With limited hours of daylight in Iceland in the winter, evenings in North Iceland can seem long, especially when waiting for optimal Northern Lights viewing. One evening, we whiled away a few hours relaxing in the steamy aqua waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths. 
Similar in concept to the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions, the Mývatn Nature Baths are a man-made lagoon in the middle of a lava field with water supplies running straight from the National Power Company´s 2500 meter deep borehole in Bjarnarflag. Though in winter we were surrounded by snow and sparkling frost, the water is a warm 36° – 40° Celsius and rich in minerals and silicates.
North Iceland isn’t visited by many tourists in the winter (though they boast that you have a 50% better chance of seeing the Northern Lights in the North) and so we practically had the Mývatn Nature Baths to ourselves. We soaked in the lagoon, moving around to find the various spurts of a hot water throughout the lagoon. It was only slightly cloudy and I hoped the Aurora Borealis would make an early appearance to dance above us.
A house with two steam baths is built straight on top of a geothermal area and the sulphur-free steam rises up through holes in the floor. Not wanting to leave the therapeutic waters of the lagoon, I let Tim try out the steam baths on his own.
It was a heavenly way to spend a few hours and we were going to return again the next night until we decided to be a bit more adventurous with our bathing. Nearby is Grjótagjá Thermal Spring inside of a natural lava cave, where many locals go for their daily bath. Give them both a try for two entirely different experiences!
Know Before You Go
- A visit to the Mývatn Nature Baths is included in Lake Mývatn Super Jeep Tour with Saga Travel. Pick-up is available from both Akureyri and Lake Mývatn hotels and guesthouses. Adults are 27,000 ISK and children are 13,500 ISK. (Approximately $209 per adult and $105 per child.)
- Mývatn Nature Baths can also be visited on your own. Off-season and shoulder season entry is 2800 ISK per adult (approximately $22).
- In winter, Mývatn Nature Baths are open daily from 12pm – 10pm and the last entry is at 9:30pm.
- Bring a bathing suit and towel. Towel rental is also available for 600 ISK (approximately $4).
Jennifer Dombrowski
Jennifer Dombrowski is a location independent globe trotter and bases herself in Prata di Pordenone, Italy. She works as a social media and innovation strategist in higher education and is a regular contributor on johnnyjet.com. Her website, jdombstravels.com, is the 2012 Destinology Travel Bloggy Best Newcomer award winner. Google+
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We’re Jennifer and Tim and we love traveling! We are just one ordinary couple who have found that travel brought us closer together, taught us patience, the art of compromise, and how to truly appreciate the diversity of this extraordinary world. So far, we've visited 37 countries, lived in the United States and Italy, and Tim has lived in Korea. And we do it all while both holding down full time jobs. 
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16 comments
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Wibi
January 24, 2013 at 3:27 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
This place looks like ultimate heaven! One, cause of snow and its a natural bath. The price is a throwoff though
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 24th, 2013 at 7:18 pm
The baths are definitely a great way to spend a relaxing evening, Wibi. The price really isn’t much and admission is included if you also do the super jeep tour with Saga Travel.
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Travelwriticus
January 24, 2013 at 6:35 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Thanks for this insight. I esp love those photos taken at the blue hour.
Travelwriticus recently posted..Monuments of Elisabeth of Austria
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 24th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
Thanks, Andreas! The blue hour was especially pretty that day.
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Amanda
January 24, 2013 at 10:49 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Ooo, this will go on my list for the next time I’m in Iceland! I loved the Blue Lagoon more than I expected to, so more thermal spas will definitely be on my to-do list from now on when I travel.
Also, I love the fact that Iceland even reuses its power plant water to help promote tourism! So smart of them.
Amanda recently posted..Highlights of Belize and Guatemala
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 24th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Amanda, you should also check out Grjotagja thermal spring. It’s a natural lava cave that the locals still bathe in. I wrote a post about our experience there. Definitely adventurous!
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D.J. - The World of Deej
January 25, 2013 at 1:58 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Nice one…I’ve only ever heard of the Blue Lagoon until now. Even more so if the Aurora makes an appearance!
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..The Airbus A380 on Approach to Miami – Pic of the Week
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 25th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
It’s funny. Tim kept asking what there is to do in North Iceland when we were first planning this trip. And in the end, we didn’t see it all and loved our time in the north!
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Esther
January 25, 2013 at 3:36 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I was there and it was sooooooo good. I was volunteering 3 months in Iceland and we had free entrance to places like this
Esther recently posted..Flamenco in Madrid
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 25th, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Fantastic, Esther! I would love to live in Iceland if only for a short time even. Where were you volunteering?
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Esther Reply:
April 18th, 2013 at 8:23 am
Hi Jennifer, sorry for the late response, I volunteered with SEEDS Iceland in six different locations around the island
Akurery, Kirkubaejarklaustur, myvatn… (can’t write the names, lol).
Esther recently posted..Excellent tapas tavern, excellent jamon.
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
April 19th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
That’s fantastic, Esther! Sounds like you really got to see a lot of Iceland.
Andrea
January 25, 2013 at 3:43 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I’ve always wanted to try soaking in hot water outdoors when it’s freezing!
Andrea recently posted..A Day Visit To Philadelphia
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 9:35 am
I think we’re hooked! We’ve been in baths or hot tubs 3 times this year already. Give it a try!
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Ali
January 26, 2013 at 8:49 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Sounds wonderful! But I’m not sure I could handle those moments being outside in the cold in my bathing suit before actually getting in the water
Ali recently posted..What to Pack in Your Carry-On Bag
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Tim Reply:
January 27th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
It’s really only a few seconds that you are outside at the Nature Baths. And you can even wear a robe and flip flops out and back in. Next week we have a post coming about snorkeling in Iceland. Coldest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life!
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