Forest Lagoon – Akureyri, Iceland

Forest Lagoon is a geothermal spa unlike any other in Iceland, yet it’s just a five-minute drive from the city of Akureyri, known as the “capital of the North.” The same people who made the famous Blue Lagoon also made this fantastic Forest Lagoon thermal complex, which is 1300 square feet.

The lagoon stands out because of how well it fits in with the rocky and forested landscape around it. People go from all around to unwind in the soothing waters and take in the breathtaking woodland environment.

History

In 2014, workers digging the Valaheiargong tunnel, which would shorten the distance between Akureyri and Hsavk in northern Iceland by 4.2 miles, found an unknown geothermal hot water spring deep in the mountain. The building had to be put on hold for a while, but in the end, someone had a great idea to use the source by redirecting its flow from the mountain and creating the Forest Lagoon.

Mineral Thermal Pools

Forest Lagoon Hot Springs Iceland — Overlooking the Forest Lagoon, Iceland

Two infinity pools, complete with swim-up bars are the main features of the premises. The large swimming areas are heated at 39 and 41 °C/102 and 105 °F, making up the lagoon.

Amenities

Inside the facility is a sauna and a relaxation room with sweeping views of the nearby ski resort, the town of Akureyri, and the Eyjafjörur Fjord. The sauna’s glass walls look out over the river, the snow-capped peaks, and the beautiful trees whose lush leaves change from summer to autumn hues in the fall.

The primary building has two sections: a wooden pavilion that holds the restaurant with a fireplace and large windows that look out onto the forest, and a concrete building that contains a changing room for up to 200 people. Both structures offer stunning forward-facing vistas of the fjord.