Secret Lagoon

Discover the enchanting Secret Lagoon, Iceland's oldest natural swimming pool, nestled in the geothermal heart of Flúðir. Immerse yourself in the soothing ~38–40°C waters, surrounded by raw Icelandic landscapes and bubbling hot springs, just a stone's throw from the Golden Circle.

Story

Secret Lagoon, known locally as Gamla Laugin (The Old Pool), has a history that reaches back to 1891, when the pool was established in the Hverahólmi geothermal area at Flúðir. The area had already long been connected with the local community: geothermal water was used for bathing and washing, and the site served as a meeting place for the local community in the late 19th century. In 1909, swimming lessons began at Gamla Laugin, making the pool an important part of Iceland's developing swimming culture. Lessons continued here for decades, until 1947, when a newer swimming pool opened at Flúðir. After that, Gamla Laugin gradually fell out of regular use and remained largely forgotten for many years. The old pool was eventually brought back to life. The idea of restoring it emerged in 2005, with an emphasis on preserving its simple, natural character rather than turning it into a modern luxury spa. After years of restoration, it reopened to the public in 2014 under the name Secret Lagoon. Today, the experience still revolves around the geothermal landscape that made the site special in the first place. Hot water flows naturally into the pool from the surrounding geothermal area, including Vaðmálahver, Básahver and Litli Geysir. Rather than feeling like a newly built lagoon, Gamla Laugin offers visitors a chance to bathe in a place closely connected to more than a century of Icelandic swimming and geothermal history.