Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
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About Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach is a city-run bathing beach on the Fossvogur inlet in Reykjavík, where hot water piped into a sheltered lagoon takes the edge off the North Atlantic. Locals call it Ylströndin, and on a sunny day its golden sand draws a crowd you would not expect this far north.
The beach sits below the wooded Öskjuhlíð hill, about 3 kilometers from downtown, and you can walk or cycle there on the coastal path or drive and use the parking lot by the service building. In summer the lagoon inside the breakwater averages 15 to 19°C, which is cool but swimmable. Hot tubs and a steam bath wait on the shore for warming up afterward.
From mid-May to mid-August the beach usually opens daily from 10:00 to 19:00. The rest of the year it keeps winter hours, Tuesday to Friday 11:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 11:00 to 16:00, with Sundays and Mondays closed. In winter the sea drops into single digits Celsius, so regulars take a short cold dip and head straight for the hot tub.
Adult entry is 1,500 ISK, children 9 and under get in free, and ages 10 to 17 pay 400 ISK. You can rent a towel or swimsuit at the desk, so it works as a spur-of-the-moment stop. An hour or two is plenty, and on a warm summer afternoon expect to share the sand with half of Reykjavík's families.
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Good to know
How much does Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach cost?
Adult entry is 1,500 ISK. Children 9 and under enter free, ages 10 to 17 pay 400 ISK, and towel and swimsuit rental cost extra.
What are the Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach opening times?
In summer, from mid-May to mid-August, it is usually open daily from 10:00 to 19:00. The rest of the year it opens Tuesday to Friday 11:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 11:00 to 16:00.
Is Nauthólsvík open in winter?
Yes, five days a week, closed on Sundays and Mondays. The sea is cold then, so most visitors take a quick dip and warm up in the hot tubs.
How warm is the water at Nauthólsvík beach?
In summer the heated lagoon averages 15 to 19°C. Outside summer the sea falls into single digits Celsius, while the hot tubs stay warm year-round.
Where is Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach?
It is on the Fossvogur inlet below Öskjuhlíð hill in Reykjavík, about 3 kilometers from downtown and reachable on foot, by bike, or by car.
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