Lakeside geothermal spa at Laugarvatn on the Golden Circle, featuring natural steam baths built directly over underground hot springs. You can bake rye bread in the geothermal sand and taste it after your soak.
Fontana Geothermal Baths sits on the shore of Laugarvatn lake on Iceland's Golden Circle, a stop long used by Icelanders for its natural steam vents before it was developed into a public bathhouse. The setting is lakeside rather than lava-field or urban: wooden steam huts are built directly over active geothermal vents, so steam rises straight from the ground into the bathing rooms, alongside outdoor geothermal pools and a lake-access platform for a cold plunge into Laugarvatn itself. The site's best-known feature is not a spa treatment but a food ritual: rye bread baked for roughly 24 hours in the geothermally heated black sand beside the lake, which visitors can dig up, taste warm with butter, and pair with a guided talk on the geology of the area. There is no massage or facial menu; Fontana positions itself as a natural bathing and steam experience rather than a treatment-based spa, with staff on hand to explain the steam rooms and bread-baking process rather than deliver bodywork. Facilities include three natural steam baths of varying intensity, an outdoor thermal pool, a sauna, and changing rooms with showers. Entry is by day ticket purchased on site or online, with the bread-baking tour and tasting sold as an optional add-on at set times rather than a walk-up option, since the sand ovens are prepared in advance.
| Price | $35-80 |
|---|
Treatments
- Natural steam bath
- Outdoor thermal pool soak
- Lake cold plunge
- Sauna
Good to know
- Signature
- Lakeside steam baths built over natural geothermal vents
Weather through the year in Iceland
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Iceland.
Highlights
- Wooden steam huts built directly over natural geothermal vents
- Geothermal rye bread baked in hot black sand and tasted lakeside
- Direct cold-plunge access to Laugarvatn lake
- Outdoor thermal pools with Golden Circle views
- Three steam baths of varying intensity
Tips for visiting
- Book the geothermal bread tasting in advance since it runs at set times
- Alternate steam room heat with a lake plunge in the traditional local pattern
- Bring water shoes for the lake's rocky shoreline entry
- Visit on a Golden Circle day trip since it sits between Þingvellir and Gullfoss
- Towels and swimsuits can be rented on site if needed
When to visit
Late afternoon works well when combining Fontana with a full day touring the Golden Circle's other sites.
Accessibility
The main pool deck and steam huts are on level wooden walkways, but the lake-access platform involves steps, so visitors with limited mobility should check with staff about alternative routes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bread-baking experience included in general admission?
It is usually sold as a separate add-on with its own scheduled tasting times, so it should be booked alongside the entry ticket.
Are massage or facial treatments offered at Fontana?
No, Fontana focuses on natural steam baths and geothermal pools rather than a spa treatment menu.
Can visitors swim in Laugarvatn lake itself?
Yes, a platform gives direct access to the lake for a cold plunge between rounds in the steam huts.