! My name is Konstantin. I am the Iceland travel enlightener. I spent many years to consult unexperienced tourists, organize tours and guide happy guests of Iceland. And my skills are high. I answer stressless to the stupid questions like Can I bathing in geysir? or Why Iceland is so expensive? Well, I am used to. My poor English could be totally enough to help you to prepare for the trip to Iceland. But my native language is Russian. So, you may write to me your weird questions about Iceland in both languages. Well, I am used to. If you have nothing to say but still curious, just check out my blog. I will try to write about something that hasn't been posted yet on Guide to Iceland. Hmm, it would not be easy. But I'm used to.
