“The Myvatn Nature Baths are the north's quieter, cheaper Blue Lagoon, heated by the same volcanic system that makes this one of Iceland's most violent landscapes.”
About Mývatn Nature Baths
The baths were developed in 2004 to give the Myvatn area its own geothermal spa, using superheated water from a borehole near the Krafla volcano. Krafla itself erupted repeatedly through the 1970s and 1980s in a series known as the Krafla Fires, a record of how active the ground beneath the soothing lagoon really is.
About Myvatn Nature Baths
The Myvatn Nature Baths are the north of Iceland's answer to the Blue Lagoon: a large, milky-blue geothermal bathing lagoon set on a ridge above a vast lava field, with steam rising and wide views over the Myvatn lake district. They are cheaper, quieter and less crowded than their famous southern cousin, while offering much the same silica-rich soak.
They are cheaper, quieter and less crowded than their famous southern cousin, while offering much the same silica-rich soak.
The Northern Alternative
The baths opened in 2004, drawing alkaline geothermal water from a borehole that taps the intense heat beneath the Krafla volcanic system nearby. The same volcanic forces that make this one of Iceland's most geologically violent regions also heat the lagoon. For travellers who find the Blue Lagoon too expensive or too busy, this is the considered choice, with a more local, low-key feel.
The Experience
You soak in warm, opaque blue water on a ridge with steam drifting around you and the Myvatn lava country spread out below. The crowds are thinner and the prices lower than at the Blue Lagoon, and the setting feels wilder and more local. In winter the contrast of warm water and freezing air, with a chance of aurora, is the draw.
Why It Matters
The Myvatn Nature Baths anchor tourism in the geologically extraordinary north, giving visitors a relaxing counterpoint to the area's harsher sights like Hverir and Dimmuborgir. They show how Iceland has built accessible comfort directly on top of its volcanic heat across the whole country, not just near the capital.
The Myvatn Nature Baths anchor tourism in the geologically extraordinary north, giving visitors a relaxing counterpoint to the area's harsher sights like Hverir and Dimmuborgir.
Why Visit
Choose it over the Blue Lagoon for a cheaper, quieter, more local geothermal soak with sweeping views over the Myvatn lava fields. It pairs naturally with a day touring the area.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
It is markedly cheaper and quieter than the Blue Lagoon for a similar silica soak.
- 2
Combine it with Hverir, Dimmuborgir and Krafla on a Myvatn-area day.
- 3
In summer, the Myvatn midges can be fierce; a head net helps around the lake.
- 4
Winter visits offer the best warm-water contrast and a chance of Northern Lights.
