Vök Baths

What to expect

Vök Baths sits on the shore of Lake Urriðavatn, just north-west of Egilsstaðir, the main town of East Iceland. People here had long noticed that parts of the lake did not freeze in winter. Warm springs under the lake bed kept holes open in the ice, and those holes are what the Icelandic word vök means. The same geothermal water already heats homes in Egilsstaðir and Fellabær. The baths opened in 2019 as a way to put people in that water.

The signature feature is two pools that float on the lake itself, the vakir. You sit in hot water with a thin wall between you and the cold lake, which is a different feeling from a pool on land. There are also two hot pools on the shore, a main pool, an in-water bar, a steam bath, a sauna, a cold mist tunnel and a cold plunge into the lake. A tea bar serves tisane made with the hot spring water. Most of the wooden features are made from trees grown and felled in East Iceland, the operator says.

The operator says it adds no chlorine or other chemicals. The water stays clean because it flows through constantly, and it is certified drinkable, according to the baths. That is unusual for Icelandic geothermal water.

It is calmer and much smaller than the big lagoons near Reykjavík, and it is the obvious soak if you are driving the Ring Road through the east.

The pools

The operator does not publish a temperature for each pool. It gives an overall range of 41°F to 106°F5°C to 41°C across everything, and 99 to 108°F37 to 42°C in its pregnancy advice. In practice:

• Two floating pools (vakir) in the lake, with an infinity view across the water.
• A main pool and two hot pools on the shore.
• In-water pool bar for drinks. Outside drinks are not allowed, but you may bring a water bottle.
• Steam bath and sauna.
• Cold mist tunnel and a cold plunge in the lake itself.
• Tea bar with tisane, included in the entry price.
• Vök Bistro, the restaurant, serves soups and lighter meals.

Getting there

Vök Baths is on Route 925 (Hróarstunguvegur), about 500 m off Route 1 and roughly 5 km (3 miles) from the centre of Egilsstaðir.

• From Egilsstaðir: Drive north on Route 1 and cross the bridge over Lagarfljót into Fellabær. Turn right onto Route 925. The lake appears on your left, and the baths are shortly after. It is about a 5-minute drive.
• From Seyðisfjörður (ferry port): Cross Fjarðarheiði on Route 93 to Egilsstaðir, then follow the directions above.
• From Akureyri or Mývatn: Follow Route 1 east and turn onto Route 925 shortly before you reach Fellabær.
• By taxi: There is no regular bus to the baths. The operator suggests local taxi drivers Ásgrímur (+354 898 8044) and Jón Eiður (+354 892 9247).

There is parking at the building.

When to go

The baths are open all year.

• Summer (15 June to 15 September): 10:00 to 23:00 daily. The busiest period, with no walk-ins from 1 June to 31 August, so book.
• Rest of the year (16 September to 14 June): 12:00 to 22:00 daily.
• Winter evenings: the best time for steam over the lake, snow on the decks and a chance of northern lights.
• Holidays: 11:00 to 15:00 on 24, 25 and 31 December, and 16:00 to 22:00 on 1 January. The bistro is closed on those days.

In winter, check umferdin.is before driving, especially if you are coming over Fjarðarheiði or Möðrudalsöræfi, which can close in storms.

Prices and booking

Prices as listed by the operator in October 2026:

• Adults (16+): ISK 7,690
• Students, seniors (67+) and disabled visitors: ISK 5,290
• Youth (6-15): ISK 3,590
• Children (0-5): free
• Towel rental: ISK 1,390
• Swimsuit rental: ISK 1,390
• Bathrobe rental: ISK 1,990

Basic entry covers the pools, steam bath, cold plunge, lake, shower products, a locker and tea. A package with a towel and a drink is ISK 9,890. Annual, monthly and multi-visit passes are also sold.

Booking: each entry time has a set number of tickets, and the baths do not take walk-ins from 1 June to 31 August. In October 2026 the homepage carried a notice that the booking engine was down because of a problem at its service provider. Until that is fixed, email [email protected] or call +354 470 9500.

Bathing culture

Shower without your swimsuit before you go into the pools, as everywhere in Iceland. Since the water is untreated, this matters even more here. Swimsuits are worn in all the pools. Children under 16 must be with a parent.

Accessibility

Wheelchairs can be borrowed and used to get into the pools. If you need help in the changing rooms, you can bring an assistant free of charge; email [email protected] ahead of your visit.

Where to stay nearby

Egilsstaðir, 5 km away, is the service centre of the east, with hotels, guesthouses, supermarkets, fuel and a campsite in town. Fellabær, across the river, has more guesthouses. Seyðisfjörður, east over the Fjarðarheiði pass, is a popular base with its own guesthouses and the Smyril Line ferry terminal. Hallormsstaður forest, south along Lagarfljót, has hotels and a large campsite.

Safety notes

• Lake plunge: the lake is cold all year. Get in slowly, stay briefly and skip it if you have a heart condition.
• Hot pools and the bar: hot water plus alcohol dehydrates you quickly. Drink water between drinks.
• Floating pools: the decks and edges can be slippery or icy in winter. Use the handrails.
• Winter driving: roads in the east can ice over fast. Check vedur.is and umferdin.is.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hengifoss, one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, is south of Egilsstaðir on the west side of Lagarfljót. For a highland soak in summer, the pools at Laugarfell sit beyond the Fljótsdalur valley, south-west of Egilsstaðir. On the north-east coast, Selárdalslaug near Vopnafjörður is a riverside pool on the way to or from the north.

See also: Laugarfell Hot Springs, Forest Lagoon and Earth Lagoon Mývatn.