How to Get to Hveravellir Hot Spring – Blue Geothermal Pool in Iceland

About the Hveravellir Hot Spring

Hveravellir is a geothermal area, but there’s only one hot spring that you can bathe in! Getting here requires a 4×4, and there are some hiking trails to explore, a short walk on a boardwalk through mud pots and steaming vents, and of course, the geothermal pool that’s the perfect temperature for relaxing at the end of a long day of adventures! Before you go, make sure to learn about hot spring etiquette!

Leave No Trace at Hveravellir Hot Springs

Anytime you’re outdoors, whether you’re a beginner hiker or an experienced adventurer, it’s essential that you practice Leave No Trace (LNT). LNT is a set of seven principles that help us understand our impact on the outdoors – because while we usually have good intentions, the environment is more fragile than we think, and one snap-second decision can cause damage to the environment that will take the earth years, even decades to repair.

While I firmly believe everyone deserves to enjoy these amazing spots, do your part to make sure it stays clean and beautiful! Iceland is a popular tourist destination, so overcrowding really takes a toll on nature, especially when people don’t follow LNT. It can also lead to places like this, which are privately owned by Icelandic families, to close forever.

Leave No Trace means enjoying the outdoors without disrupting nature, as much as it’s possible to do so. Here are the 7 principles of LNT, and how they apply when you visit the Hveravellir Hot Spring!

• Plan ahead and prepare – read this guide, and make sure you know what to expect!
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces – there are some trails nearby. If you want to do this, make sure to stay on the trail to avoid trampling grasses and plants! When you’re in the geothermal area, don’t step off the boardwalk – there’s tons of geothermal activity and it’s unsafe to walk on the ground near the vents.
• Dispose of waste properly – don’t leave trash, or anything else, behind. There are trash cans in the hotel, but otherwise, pack it out!
• Leave what you find – I know it can be tempting to take a cool rock, but leave these things where they belong! Animals often use these, and if everyone takes one, the area won’t be as pretty.
• Minimize campfire impacts – no campfires are allowed at the hot springs.
• Respect wildlife – never approach wildlife, and never feed the animals! There isn’t much wildlife in Iceland, but there are a lot of sheep near the hot springs – they’re really cute, but give them plenty of space. Don’t stress them out!
• Be considerate of other visitors – this place isn’t as popular as some other hot springs in Iceland, but you’ll likely be sharing it with a few other travelers.

What to Bring to the Hveravellir Hot Spring

When you go to the Hveravellir Hot Springs, here’s what you’ll need to bring!

Bathing Suit

To bathe in the hot spring, you’ll need a bathing suit! There is no changing area at Hveravellir (unless you’re staying in the hotel), so I ended up changing in the car.

I love bathing suits from Aerie – every one I’ve owned has been amazing and super comfortable! Backcountry has cute bathing suits too, and I like to wear some swim shorts for extra coverage.

Hiking Shoes

There isn’t any hiking required to get to Hveravellir Hot Springs, as it’s right next to the parking lot, but there are some hiking trails in the area that you may want to take!

My favorite hiking boots are my Danner boots – they’re cute, comfortable, and waterproof! I also love hiking in my Luna Barefoot sandals, and I wore them at Hveravellir – they’re easy to slip on and off, which was great for the hot springs.

Rain boots are another great option for muddy or wet conditions, and are definitely the easiest to clean.

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Layers

Though the walk to Hveravellir Hot Spring is short, you’ll definitely want some warm clothes to change into. Or, if you want to hike some of the trails around the pools, some rain gear will definitely come in handy, and this area gets a lot of wind!

The Marmot Minimalist Jacket is a great lightweight, waterproof option. For the cold, I love my Columbia puffy jacket – it’s lightweight, but keeps me warm. It’s also water resistant! For added warmth and layering, a Patagonia fleece is always a good addition.

Backpack

When I’m bringing my camera gear, my favorite backpack is the Alex Strohl Mountain Light. It’s definitely the best camera bag out there for hiking with photo gear. If you don’t need storage for camera stuff, I recommend an Osprey Hikelite. If you aren’t bringing very much and just want a day bag, I love my Topo Designs Y-Pack for carrying everyday essentials!

If you plan to have your bag next to you while you soak in the hot spring, keep in mind that if it’s raining, it will get wet! You can leave it in your car or in the hotel if you’re staying there, but otherwise, you’ll need to make sure your stuff is safe. The Mountain Light backpack is waterproof on it’s own, which is super handy. The Osprey Hikelite comes with a rain cover that you can put over the backpack. If your backpack isn’t waterproof or doesn’t have a rain cover, I definitely recommend bringing a dry bag for anything that can’t get wet!

Hydration!

Especially when you’re hiking or exploring outdoors, it’s important to stay hydrated! Single use water bottles are, of course, terrible for the environment, so avoid that and bring a reusable one!

For hiking, the CamelBak water reservoirs are convenient and easy – they can fit in your hiking backpack for water on the go. Nalgene water bottles are great for day to day, and if you want an insulated water bottle to keep your water cold and refreshing, Hydro Flasks are the best!

How to Get to Hveravellir Hot Spring

To get to the Hveravellir Geothermal Area and the hot spring, you can either drive, or take a tour that will stop there!

Driving to Hveravellir Hot Spring

Driving in Iceland can be hard, but super rewarding and gives you the most flexibility when it comes to visiting Hveravellir Hot Spring. A 4×4 is required, as you’ll be driving on an F road.

You need to drive on F35 to get to Hveravellir hot spring. Luckily, this road is pretty easy compared to a lot of the other mountain roads! It’s a little bumpy at times, but nothing too crazy. This road goes all the way across Iceland from north to south, so you can get to Hveravellir hot spring from either direction.

I took it from the north, turning off of the Ring Road and left onto F35, then driving for 53 miles (86 km) to get to Hveravellir. The road was pretty smooth most of the way, getting bumpier as I got closer to the hot spring. But, there were a lot of sheep on this road – more than any other road I took in Iceland – so keep an eye out and don’t zoom too fast.

To get to Hveravellir hot spring from the south, you’ll head to Gulfoss from the Ring Road, and continue on F35 from there. Hveravellir is about halfway along on F35, so whichever way you go, the distance is nearly the same!

Tour to Hveravellir Hot Spring

If you don’t want to drive yourself, or aren’t renting a 4×4, you can also take a tour instead! This tour begins in Akureyri and takes you into the Kerlingarfjöll Highlands, stopping to explore the Hveravellir Geothermal Area and soak in the hot spring on the way.

The Fee for Hveravellir Hot Spring

There is a fee to bathe at the Hveravellir Hot Spring, which is 500 ISK (currently about $3.50 USD) per person. It’s a small fee that helps keep the area maintained, and it’s definitely worth it! You can pay the fee at the hotel, but if you’re staying here (whether at the hotel or camping), access to the pool is included in that fee.

Things to do at Hveravellir

Make the most out of your trip to Hveravellir! Here are some things to do in the area.

Soak in the Blue Geothermal Pool

Of course, one of the best things to do here is to enjoy the Hveravellir Hot Spring. The pool is blue and surrounded by stones, with pipes bringing in water to create the perfect temperature. The pool is right by the parking lot, next to a small hut.

Walk Around Hveravellir Geothermal Area

Before you hop in the hot spring, I recommend walking around the geothermal area! There’s a boardwalk that wanders around mud pots and steaming vents, and it’s really cool to see the geothermal activity up close (but not too close… don’t step off the boardwalk or you can fall through the soft surface and get some serious burns!).

Hikes at Hveravellir

There are also a few hiking trails – three, to be exact – that begin at the Hveravellir Geothermal Area. The green trail is the shortest while the orange trail is the longest, and the red trail is right in between. The trails aren’t on All Trails or any other hiking app, so head into the hotel to ask for more details at reception!

Where to Stay Near Hveravellir Hot Spring

One great thing about the Hveravellir Hot Spring is that you can stay right there! Hveravellir has two huts – one new one with private rooms, and an old one that’s hostel-style with shared rooms. You can also camp in the meadow!

Those are the only accommodations at Hveravellir, and the only options that are really nearby. But, if you head back out north on F35, you can stay at Ferðaþjónustan Geitaskarði, and if you go south, the Blue Hotel Fagrilundur is a unique modern space in Reykholt.

For more places to stay along your route, check out this map! Be sure to change the dates and zoom out to see all the available options.

Booking.com

More Adventures Near Hveravellir Hot Springs

To find more things to do near Hveravellir Hot Springs, be sure to check out these Iceland itineraries! For other adventures in the Highlands, Landmannalaugar and Askja are both stunning – and if you want more hot springs, check out this post about the best hot springs in Iceland.

More posts:

• Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Iceland
• Guide to Camping in Iceland
• Iceland Road Trip Itineraries

If you’ve been to this hot spring and have any tips, or if you’re planning a trip and have any questions, leave them in a comment below!

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