Things to Do in Iceland

Iceland's natural hot springs, fed by volcanic activity and dotted all around the country, are world renowned. The most famous is the Blue Lagoon, but it's almost always crammed with day-trippers from nearby Reykjavik. Myvatn Nature Baths, on the other hand, remain a pocket of tranquility, hidden away in the less-visited north.

With water bubbling between 96.8°F (36°C) and 102.2°F (39°C) and an idyllic backdrop of looming volcanoes and picturesque Lake Myvatn, visiting the baths is the perfect way to soothe tired limbs after a day spent exploring the surrounding volcano- and glacier-laced landscape.

Visitors to Myvatn Nature Baths have access to saunas, heated pools, and massage services. You can spend the whole day soaking in the milky blue, mineral-rich water, reaping its health benefits. The man-made lagoon makes use of the run-off from the Bjarnarflag geothermal borehole nearby and is full of natural silicates and volcanic microorganisms renowned for their restorative and relaxant properties. Visits to the baths are often included in day tours around northern Iceland, leaving from Akureyri.

Myvatn Nature Baths is about an hour-and-a-half's drive along Route 1 (or, the "Ring Road") from Akureyri, the nearest city. Public buses are infrequent and tricky to fit to a visitor's schedule, but you can rent a car from downtown Akureyri or at Akureyri Airport. If you would rather skip the hassle of driving, join one of the guided day tours that visit the baths as part of a larger tour around North Iceland.

The Myvatn Nature Baths are open daily year-round, although opening hours differ slightly from summer to winter. In summer, due to the long days experienced in North Iceland, they stay open late, allowing you to experience the midnight sun in a setting that couldn't be more idyllic. With fewer visitors, winter offers a quieter experience, as well as the chance of spotting the northern lights"”and, despite the northerly location, the region enjoys a temperate climate.

The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland's busiest attractions, but you can experience all the benefits of that hot spring without the drawbacks of crowds and a hefty price tag by heading north for the Myvatn Nature Baths instead. Surrounded by pristine nature, the hot water is bound to make you feel revitalized after a day of hiking across the volcanic region's steaming lava fields.

Seltún is located in a area of intense volcanic and geothermal activity called Krýsuvík, slightly southwest of Reykjavik on the Reykjane peninsula. It sits right above a major fissure on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and even in the land of 'fire and ice,' it is a bizarre and volatile landscape of steaming thermal springs, gurgling mud and cracks in the ground that spew forth hissing gasses and water warmed by subterranean layers of boiling magma, which raises temperatures underground to 200°C (390°F).

Set against an arid background of barren rocks layered with brown, green, red and yellow soils stained with minerals, steam and the acrid smell of sulfur hang heavy in the air above silver layers of mud and turquoise water. A wooden boardwalk allows visitors to view the bubbling hot springs close up and the Krýsuvík area is popular with photographers and hikers; a sign-posted walking trail departs from the parking lot at Seltún.

The Silfra fissure is a water-filled crack between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the two continents drift apart from each other. Water travels from the Langjökull glacier through porous lava rock during a journey that takes between 30 and 100 years before seeping into the fissure. 

Many visitors see the Silfra fissure during trips to Thingvellir National Park. To truly appreciate the fissure, it's best to go diving or snorkeling in the transparent water, which is lined with volcanic rocks. 

Only PADI-qualified divers with dry-suit certification can dive in the fissure, but snorkeling is available to all travelers, even those with no prior experience. Guided snorkeling tours of the fissure typically depart from Reykjavik. Some organized tours include other activities, such as spelunking in Gjábakkahellir or Leiðarendi lava caves. Other tours make stops along the Golden Circle at sights including Haukadalur, a geothermal valley home to Gullfoss waterfall and the great geyser and nearby Strokkur.  

The Silfra fissure is located within Thingvellir National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where the world's first parliament met in the 10th century. Driving from Reykjavik to the fissure takes around an hour. 

Because the water that feeds Silfra travels underground, it maintains a constant temperature and doesn't freeze over. For this reason, snorkeling and diving tours are available year-round. Silfra is busier in summer; get there early in the day when crowds are thinner. 

The Silfra fissure isn't home to a multitude of marine life"”most fish prefer the warmer waters of Thingvellir lake"”but it is a breeding ground for many different types of algae. It also boasts some of the clearest waters in the world, with the natural purification process ensuring divers enjoy visibility exceeding 328 feet (100 meters).