Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
This beautiful man-made pool is fed directly from geothermal hot springs right along the path of the Golden Circle in Iceland. As the oldest pool in the country, the Secret Lagoon was built in 1891 and was for many years the local’s swimming spot. Recently, the secret is out and more people are visiting the Secret Lagoon, often as an alternative to the Blue Lagoon.
We visited this lagoon in the summer of 2022 and loved soaking in the warm water surrounded by the natural setting. Below you can read more about exactly how to visit the Secret Lagoon, Flúðir, and what to expect.
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9 Things to Know about the Secret Lagoon
- This lagoon is NOT a secret! Make sure to book your tour or purchase your tickets online in advance
- The Secret Lagoon is an easy 1.5-mile drive from Reykjavik
- The Secret Lagoon is an authentic experience with geothermal features around the pool
- Visit this pool during a day trip driving and exploring the Golden Circle
- There are changing rooms and lockers available on site
- You can purchase snacks, sandwiches, and drinks in the cafe on site
- The Secret Lagoon is cheaper to visit than the Blue Lagoon and kids visit for free. Learn more at the Secret Lagoon official website.
- You can rent towels and even bathing suits in the welcome center
- The Lagoon is excellent for kids with floating items and not deep sections
What to Expect at the Secret Lagoon
The Lagoon is located in an unimpressive parking lot behind some buildings, but once you enter the building, you enter a whole other world. The pool is directly behind the building just in front of several geothermal features including a small geyser, and some very hot pools. Behind the pool is a river and some old changing buildings made from stone. In addition to soaking in the pool, you can also take a very short walk on the boardwalk through these different features.
The water from the geothermal features drips down into the pool heating it – if you are looking for the hottest water, look towards the back of the pool where this water is entering the pool. There is actually enough water flow, that the entire water of the pool replaces itself every 24 hours. The pool itself is man-made, but the bottom is mostly mucky, especially towards the back.
You enter the pool down the main steps and can float in the water using some of the pool noodles and floaties provided, or sit around the sides in the seats available. There are also some picnic tables against the building and a few people sat at these who didn’t want to get in the water but were visiting with friends or family.
They do limit the number of tickets that can be purchased so while there were lots of other people in the pool with us, it wasn’t too crowded. You can purchase your tickets online in advance to make sure you have a spot.
Before you get in the pool, you will enter the gender-specific changing room where you can change into your suit and you must shower before entering the pool. It’s important to note that you are required to shower without your bathing suit on in open showers. This made one of my daughters very uncomfortable.
There are lockers in the changing rooms where you can lock and leave your things and we found the changing rooms pleasant and clean.
In addition to the changing rooms, they also offer other basics. You can rent a towel and even a bathing suit right at the front desk when you enter. There is also a simple cafe on site that offers some small food items such as sandwiches and cakes as well as water and soda.
To see more about opening hours, visit the Secret Lagoon official website.
Where is the Secret Lagoon and How to Visit?
The secret lagoon is located 1.5 hours from Reykjavik and if you have a car it is an easy ride and can be done as part of a visit to the Golden Circle. To get to the Secret Lagoon, follow the directions below:
- Take Þjóðvegur 1, Suðurlandsvegur and Route 1 to Skeiða- og Hrunamannavegur in Flóahreppur
- Follow Skeiða- og Hrunamannavegur to Hvammsvegur in Flúðir
- Look for the Secret Lagoon Parking Lot (this is a basic parking lot that is behind some rather industrial-looking buildings)
- Enter the Secret Lagoon through the welcome center
If you are coming to the Secret Lagoon from the north on route 30, you will take a left onto Hvammsvegur Rd. If you reach a sharp left in the road at Fludir, then you have passed the Lagoon.
If you are in Iceland without a car, the best way to visit the Secret Lagoon is on a tour. There are many options for tours of the Golden Circle that include a stop here for a swim. This tour gets great reviews, is small, and visits all the major sites.
Things to Know About Visiting the Secret Lagoon, Iceland
History of the Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon was originally built in 1891. For over 100 years, this man-made pool was truly a secret and used only by the owner. It wasn’t until 2005 when the owner opened the doors to the public and the Secret Lagoon became accessible to visitors.
Now the secret is fully out, and tickets often sell out in advance, especially during the summer and busy months.
Is the Secret Lagoon Crowded?
Since they limit the ticket sale for each time slot to the Secret Lagoon, it never gets too crowded. That said, we visited on a day that was sold out and there were lots of people in the pool with us. This is definitely not a quiet pool that you will have all to yourself. To avoid crowds, try booking early in the morning before the tours arrive.
Is the Secret Lagoon Worth It?
We found the Secret Lagoon was a perfect addition to our visit to the other sites on the Golden Circle. Most of the other sites include short walks or hikes, so breaking up the day, especially with kids in the warm water was a great decision, so we think the Secret Lagoon is 100% worth it.
Secret Lagoon Versus Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is an iconic Iceland experience and is located very close to Reykjavik and the airport. Many people try to decide on the Secret Lagoon versus the Blue Lagoon. Both sites offer a wonderful, but different experience. We chose the Secret Lagoon both for the more authentic experience and the cheaper cost. Here is a quick breakdown of the best parts of each pool:
Blue Lagoon
- Easy to get to from town and the airport
- Large pool area
- The water is the runoff from a geothermal power plant
Secret Lagoon
- Less expensive (kids visit for free)
- More natural setting
- You can see the geothermal features that heat the pool
Visiting During a Golden Circle Trip
Most people are visiting the Secret Lagoon during a visit to the Golden Circle. There are so many amazing sites to see on this route, that it’s worth making a full day of it and scheduling your day around your visit to this natural pool. You can see a list of some of the other amazing sites on the Golden Circle to include in your visit.
- The Short but Beautiful Kerid Crater Hike, Iceland
- Hiking to the Beautiful Bruarfoss Waterfall (3 Blue Waterfalls on the Golden Circle, Iceland)
- Gullfoss
- Geysir Geothermal Area
