Laugarvatn Fontana — Attraction in Iceland

This was such a wonderful place, beautiful, clean, and very pretty. Not as many people visit here as they do the sky lagoon, etc, so it feels much more special and less crowded. This spa is also a lot cheaper than places like the sky lagoon. You can rent towels for one thousand kr each.

As is required with all natural geothermal hot springs in Iceland, you must shower without clothes or swimming costumes on and use soap to clean yourself thoroughly prior to entering the water. There are separate male and female changing areas, each of which is communal. There are free lockers to store your belongings while in the spa. There are two large toilets in the changing room for those who wish to change into their costumes in private. Also, there is a shower curtain in the communal shower block area, which allows you to shower undressed privately as well. Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel are provided for free.

There are a number of different pools and a jacuzzi, which were of differing temperatures, so you could find one which suited. I also really enjoyed the freezing cold dip in the icy lake! The sauna was amazing as the hot spring is beneath your feet, and you can hear it bubbling as you sit in the naturally created steam.

Food and drinks are available for a price. The coffee was really enjoyable and you got free refills too! The geothermal bread with butter and smoked salmon was absolutely delicious. This is made on site and cooked in the hot springs/sand for 24 hours! It's such a cool process! You get to watch it on earlier tours.

The staff were super friendly and helpful. I unfortunately sat on a wet chair in the cafe and the staff dried my trousers for me, while I went in the springs!

The tour bus also broke down, and even though the spa had closed, the staff waited behind and let us come inside to use the facilities and stay warm while we waited for a replacement bus to come from Reykjavik! It was truly a...

Our Christmas visit to Laugarvatn Fontana turned out to be delightfully memorable, despite a rough start with the weather. A heavy snowfall made us late for our morning bread-making class, but the friendly staff was incredibly accommodating, rescheduling us for the afternoon session. This unexpected change gave us the perfect opportunity to dive into the geothermal pools.

Laugarvatn Fontana offers several pools with varying temperatures, and my favorite was the organically shaped one along the river. It’s a unique spot that feels like a natural part of the landscape. The saunas, boasting serene lake views, were aesthetically pleasing and surprisingly affordable at just $40 per person, a steal compared to other local options.

The bread-making class was a cozy affair, set against the snowy backdrop of Christmas Day. Although the class was brief, lasting about 10 minutes with a focus on the geothermal heating process used to bake the bread, it was fascinating. However, I felt the experience could be enriched to justify the cost. Each class makes a loaf of bread for the next day, and while tasting the warm bread served with butter and smoked fish was heavenly, the overall educational component was a bit lacking.

For the price, adding more depth or interactive elements to the bread-making could enhance the value. Despite this, the delicious bread and the charm of the setting made it a worthwhile visit. If you find yourself at Laugarvatn Fontana, the geothermal pools are a must, and if you have a penchant for unique culinary experiences, the bread class is enjoyable—just set your expectations right for a brief but...

This review is strictly for the geothermal bakery tour.

I was really excited but unfortunately it was a bummer. There were two dozen people which is way overbooked for an experience like this. The tour part was fine although sometimes tough to see with such a large crowd but the bread tasting was a disaster. I didn't get to see much as rude folks shoved me and my wife around to get a better view. Once the bread was cut and available for tasting, it was like something triggered in the brains of the other tourists and turned them into wild animals. Absolutely no line, just pushing and shoving to get in and grab bread, butter, and smoked fish. I chose not to be rude like the others so, by the time I made it up to the table, the fish was gone and the bread was mostly crumbs. Folks were walking away with napkins piled high. I salvaged one small piece of bread and a smidge of butter from the remains. Meanwhile the staff member walked away with at least 1/4 of the bread loaf wrapped up for storage, I'm assuming to put out for customers to purchase individual tastings later.

I believe tickets were roughly $14 USD per person so we spent $28 for a 15 minute showing of how they bake the bread in the hot spring (very cool) and then a few scraps of bread. The serving process needs to change. Bakery staff should be in charge of serving everyone, limiting to one slice per person until everyone has had an opportunity, then open it up. It would take more time but result in a significantly better experience for everyone....