Mývatn Nature Baths

Mývatn Nature Baths: romantic evening

When we were deciding which lagoon to visit, Mývatn Nature Baths caught our attention. Only half the price of the famous Blue Lagoon, they were much emptier and still retained the beautiful colour of the water. Therefore, we decided to skip Blue Lagoon and just stop at Mývatn, and it was a great decision.

Mývatn Nature Baths are located in the northeastern part of Iceland, near Lake Mývatn. It is a far cry from the usual sights people visit when visiting Iceland for a short visit, which is why we were able to buy tickets the same day we visited. Lastly, the lagoon wasn’t nearly as full as Secret Lagoon, which lies on the Golden Circle.

Admission, changing rooms and services

After entering Mývatn, you can go straight to the spa or enjoy a snack or great coffee from the espresso machine in the café. You will be given a key to the cloakroom upon presentation of your reservation. If you don’t have a reservation, you can also purchase entry on the spot, as long as the maximum number of visitors is not reached.

In the summer it can be a problem, but in the off-season you can also buy entry on the spot. If you don’t have a swimsuit or towel, you can rent one for 1000 ISK/piece. Entrance fee of 6900 ISK (approx. 50 €) per adult only includes access to the thermal baths, changing rooms, showers and sauna.

Before entering the pools, you have to take a shower and then there’s nothing stopping you from plunging into the hot water.

Pools and saunas

The water has a pleasant temperature of 36-40 °C, ideal for bathing all year round. It is rich in minerals and sulphur, which are beneficial for the skin and respiratory tract. Moreover, the area offers views of the surrounding mountains and volcanic formations, giving the baths a magical atmosphere.
There are two large swimming pools. One has warmer water (40 °C), while the other is cooler with a temperature of 36 °C. Apart from that, there’s a third mini-pool you can sit in, with a temperature of 41 °C.

Besides the pools, there is a steam sauna, which is very pleasant. With its large panoramic windows, everyone can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area while inhaling the steam. This also comes from the geothermal.

As a nice bonus, there’s also a bar right by the pool where you can enjoy a beer, wine or cocktail at affordable prices (€10 Prosecco and cocktails).

Turquoise water in Myvatn Nature Baths

Just like Blue Lagoon, Myvatn offers beautiful turquoise water. You won’t find this colour in any other spa in Iceland.
In fact, the colour of the water at Mývatn Nature Baths and Blue Lagoon is the result of its high quartz content combined with its geothermal origin. Quartz has the ability to scatter light, giving the water a milky and turquoise appearance.

Although the colour of the water is beautiful and healthy for your skin, be careful with your hair. Due to the composition of the water, hair tends to dry out and should not come into contact with the water in either Myvatn or Blue Lagoon. However, in other lagoons the composition is different and you can get your hair wet.

Romantic atmosphere

Although you can come to Myvatn Nature Baths with children, there were hardly any. And as a parent, I have to say that we were very glad we left the kids at home. This place was so gorgeous – perfect for a date night without the kids.

Should you arrive in the afternoon, a truly wonderful evening awaits you. As the blue water blends beautifully with the setting sun, Martin discovered a heart-shaped stone. Through it, the sun’s rays slowly passed, creating an incredibly romantic atmosphere.

Perched on the edge where we watched the sunset, the spot called for one drink and a toast to an unforgettable place in an already unbeatable landscape.

All of our expectations were surpassed by the sunset. For a very long time the sky was reddish-purple and we couldn’t get enough.

Overall, the Mývatn region is beautiful – hundreds of craters, a lake, lava fields, geothermal areas… And much of it can be seen from the Mývatn Nature Baths.

And the final straw was the aurora borealis, which showed up as soon as we got out of the spa, and then picked up in strength later on.

How to get here?

Mývatn Nature Baths are located approximately 5 kilometres from Lake Mývatn, close to the main Ring Road. It takes approximately 1 hour by car from Akureyri, the second largest city in the north of Iceland. But you definitely want to stay overnight in the area. Surrounding areas offer plenty of activities, and even two days won’t be enough for you.

There are numerous other attractions in the surroundings of Mývatn Nature Baths. Just a short drive away you will find the fascinating Krafla Crater, Hverir, the lava formations at Dimmuborgir or the Dettifoss and Godafoss waterfalls.