Secret Lagoon

Gamla Laugin

Golden Circle

Gamla Laugin — Old Lagoon — has been a bathing spot since 1891, making it the oldest swimming pool location in Iceland. The country's first organized swimming lessons were held here in 1909 and continued annually until 1947, after which the site fell into disuse for decades. It reopened as the Secret Lagoon in 2014. The pool runs entirely on geothermal water from the surrounding hot spring field, holding a steady 38–40°C year-round. The atmosphere is noticeably less polished than places like Sky Lagoon — rough stone edges, wild grass, steam venting from the ground, and a small active geyser (Litli Geysir) that erupts every few minutes beside the pool. Facilities include changing rooms and a small bistro. It is particularly atmospheric on cold days when steam is dense. Flúðir sits just off Route 30, about 20 minutes from Geysir and Gullfoss, squarely on the Golden Circle route. It works well as a late-afternoon stop after the main sites. Advance booking is recommended in summer as capacity is limited.

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