All the best experiences
24/7 customer support
Only verified quality services
Icelandic travel experts

Reykjadalur Travel Guide

4.8
111 Verified reviews
Type
Hot Springs, Geysers, Valleys, Rivers, Geothermal areas
Distance from center
15.2 km
High season
Summer
Family-friendly
Yes
Average rating
4.8
Number of reviews
111

Reykjadalur is a beautiful valley littered with hot springs.

Reykjadalur, the Valley of Steam, is a beautiful geothermal region close to the southern town Hveragerði. It is a popular place for hiking and hot spring bathing.


Photo above by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir 


It can be visited on a day tour, a trip around the Ring Road, or by renting a car and reaching it yourself, or by incorporating it into a self-drive adventure, such as this 10-Day Road Trip.

Hot Spring Bathing at Reykjadalur

Reykjadalur is best know for the heated river that runs through it. Water boiling out of dozens of hot springs in the hills trickle into one body, which is also fed with glacier and rainwater.

The result is a wonderfully warm, gentle stream. Depending on how hot you want the water to be, you can go up- or down-river for the perfect bathing temperature.

Hiking in Reykjadalur

The hike at Reykjadalur is easy to do.Photo by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir 

The hiking route to Reykjadalur can be reached by driving through Hveragerði (which is about an hour’s drive from Reykjavík) along the Ring Road traveling South. A gravel road leads to a car park, where the trail begins.

From there, you will cross a river and then start a gentle ascent. The path goes up, down, and along the faces of hills, and though it sometimes gets quite steep, it is manageable for anyone comfortable on their feet in reasonable health, so long as the weather is fair.

For forty minutes or so, you will hike past many steaming vents and bubbling springs while enjoying the beautiful views around Reykjadalur. You will then reach the warm river and can walk along it for twenty minutes or so to the perfect spot for bathing.

In summer, you will also see a wealth of flora blooming on the hills and in the valley, particularly lupins. Around the hot springs, the chemicals rising from the earth provide even more color, dying the soil pinks, blues, greens, reds, and yellows.

While it is viable to visit the hot springs alone, many tours also run to them, so the area can be enjoyed with a group and a guide. These tours can be done on foot or horseback, and alone or alongside other excursions, such a sightseeing around the Golden Circle.

As with all hiking trails in Iceland, it is important to stick to the paths throughout. This is for your safety—considering the steep slopes, change of rockfalls, and boiling water—and for the protection of nature. Iceland’s flora is very delicate, and with the boom in tourism, strict rules are in place to protect it.

Services near Reykjadalur

Hveragerði has all the modern services and amenities visitors may need. There is a supermarket, gas station, information center, and several cafes and restaurants.

Interestingly, some of these restaurants utilize geothermal forces in the preparation of their plates. By burying food into the boiling water under the earth, it cooks throughout.

Because of these forces, however, Hveragerði has gotten the nickname "the Earthquake Town."

Attractions Nearby

Popular categories

Link to appstore phone
Install Iceland’s biggest travel app

Download Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place

Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.