Vök baths is a must visit nature bath in the east of Iceland

Vök Baths sit on the shore of Urriðavatn lake, about five kilometers from Egilsstaðir on Route 1. Two of the hot pools float on the lake itself. That is not a gimmick; geothermal springs run under the lake, and locals have known for generations that certain patches never froze. Those ice-free patches are called vök in Icelandic, and the pools are shaped like them.

I first went in 2021, straight after hiking Stuðlagil canyon, and I have sent a lot of readers there since. Vök is now one of my larger partners, and they have changed how they sell tickets. This page has the 2026 prices, the three new packages, opening hours, and my honest advice on which package to pick.

The three Vök Baths packages for 2026

Vök used to sell one ticket. Now there are three. The bathing is identical in all of them; the difference is what comes bundled.

Which package should you pick?

Here is the arithmetic. A rented towel costs ISK 1,390 at the desk. Njóta costs 1,000 more than Slaka and includes the towel. So if you are traveling light and were going to rent one anyway, Njóta is the cheaper option, not the upgrade.

If you have your own towel in the car, take Slaka and keep the money.

Dekra adds a drink for another 1,200. If you already know you want a beer or a glass of wine while floating on a lake, it roughly pays for itself. If you are driving afterward, skip it; the tea is included in every package and is made from local herbs and lake water.

Prices for children, students and seniors

• Children 0–5: free
• Youth 6–15: ISK 3,590
• Students, seniors (67+) and disabled guests: ISK 5,290

Swimsuit rental is ISK 1,390, and a bathrobe is ISK 1,990 if you forget yours.

Opening hours

• 15 June – 15 September: every day 10:00–23:00
• 16 September – 14 June: every day 12:00–22:00

You need to be out of the water 15 minutes before closing. On 24, 25 and 31 December the baths are open 11:00–15:00, and on 1 January 16:00–22:00.

The late summer closing is worth knowing about. Egilsstaðir sits inland and gets some of the warmest evenings in Iceland, and an evening soak with the sun still up at ten o’clock is a different experience from an afternoon one. In winter, the lakeside is dark enough for northern lights from the pools.

What is actually there

Vök is not a large complex, and that is part of the appeal. You will find:

• Two floating pools on the lake with open views across Urriðavatn
• Two hot pools on the shore at different temperatures
• A steam bath
• A cold mist tunnel, which is gentler than a cold plunge
• A cold plunge in the lake itself, for those who insist
• An in-water pool bar
• A tea bar serving free herbal tea made with lake water
• Vök Bistro for a proper meal afterward

The water is untreated geothermal water with no chemicals added. Most of the woodwork was made from trees grown and felled in East Iceland. It is a well-built place, and it shows.

For what it is worth, I went into the lake on my second visit. It is cold. The cold mist tunnel is the sensible person’s version.

Vök Bistro

The bistro does soups, lighter dishes and proper mains with locally sourced ingredients. Opening hours follow the season:

• Summer (from mid-June to 30 September): every day 12:00–21:00
• Winter (1 October to early June): Friday to Sunday only, 12:00–21:00

The kitchen closes at 21:00 but soup of the day is always available while the baths are open. If you are visiting on a winter weekday, eat in Egilsstaðir.

How to get to Vök Baths

From Egilsstaðir, take Route 1 north towards Akureyri. Vök is on the left after about five kilometers, an eight-minute drive. There is a large car park. If you are coming from the south on the Ring Road, you pass through Egilsstaðir first.

Vök is a natural stop on a Ring Road trip. Most people driving the full circuit reach the east on day four or five and are ready for a break by then. See my Ring Road plan for how it fits.

What to combine it with in East Iceland

The east does not get the visitors it deserves, mainly because it is far from Keflavík. If you have made the effort to get here, do not rush through.

• Stuðlagil canyon is about an hour’s drive. Hike it in the morning and soak at Vök in the afternoon.
• Hengifoss waterfall is a 40-minute drive and a decent hike up. The Hengifoss food truck at the car park sells Iceland’s only sheep milk ice cream.
• The Wilderness Center is worth a night if you have one to spare.
• The fjord villages, Seyðisfjörður especially, are 30 to 45 minutes over the mountain pass.

I interviewed Guðlaug Margrét Jóhannsdóttir, who runs marketing at Vök, about the baths and her own favorite spots in the east. Read the interview here.

Frequently asked questions about Vök Baths

Any questions I have not answered? Reply to any of my newsletters, and I will tell you what I know.