Hvammsvík Hot Springs & Nature Resort
Hvammsvík Hot Springs & Nature Resort is a unique property about 40 minutes from the center of Reykjavik, and it transports you on a magical Icelandic journey. We were so excited to stay here this year, as we tried to stay the year before, but it was fully booked. Needless to say, the wait was worth it, and it did not disappoint.
THE PROPERTY
The property is nestled on 1200 acres bordering the Atlantic Ocean and offers 12 private houses, surrounded by the ocean, meadows, black beaches, and mountains. What is unique is that it offers not only a public hot spring on-site but also a private one at the base of the ocean for residents only. The landscape is stunning, and the property is closer to a rental than a hotel, as you will not have amenities such as room service or daily housekeeping. It’s also a perfect place to stay with a larger group or family, as they offer some houses you can book that are very family-friendly. Also on the property: The Barn, which has a game room and gym in the basement; a lake where you can fish; and a bistro where you can dine (attached to the public hot springs). There are also many hiking trails on-site for you to explore. It really does feel like a nature retreat, and it's somewhere I could see myself visiting yearly, even on a solo trip to recharge and be with nature. It’s also a great place to see the northern lights, as it is away from the city and ambient light (we were blessed to see them during our stay!).
THE ROOM
You can’t really say “the room” in this resort, as each dwelling is its own little property. We stayed in the Farmhouse, and yes, it’s an entire house with 3 levels. It can sleep up to 9 people and is perfect for families. Check-in was a bit tricky at first because, once you arrive, there is no front desk or office to greet you; it’s purely digital. Make sure you receive an email at least 24 hours in advance explaining your check-in process, as we did not receive one and were a bit lost during check-in. We ended up driving to the public hot springs and asking for help there, and they were able to help us. So if you book and have not received an email regarding check-in, make sure to email the hotel before your arrival, and note that the staff is only available by email between 9 am and 4 pm Icelandic time, so you will only get a response in this window of time.
Anyhoo, back to the room. Once we squared everything away, we checked in and arrived at The Farmhouse. To enter the house, use the lockbox and code (which should be provided to you 24 hours in advance), and you will find a set of keys inside. As soon as we entered the house, we were greeted with warm, cozy vibes. It really felt like home. I loved that the home has been renovated, but they still kept its old charm and rustic vibes. On the bottom floor (where you enter), you will find a mudroom, a full bathroom with a washer-dryer, a small living room, and a bedroom with two single beds. The bed in the living room is also a pull-out couch. When you walk up the stairs, you're greeted with a beautiful kitchen with mosaic tiles that’s fully decked with all the essentials you need, as well as a large dining room with 8 seats and a gorgeous leather sectional sofa perfect for lounging with the family. This floor gets ample light, adding to its cozy vibes.
On the third floor are two more bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with three single beds, as well as another full bathroom. It really felt like our little home, and it felt lived in in a good way. I loved that the house had some childproofing with baby gates at both stairs. The stairs were the only thing I would be cautious with with younger children, as they were a bit old and narrow, so I would definitely utilize those baby gates. Since it was just the 4 of us, we all slept upstairs, and it was perfect. I almost wish we had brought more people along, as we had the space for it. This would be a perfect space for larger families, extended families, or even for bringing another family along.
THE FOOD
As mentioned, there is a bistro on-site offering a limited menu. Popping in for things here and there is nice, but I would not rely on this for your everyday meals, as it can get quite pricey with limited options. Since each home is equipped with a kitchen, I highly recommend ordering groceries in advance and getting almost everything you need for your stay, as the nearest grocery store is 30 minutes away. If you are headed to the resort from Reykjavik, definitely stop by a Kronan grocery store (there are several), which should have everything you need for your stay. We stocked up so we wouldn’t have to worry about food during our stay. It was easy to cook in the kitchen as it had all the utilities we needed.
THE HOT SPRINGS
On site are the Hvammsvik Hot Springs, which are becoming quite popular. It’s a public hot spring consisting of 8 small natural pools. This hot spring is only for adults and children 10 years and older, so unfortunately, we couldn't bring the kids. Fortunately for me, it turned into a little mommy spa day, which was nice. Even as a guest of the resort, you have to pay for these hot springs, but the hotel does offer residents a discount code, which you will receive in your welcome email. You can walk to the hot springs from your accommodations on-site, or you can drive down and park at the lot right below it. When you walk in, you'll see the bistro, where you also check in. Depending on the package you booked (I recommend the highest one they offer), they will provide you with the things you need and show you where to go. You head into the changing room, which has lockers and a shower. You then change, shower, and head to the hot springs.
Hvammsvik Hot Springs has a cool concept and is different from any hot springs I’ve visited so far in Iceland. The only caveat is that each hot spring is a bit small, so if people are in one, entering can feel a bit intrusive. Maybe that’s just me, but personal space, you know. It was interesting visiting solo because it didn’t seem like anyone else was there alone, so it really felt like intruding if you entered and occupied a hot spring where a couple or group of people were enjoying it. Nevertheless, there are plenty to choose from, and it wasn’t very busy, so I was able to hop around as people vacated the hot springs and enjoy them all to myself, which was nice. They even have a cold plunge, one that’s right at the edge of the ocean. There's a swim-up bar, and one drink is included with your ticket, but you can purchase more if you like. I also really enjoyed the steam room on the property. Each hot spring is slightly different in temperature, too, so you can choose the one that suits you best, or just hop around to all of them, which seems to be the norm. It was very relaxing, beautiful, and peaceful. No one was loud or obnoxious, so you really could just enjoy nature around you.
THE PRIVATE GEOTHERMAL HOT SPRINGS
This hot spring was honestly giving me anxiety because I was not sure what to expect. It’s a natural hot spring on the north side of the property, right at the ocean, and is only for residents of the property. Children are allowed here, as are DSLR cameras. My anxiety stemmed from not knowing what to expect, especially with small children (i.e., was the walk long? Are there signs? or a paved pathway to get there?) I didn’t want to just start walking in the cold, not knowing how to get there. I wasn’t sure if it was possible to get lost. There is a map on site and an AI customer service you can chat with, but “she” was not very helpful, and the map just gave a general idea of where it was and did not answer my other questions. I eventually emailed the hotel to speak to a real human (the only way you can), but it was after hours, so I had to wait for the next day, and we planned to go that morning. All that to say, we ended up just braving it with the kids and hoping it would be easy to find, and it was, for the most part. If you have the same questions as me, then the answer is no, no, it’s not a paid road, per se, and no, there are no signs directing you on site, but there is a sign once you've arrived, so there’s that. Based on the map and the fact that we were walking with little legs, we decided to park by the public hot springs to be a bit closer and then walk from there. Turns out that was a great idea because it was only a 5-minute walk from the public hot springs. You just walk over the grassy area towards the left, past the public hot springs, and towards the ocean, and you will see it once you reach the shore.
I almost skipped this, but I’m so glad we didn’t. It was AMAZING. It's a small hot spring, so if others are in there, it would be awkward to use, but luckily, no one was there when we went. It was a bit tricky in 29-degree weather (Fahrenheit) to change outside with two young kids and no changing rooms, but we made it work. The kids loved it so much that if we hadn’t had a flight to catch that evening, we would have stayed much longer. I can imagine this would be a glorious spot to see the northern lights, which you totally can because it’s open 24 hours. What a perk to have your own private hot spring at a property. For that reason, this resort is our top stay in Iceland. And if you want an even more private hot spring experience, The Hilltop House onsite has its own natural hot spring, which sounds amazing.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
I can’t really say there's a neighborhood, really, as the property is 1200 acres, so that’s it, that’s a neighborhood. But if you stay here, you will be close to many attractions, such as the Golden Circle and Hraunfossar waterfalls, so it’s a great hub.
If you're planning to come to Iceland with your family, Hvammsvík Hot Springs & Nature Resort is a great place to stay, offering plenty of comforts to make your trip seamless. Just be mindful that it is more like staying in a home or rental than a hotel, but I think that’s the main appeal of a place like this. I’m sure we will find ourselves back in this property in the future.
See pricing and availability for Hvammsvík Hot Springs & Nature Resort HERE.
