Vök Baths

About Vök Baths

Vök Baths is a geothermal spa on Lake Urriðavatn, just north-west of Egilsstaðir in East Iceland. It opened in July 2019 and is the only spa in Iceland with pools floating in a lake: two hexagonal floating pools, called vakir, sit out on the water and are reached from the shore. The name comes from the holes that form in the lake ice where hot springs keep it from freezing.

The spa uses natural hot spring water with no chlorine or other chemicals. As well as the floating pools, there are two hot pools on shore, a sauna, a cold spray tunnel and a cold plunge, and bathers can also dip into the lake itself. The hot pools are 37–42°C and no deeper than 1.2 metres. There is an in-water bar, a tea bar with free herbal tea and a bistro.

Vök is 500 metres from Route 1, about a five-minute drive from central Egilsstaðir. Akureyri is about 244 km away, roughly three and a half hours by car, and Hengifoss and Stuðlagil canyon are within an hour's drive. The spa has EV chargers and a wheelchair available on site.

Adult entry (16+) is 7,690 ISK, and a package with a towel is 9,890 ISK. Ages 6–15 pay 3,590 ISK, under-6s enter free, and students, seniors 67+ and disabled visitors pay 5,290 ISK. Towels and swimsuits can be rented for 1,390 ISK each. Under-16s must be with a parent. Booking is strongly advised, and from 1 June to 31 August walk-ins are not accepted.

From 15 June to 15 September Vök is open daily 10:00–23:00; the rest of the year it opens 12:00–22:00. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing. Winter visits combine steam over the cold lake with a chance of northern lights.