Hrunalaug Hot Spring
Hrunalaug is a small ticketed bathing site on private farmland near Flúðir, with three stone pools that have been in use since the nineteenth century. Two things about it are commonly published wrong: the price is not a single figure - it rises by 500 ISK at 14:00 - and the facilities are no longer the two temporary huts most guides describe, because a proper changing building opened in 2026.
What It Costs
Prices are from the operator's own published list, read on 6 August 2026. The most useful thing to know is the 14:00 threshold: arrive before it and every rate is 500 ISK lower.
| Visitor | Before 14:00 | From 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 3,000 ISK | 3,500 ISK |
| Age 11-15 | 2,000 ISK | 2,500 ISK |
| Seniors and guests with disabilities | 2,500 ISK | 3,000 ISK |
| Age 10 and under | Free | Free |
This pricing is recent. As late as April 2026 the operator published a flat 3,000 ISK adult rate with no time-of-day split and no concession rate for seniors or guests with disabilities. Both were introduced since. The site carries no "last updated" stamp, so we date our reading rather than the change - and small private sites like this adjust prices without notice. Towel rental is 1,000 ISK. Card and cash in ISK are both accepted.
Opening Hours
| Season | Open |
|---|---|
| Summer, 1 May to 31 August | 09:00 - 22:00 |
| Spring and autumn, 15 March to 30 April and 1 September to 31 October | 09:00 - 21:00 |
| Winter, 1 November to 14 March | 10:00 - 20:00 |
There is no booking system. The operator states it plainly: first come, first served, with around 25 to 30 spaces. Combined with the 14:00 price step, that makes a morning arrival both cheaper and more likely to be calm. Tour groups are asked to phone the same morning.
Do not turn up outside opening hours. Access when closed is prohibited and enforced: the site is alarmed and monitored, the operator reports trespass to the police, and there is a 60,000 ISK penalty fee. This is a working farm and a family home as well as a bathing site.
The Pools, And How Warm They Actually Are
The operator states 37 to 38 °C - close to body temperature, and comfortable for a long soak rather than a hot plunge. That is cooler than the ranges most guides publish, including the 32 to 40 °C figure this page itself carried until August 2026. We now quote the operator. Outdoor pools vary with weather and flow, so test before getting in.
The three pools are genuinely old. The Laundry pool dates from about 1890, when it was used for washing; the Sheep pool from 1935; and the Tourists pool was built in 2017 and fully renovated in summer 2023, gaining a columnar-basalt outer ring. In a very dry spell the spring can run low and the pool has dried up before, with notices posted on the operator's site.
Facilities
A changing facility built into the hill behind the pools opened in 2026: lockers, toilets, and three showers per changing room under a glass roof, with shampoo, soap, conditioner, a hairdryer and a swimsuit dryer provided. This replaced the two small temporary huts, which had no lockers and which older guides - and this page, before now - still describe. Coffee, soft drinks and sweets are sold on site. There is no wheelchair access. Drones, dogs and glass are not permitted.
Getting There
Hrunalaug is about 100 km east of Reykjavík, roughly 90 minutes by car, close enough to the Golden Circle to add on after Gullfoss or Geysir. There is no public transport. The walk from the car park is under 200 metres. Paths and pool edges are slippery, and the pools sit beside a working farm, so keep noise down and take everything away with you.
Nearby And Related
Hrunalaug pairs naturally with the Golden Circle and the geothermal town of Flúðir. Compare it with the free hike-in river at Reykjadalur, the new Laugarás Lagoon nearby, or the full list in our guide to Iceland's hot springs. For how we check and date these facts, see our editorial and fact-checking policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Hrunalaug Cost?
Admission depends on when you arrive. Before 14:00 it is 3,000 ISK for an adult, 2,000 ISK for ages 11 to 15, and 2,500 ISK for seniors and guests with disabilities. After 14:00 each rate rises by 500 ISK, to 3,500, 2,500 and 3,000 ISK. Children aged 10 and under are free. Towel rental is 1,000 ISK. Card and cash in Icelandic krónur are both accepted, and prices come from the operator's own published price list, read on 6 August 2026.
Do You Need To Book Hrunalaug?
No, and you cannot. The operator states plainly that there is no booking system: it is first come, first served, with around 25 to 30 spaces. That makes arrival time the main thing you control - early in the day is both cheaper, since the rate rises at 14:00, and more likely to be quiet. Tour groups are asked to phone on the morning of their visit.
Is Hrunalaug Still Free?
No. Hrunalaug was a free local bathing spot for generations, but the landowners introduced admission to maintain the pools and manage visitor numbers. It now has published prices, seasonal opening hours and a 90-minute limit. Visiting outside opening hours is prohibited and actively enforced - the site has an alarm and monitoring, the operator reports trespass to police, and there is a 60,000 ISK penalty fee.
How Hot Is The Water At Hrunalaug?
The operator states 37 to 38 °C, which is close to body temperature and comfortable for a long soak rather than a hot plunge. Individual pools differ, and outdoor pools always vary with weather and flow, so test before getting in. Note that this is cooler than many published figures for Hrunalaug, which is why we quote the operator rather than a secondary source.
What Facilities Are There At Hrunalaug?
More than there used to be. A changing facility built into the hill behind the pools opened in 2026, with lockers, toilets, and three showers per changing room under a glass roof, plus shampoo, soap, conditioner, a hairdryer and a swimsuit dryer. That replaced the two temporary huts described in older guides, which had no lockers. Towel rental is 1,000 ISK, and coffee, soft drinks and sweets are sold on site. There is no wheelchair access.
How Long Can You Stay, And How Old Are The Pools?
A 90-minute limit applies, which is comfortably enough to change, soak and dry off. The three pools have real history: the oldest, the Laundry pool, dates from around 1890, the Sheep pool from 1935, and the Tourists pool was built in 2017 and fully renovated in summer 2023 with a columnar-basalt outer ring. The walk from the car park is under 200 metres.
Sources
Prices, opening hours, facilities, capacity and rules read from the operator's own price list and FAQ on 6 August 2026. The April 2026 comparison is from an Internet Archive capture of the same site. Water temperature is the operator's stated figure. Prices and rules at small private sites change without notice; confirm before you travel.
Last updated: 2026-08-08 · Reviewed against official sources.