Wondering whether the Vök Baths in Iceland is worth carving out hours of precious daylight? You’re in the right place.
I visited Iceland on a 9 day road trip around Ring Road and stopped at four different hot baths along the way. The Vok Baths was my favourite one.
I happened upon it completely by chance while staying in Seydisfjordur for a night. They exuded luxury, but were really affordable to us mid-range travellers.
The Vok Baths have hexagon shaped thermal hot springs floating infinity-pool style in Urridavatn lake. And the best part of all? There were hardly any other people there, it felt like a completely hidden gem!
In this completely honest (and unsponsored) Vok Baths review, you will find a detailed explanation of what the facilities are like, what is included/excluded in your admission ticket, the pros and cons of visiting the Vok Baths in Iceland, and of course some tips on how to visit.
The Vok Baths in Iceland
⭐Floating Geothermal Pools on a Lake (the only one like it)
⭐No Crowds (rare in a land of tour buses and selfie sticks)
⭐Affordable Luxury (splurge but stay on budget)
What are the Vok Baths like?
📍 Location: On Lake Urridavatn in the town of Egilsstadir in East Iceland. A short detour off Ring Road (aka Route 1).
The Vok Baths is a geothermal hot spring spa with three large pools. Two of them are shaped like hexagons and float in the water of Lake Urridavatn. The third is attached to the spa with a swim up bar.
I loved that the pools are fed by real geothermal water that are drawn from boreholes a few hundred metres away. The water doesn’t have sulfur and minerals in it like Blue Lagoon and many others, so there’s no eggy smell.
💡 Fun Fact: This hot spring is the only geothermal water in Iceland that is certified as drinkable. They actually brewed complimentary tea made from it when we arrived!
The pools range from 38 – 41 degrees Celsius (100 – 106 Fahrenheit), which felt amazing in the chilled Iceland air (even in summer). They also have a dock with a ladder into the lake so you can choose to do a cold plunge into Lake Urridavatn’s 5 – 10 degree water.
I ended up passing on the cold plunge haha!
The Facilities
Swim Up Bar:
The pool that’s attached to the building has a swim up bar with stools in the water to sit and grab a drink.
They serve wine, beer, champagne, and juices. We felt super fancy sipping champagne in the warm water.
Sauna and Mist Tunnel:
The Vok Baths also has a steam sauna outside by main pool. I’m not a fan of steam saunas because they make me feel claustrophobic but my mom and sister loved it.
There is no over-crowded feeling at the Vok Baths so you can comfortably sit in the sauna without having to wait your turn.
There is also a cool-water mist tunnel that you can cool down in if you’re not ready to commit to the full lake plunge like me.
Photogenic Stairs Leading into the Pools:
This may sound crazy, but one of the things I liked most about the Vok Baths was the stairs that led from the changing rooms down into the pools outside. It felt like a flawless transition, where I didn’t have to bundle in my towel and scurry out through the cold air into the pools. I kept thinking, wow they’ve thought of everything.
Not to mention, it is an incredibly photogenic spot. We spent a few minutes grabbing some pictures before swimming outside.
Changing Rooms:
Even the changing rooms felt luxurious. They have wrist-band activated lockers to keep your stuff in. The wrist band is water proof so you wear it out in the pools. You use it to add any drinks or food to your tab and then pay at the end.
I also found the showers impressively clean for a public spa, with no hair or anything sitting in the drains. There was nice smelling shampoo and conditioner provided and I was impressed by how well-stocked they kept everything.
The Vok Bistro and Tea Infusion Bar:
There is a boutique restaurant on-site to grab lunch or dinner before or after your time in the hot springs. It has large windows with views of the lake, which made it a lovely setting.
They serve lighter meals and snacks, like gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, smoothies, smoked salmon, and cakes.
Before leaving you also need to stop at the small tea infusion bar by the front desk. It’s included in the standard admission tickets. The tea is made from foraged ingredients from the region infused with the same geothermal water you find in the pools.
How Busy Are the Vok Baths?
I was pleasantly shocked by how few other people were there. Especially compared to other tourist sites and geothermal pools I had been to in Iceland so far.
There were maybe a total of 15 – 20 other people there at the same time as us. Spread out amongst the pools, that meant there were only a few other individuals in the same pool as us at once. When we went up to the swim up bar, we had it all to ourselves.
What is Included vs Excluded?
There is just one standard price admission to visit the Vok Baths. It Includes:
- Admission fee
- Tea from the infusion bar
The additional add-ons are:
- Towels – They are NOT included but you can rent one.
- Swimsuit rental
- Bathrobe rental
If you are travelling with kids, they are required to wear floaties. These are provided by the spa.
Plus if you book through the link below, you get free 24 hour cancellation. Plus you won’t get charged for it until 24 hours before.
🤩 Book here to get free 24 hour cancellation!
Pros of Visiting the Vok Baths:
1. Price is low compared to alternative options
When comparing the Vok Baths vs Blue Lagoon, the Vok Baths price is a fraction of the cost. I kept saying to my sister, “How is this place so cheap compared to the others??”
For example, right now as I write this in 2025, the cost to enter Vok Baths is about $60 USD, where to the comparable ticket at the Blue Lagoon is between $97 – $147 depending on the timeslot you choose.
2. Value and Uniqueness
Despite being so much cheaper in price, the value you get at the Vok Baths is equal to that at Blue Lagoon.
Now, I know there are a lot of people who say the Blue Lagoon isn’t worth visiting anymore because of the crowds, but I don’t agree. You can read more of what I think of the Blue Lagoon here.
The Blue Lagoon’s pool has a little more wow-factor because of the milky blue water rich in sulfur minerals and the black volcanic rock making up the pools edges. But the Vok Baths has its own unique wow factor, because the pools are literally floating in a lake.
Plus I found the facilities and hospitality felt a lot more personalized and less commercialized, so when combined with the lack of other visitors, it felt like an incredibly relaxing and euphoric spa experience.
3. No Crowds
I already mentioned this, but the Vok Baths had barely any other visitors there compared to other popular hot springs in Iceland like Blue Lagoon.
No lines greeted us at the entrance and we didn’t even need to book in advance. We just showed up and enjoyed a peaceful place that felt like a hidden treasure.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
4. Real Geothermal Fed Hot Springs
Some of the hot springs and hot tubs in Iceland are man-made and not truly filled with geothermal water.
For example, the Hoffell hot tubs on the south coast. I actually loved how gorgeous they were, and the scenery alone made it worth the visit, but it was simply artificially warmed water.
The floating pools themselves are obviously manufactured, but the water comes from boreholes dug thousands of metres deep into the earth.
Cons of the Vok Baths
1. Remote Location
The Vok Baths are very remote on the East Coast of Iceland. If you are sticking to the south coast, the location is a long way to get to.
However, depending who you ask, the remoteness can actually be a pro. It’s what makes the hot spring feel so special and hidden from the well-travelled path.
If you are driving the Ring Road route around the island like I did, it’s only a short detour off route
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
2. No insane volcanos or mountain scenery surrounding it
By this point in your trip to Iceland, you’d be getting used to seeing insane scenery like glaciers, waterfalls, and the town of Vik (I’ve never seen a prettier town). So the scenery surrounding the Vok Baths might feel a little lack luster.
Again, the pools are floating in a lake, so I mean, that’s pretty fricken cool on its own right? This outweighed the con for me personally.
Who is the Vok Baths for?
If you’re the kind of traveler who lives for wild adventures but secretly craves a touch of comfort at the end of the day, you’ll love the Vok Baths.
I found them perfect for travellers like me, who want something more low-key (and way less crowded) after visiting places like the Blue Lagoon, but still with that Icelandic wow-factor.
Plus, a total win for anyone who wants to brag about discovering Iceland’s best hidden hot spring. I’m bragging about it right now!
How to visit Vok Baths?
Location: On Lake Urridavatn
Closest Town: Egilsstadir
Seydisfjordur to Vok Baths: 35 minutes drive
Hofn to Vok Baths: 3 hours drive
You need a rental car to get to the Vok Baths in Eastern Iceland. Most tourists who visit are embarking on the ring road trip around Iceland, or at least driving out to the East Coast.
We found the cheapest rental car options on Auto Europe. It pulls all the best deals from the individual websites so you can see which ones are having a sale and what cars they have available for your trip.
While we didn’t book in advance, I’d say you should just to make sure you get your desired time slot. You never know what fluke could happen and you not get a spot.
Alternative Hot Springs
1. Blue Lagoon
It’s almost hard to compare the Vok Baths to the Blue Lagoon because they each have their own completely different perks.
Blue Lagoon is massive and has its distinct blue water, a face-mask bar, a swim-up bar, and full-on spa amenities. It’s way closer to Reykjavik, so it’s a really convenient stop for those with shorter Iceland itineraries or at the start/end of your road trip.
Plus there are some awesome spots to see lava in Iceland nearby!
It’s the most touristy and expensive hot spring experience in Iceland. But it is a bucket-list worthy experience so I’d read more about whether Blue Lagoon is worth visiting.
2. Mývatn Nature Baths
Located in North Iceland, the Mývatn Nature Baths are often dubbed the “Blue Lagoon of the North.” They have milky blue geothermal waters and views over a volcanic landscape. It’s a peaceful, less-touristy option amongst lava fields and craters.
3. GeoSea Baths (Húsavík)
Overlooking the ocean in Húsavík, GeoSea lets you soak in mineral-rich sea water while scanning the horizon for whales. The setting is dramatic and serene, with infinity pools blending into the sea and cliffs. It’s especially magical at sunset or after a day of whale watching.
My Experience at the Vok Baths
I travelled the entire Ring Road, saw the best sights near Vik and along the south coast, visited hidden fjord towns like Seydisfjordur, and saw a blue whale in Husavik. Somehow the Vok Baths still stand out as one of my favourite experiences in Iceland.
I think it comes down to the authenticity I felt there…
Most of the big sights in Iceland are filled with other tourists, and yet, the Vok baths were a spontaneous escape from that.
It felt more like we were enjoying the baths among local tourists, rather than hoards of people who had purchased tickets to visit it months in advance. Like my experience at the Blue Lagoon.
If you are travelling to the Eastern side of Iceland, you NEED to add the Vok Baths to your itinerary.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
FAQs About My Vok Baths Iceland Review
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
It’s recommended, especially during summer or weekends. But you don’t need to book it weeks in advance like other options. Just a few days or a week.
Is it family-friendly or more for couples/solo travelers?
It’s both. When I was there, it was mostly adults, although I’ve seen lots of reviews with kids included in the visit. Kids are required to wear floaties but they are provided.
Can I take photos inside the baths?
Yes, photography is allowed. Just be respectful of other guests. Pro tip: visit near sunset for glowy steam-on-the-lake shots.
How long should I plan to stay?
I stayed for a solid 2+ hours. You could easily spend more if you also eat at their bistro.
What should I bring with me?
Swimsuit, towel, and flip flops. They have towels and bathing suits to rent if you forget.
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Book the Vök Baths
If you’re heading to East Iceland and wondering whether the Vök Baths are worth your time… the answer is yes, a thousand times yes.
Out of all the hot springs I tried during my Ring Road trip, this was the one I keep thinking about. Between the peaceful setting, the floating geothermal pools, and the thoughtful design of every detail, it felt like a hidden slice of luxury made just for mid-range adventurers like us.
No crowds, no fuss, just pure relaxation with an Icelandic twist.
👉 Check availability and book your visit to the Vök Baths here. You won’t regret it.
Read More About Adventuring in Iceland:
- 22 EPIC Day Trips From Reykjavik (Half and Full Days)
- My Honest Review of Whale Watching Tours in Husavik Iceland
- Is Iceland’s Blue Lagoon Worth It? My Honest Review
- My Honest Review of the Vok Baths in Iceland
- 19 Amazing Things to Do in Vik, Iceland
- An EPIC 4 Day Iceland Itinerary For Summer
- How to See Lava in Iceland: The ULTIMATE Guide!
- The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide (With 7-10 Day Itineraries)
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