New Geothermal Lagoon Opens on the Golden Circle

What's new

Laugarás Lagoon (also referred to as Árböðin, or "The River Baths") has opened in the village of Laugarás in South Iceland, overlooking the Hvítá River — the same river that carves the canyon at Gullfoss further upstream. It's built as a two-tiered, cascading geothermal bathing experience, with warm pools stepping down toward the river, a swim-up bar, and an on-site restaurant seating over 80 people with an Icelandic-themed menu built around locally sourced ingredients.

Why its location matters

Laugarás sits close to the heart of the classic Golden Circle route — roughly 33 km from Geysir and 43 km from Gullfoss — putting it within easy reach of a standard Golden Circle day without a significant detour. That's a meaningfully different pitch from the Blue Lagoon, which sits near Keflavík Airport on the opposite side of the country and works better as an arrival or departure day activity than a Golden Circle add-on.

How it compares to existing options on this route

The Golden Circle already has a couple of well-established, lower-key geothermal stops — the Secret Lagoon and Laugarvatn Fontana, both mentioned in our Golden Circle guide. Laugarás Lagoon positions itself as a more polished, purpose-built experience alongside these, similar in spirit and design ambition to Sky Lagoon near Reykjavik. As a newly opened facility, pricing and package details are still settling — check current rates directly with the venue before building it into your itinerary.

Should you add it to your route?

If you're already planning a Golden Circle day and want a soak that doesn't require booking weeks ahead like the Blue Lagoon often does, Laugarás Lagoon is worth checking out — see our itinerary planning guide for how a stop like this fits into a 5, 7 or 10-day route without significantly extending your day.