Hrunalaug Hot Spring is a family-run geothermal pool on a farm near Fludir in South Iceland, about 90 minutes from Reykjavik. Its three stone pools once washed laundry and sheep, and today they offer one of the most memorable soaks near the Golden Circle. Read on for its opening hours, prices, and tips before you go.
Hrunalaug Hot Spring sits in the Hrunamannahreppur district of South Iceland, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Fludir Village and about 8 miles (13 kilometers) off the main Golden Circle route. Hrunalaug is about 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Reykjavik, a drive of around an hour and a half.
Golden Circle tours cover the big sights nearby, but scheduled tours don't normally stop at Hrunalaug; you'll need to rent a car or book one of the many self-drive tours with itineraries that pass through the area to visit the hot spring. If your dates are flexible, our study on the cheapest month for a self-drive tour in Iceland found that April has the lowest daily price.
Hrunalaug Hot Spring is far smaller and more personal than big spas like the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon. There is room for only about 25 to 30 bathers at a time, and you cannot book ahead, so arriving early matters more here than almost anywhere else on the Golden Circle.
Read on to find opening hours, admission prices, details on the new changing facility, the house rules, and the best times to watch for the northern lights from the water.
Key Takeaways
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Adult admission to Hrunalaug is 3,000 ISK before 2 PM and 3,500 ISK after 2 PM, paid by card or cash on site.
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Opening hours are seasonal: 9 AM to 10 PM in summer, 9 AM to 9 PM in spring and fall, and 10 AM to 8 PM in winter.
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Every visit is limited to 90 minutes, and there is no booking system. Entry is first come, first served, with roughly 25 to 30 spots.
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A new changing facility opened in 2026 with lockable lockers, toilets, showers, a hairdryer, and a swimsuit dryer.
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The water sits at about 99 to 100 F (37 to 38 C), close to body temperature.
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Dogs, drones, and glass containers are not allowed, and entering outside opening hours carries a 60,000 ISK charge.
Where Hrunalaug Hot Spring Is and How to Get There
Hrunalaug is located on Ás Farm near Fludir (Flúðir), at Ás, Hrunamannahreppur, 846 Fludir. From Hrunalaug's parking lot, it's a short walk of less than 650 feet (200 meters) to the pools.
From Reykjavik, take Route 1 east over the Hellisheidi Mountain Pass, through Hveragerdi, and past Selfoss Town. Turn onto Route 30 toward Fludir, then right onto Route 344 (Hrunavegur). Follow the gravel road and signs to the parking area.
Hrunalaug is about a 30-minute drive from Geysir Geothermal Area, home to Strokkur Geyser, and Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland's most recommended waterfalls. From Thingvellir National Park, the hot spring is about an hour away.
In winter, roads and walking paths can be icy. Check road.is before driving, wear shoes with good grip, and allow extra travel time.
Local tip: Parking is limited, so a full parking area usually means crowded pools. Consider returning later, as the 90-minute visit limit helps keep visitors moving.
The Three Pools at Hrunalaug and Their History
Hrunalaug has belonged to the same family since the 1890s. Each of its three pools reflects a different part of rural Icelandic life.
The oldest, known as the laundry pool, was built around 1890 by Stefán Jónsson, a farmer at Ás. The family used its naturally warm water for washing clothes and bathing, long before hot running water became common in Icelandic homes.
In 1935, Steindór Eiríksson, a later farmer at Ás and grandfather of the current owners, built the second pool for washing sheep. At the time, Icelandic farmers were required to bathe their flocks every two years to prevent sheep scab. This practice continued at Hrunalaug until the 1980s.
The third and largest pool was built in 2017 to accommodate more visitors. The current owners expanded it in the summer of 2023, making it deeper and adding a border of natural columnar basalt.
All three pools are heated by geothermal energy, with mineral-rich water averaging 99 to 100 F (37 to 38 C). This is slightly cooler than some of Iceland's larger geothermal lagoons, so staying submerged up to your shoulders can help keep you warm on windy days.
Hrunalaug Opening Hours and Admission Prices
Hrunalaug is open daily, with hours varying by season:
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May 1 to August 31: 9 AM to 10 PM
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September 1 to October 31 and March 15 to April 30: 9 AM to 9 PM
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November 1 to March 14: 10 AM to 8 PM
Admission is cheaper before 2 PM. Adults pay 3,000 ISK in the morning, compared with 3,500 ISK later in the day. That's less than a third of the starting admission price at the Blue Lagoon.
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Adults: 3,000 ISK before 2 PM, 3,500 ISK after
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Ages 11 to 15: 2,000 ISK before 2 PM, 2,500 ISK after
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Seniors and guests with disabilities: 2,500 ISK before 2 PM, 3,000 ISK after
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Ages 10 and under: Free
Visits are limited to 90 minutes, and admission is first come, first served. Most payment cards and Icelandic krona in cash are accepted. If the pools are full, you may need to wait.
Larger groups should call the same morning to check availability and give an arrival time and headcount. For a special occasion, you can book a private session with no other guests. The current rates are:
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1 hour outside opening hours: 60,000 ISK
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90 minutes before 2 PM: 150,000 ISK
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90 minutes after 2 PM: 200,000 ISK
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Each additional 30 minutes: 40,000 ISK
During very dry spells, the pool has occasionally dried up. The owners post any closures on their website, so check it before you drive out.
Facilities at Hrunalaug Hot Spring
A new changing facility opened at Hrunalaug in 2026, making visits more comfortable. Built into the hillside behind the pools, it has a cave-like design with a glass roof that lets in natural light.
Each changing room has lockable lockers, toilets, and three showers. Shampoo, soap, conditioner, a hairdryer, and a swimsuit dryer are provided, making it easy to freshen up before leaving.
Towels are available to rent for 1,000 ISK, while coffee, soft drinks, and sweets are sold on-site. Please note that Hrunalaug is not wheelchair accessible.
The Best Time to Visit Hrunalaug Hot Spring
Winter is one of the best times to visit Hrunalaug, especially if you want to see the northern lights. Our study of Iceland's most recommended hot springs analyzed 13,959 traveler comments about 33 bathing spots. Hrunalaug stood out for its connection to northern lights viewing.
Hrunalaug received about ten times more aurora-related mentions than the average hot spring in the study. Its location away from city lights makes it a good spot to watch the sky on northern lights tours. Check the northern lights forecast before visiting, and remember that the pools close at 8 PM in winter.
In Icelandic winter, snow often covers the fields around Hrunalaug as steam rises from the warm pools. Bring a warm hat and dry your hair before heading out into the cold. If you're planning on a road trip, winter self-drive tours make travel easier with prearranged routes and accommodations.
Summer offers a different experience. The midnight sun brings long daylight hours, making an evening visit at 9 or 10 PM possible. Regardless of the season, visiting before 2 PM also means lower admission prices.
Rules and Etiquette at Hrunalaug Hot Spring
The owners keep a short set of rules, which help a small, privately owned site stay peaceful for everyone:
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Visits are limited to 90 minutes.
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Dogs are not allowed in the area around the pools.
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No drones, to protect other guests' privacy.
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Drinks are fine, but no glass containers. Hrunalaug is not a picnic area, so leave food behind.
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Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. The stones in and around the pools are very slippery, so no running or climbing, and all visitors bathe at their own risk.
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Entering outside opening hours is prohibited. The area has an alarm and is monitored, and anyone caught is charged the 60,000 ISK private-opening fee and reported to the police.
As at any Icelandic bathing spot, the expectation is that you rinse off properly before getting in, which is much easier now that there are showers on site. Our guide to Icelandic swimming pool etiquette explains the local custom if you have not bathed in Iceland before.
What to Bring to Hrunalaug Hot Spring
Hrunalaug is a simple farm pool, so a little packing goes a long way. These are the essentials:
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A swimsuit, plus a towel, or plan on the 1,000 ISK towel rental.
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Water shoes, which are useful but not essential on the slick stones.
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A warm hat that covers your ears, the item travelers most often wish they had brought on windy days.
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Shoes with good grip for the path, which can be icy in winter.
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A payment card or Icelandic krona for admission.
Things to Do Near Hrunalaug Hot Spring
Hrunalaug sits in a quiet farming district, with some of South Iceland's best stops within a short drive. These pair well with a soak:
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Hruni Church: A small country church less than a mile (1 kilometer) up the road.
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Fludir Village: Shops, restaurants, accommodation in Fludir, and horse riding tours in the region our study on where to see horses in Iceland ranks first for horses.
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Fridheimar Greenhouse: Tomato soup among the vines, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away.
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Faxafoss Waterfall: A wide, peaceful waterfall on the Tungufljot River, about 12 miles (19 kilometers) away.
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The Golden Circle: Geysir and Gullfoss are about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away, and Thingvellir is about 44 miles (71 kilometers) away.
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Kerid Crater: A volcanic crater lake about 27 miles (43 kilometers) away, on Route 35 back to Reykjavik.
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Skalholt: A bishop seat from 1056 to 1785, about 16 miles (25 kilometers) away.
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Secret Lagoon: Iceland's oldest swimming pool (1891), about 4 miles (6 kilometers) away. Larger, warmer, and bookable, or join this Golden Circle tour with the Secret Lagoon.
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Laugaras Lagoon: A new geothermal spa above the Hvita River, about 17 miles (27 kilometers) away.
Planning Your Visit to Hrunalaug Hot Spring
Hrunalaug is small, fills up quickly, and cannot be booked ahead. Its facilities have gone through a major upgrade over the past couple of years, so it's a new and exciting experience even for those who have traveled the Golden Circle and the surrounding area before.
If a clear, dark night lines up, there are few better places in Iceland to watch the aurora from the water. To slow the pace, spend the night at one of the hotels on the Golden Circle. For more warm water around the country, browse our complete range of hot spring admission tickets.
