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These Hot Springs Are the Perfect Blue Lagoon Alternative—and They Have Stunning Fjord Views and Seal ‘Supervisors'
Along with whale watching and taking in cinematic landscapes, soaking in geothermal hot springs is one of the best things you can do while in Iceland—and there's one hot spring where you can do all three.
Located 50 minutes north of Reykjavik off Ring Road, Hvammsvík Hot Springs sits on a hilly peninsula that juts out into the waters of the picturesque Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord). Set on a 1,200-acre estate, this remote nature resort (which opened in 2022 with a modernist bathhouse and beachfront baths) may seem like the only hint of human habitation around—but the site has deep roots in Icelandic history. It was first settled by the Vikings in the 11th century, and served as an Allied naval base (codenamed 'Falcon Beach) during World War II.
Now, however, it's a serene place to soak in toasty waters amid Iceland's stunning scenery.
Fronted by the fjord's sculpted walls and sheltered waters, eight rock-rimmed natural hot springs sit right by the shore, ranging from a lukewarm 95 degrees Fahrenheit to a sizzling 104 degrees. Bathers can cool off in some of the lower pools, where lapping waves keep the temperatures mild (at high tide, some even become completely submerged), or walk down the beach for a salty cold plunge into the Atlantic Ocean.
While you're relaxing, you can watch the waves for curious seals—they're so common, the staff call them the "supervisors" and "quality managers." And if you're really lucky, you may see whales. Despite its name, Whale Fjord isn't known for whale watching, and it used to be the site of a whaling station. But staff say whales have been spotted in the area, with humpbacks finally making a return after a 25-year absence.
For night sky enthusiasts, the hot springs are from enough from Reykjavík to have only low levels of light pollution, and the night skies are clear enough for the northern lights in winter.
Amenities in the art-filled bathhouse include showers and changing areas (both communal and private), a geothermal sauna, a swim-up bar slinging drinks like cocktails and seaweed-derived wellness shots, and a bistro for Icelandic eats like seafood stew and open-faced sourdough sandwiches. Activities such as ocean swimming sessions and stand-up paddle boarding, as well as Wim Hof breathing and cold endurance classes, are on offer. Guests can also try their hand at the stone-lifting Atlas Challenge to win prizes like complimentary drinks and even free admission for a year.
If you don't want to make the drive back to Reykjavik, a number of historic farmhouses and cabins—tastefully updated to preserve their heritage while having modern creature comforts—provide places to rest your head overnight. Perched atop an elevated rise with panoramic views from its private hot spring and glass-walled living room, the Hilltop House not only has the best views on the property, but also the coolest backstory. Originally built by the British Navy, the cabin is said to have been the site of secret meetings held by Winston Churchill.
Weather permitting (this is Iceland, after all), Hvammsvík Hot Springs is open daily throughout the year. Admission starts around $65 USD and includes unlimited hot springs and sauna access. To reach Hvammsvík, you'll either need a rental car or you can book transfers with a tour operator like Reykjavik Excursions.
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Travel + Leisure
5 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
These Hot Springs Are the Perfect Blue Lagoon Alternative—and They Have Stunning Fjord Views and Seal ‘Supervisors'
Along with whale watching and taking in cinematic landscapes, soaking in geothermal hot springs is one of the best things you can do while in Iceland—and there's one hot spring where you can do all three. Located 50 minutes north of Reykjavik off Ring Road, Hvammsvík Hot Springs sits on a hilly peninsula that juts out into the waters of the picturesque Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord). Set on a 1,200-acre estate, this remote nature resort (which opened in 2022 with a modernist bathhouse and beachfront baths) may seem like the only hint of human habitation around—but the site has deep roots in Icelandic history. It was first settled by the Vikings in the 11th century, and served as an Allied naval base (codenamed 'Falcon Beach) during World War II. Now, however, it's a serene place to soak in toasty waters amid Iceland's stunning scenery. Fronted by the fjord's sculpted walls and sheltered waters, eight rock-rimmed natural hot springs sit right by the shore, ranging from a lukewarm 95 degrees Fahrenheit to a sizzling 104 degrees. Bathers can cool off in some of the lower pools, where lapping waves keep the temperatures mild (at high tide, some even become completely submerged), or walk down the beach for a salty cold plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. While you're relaxing, you can watch the waves for curious seals—they're so common, the staff call them the "supervisors" and "quality managers." And if you're really lucky, you may see whales. Despite its name, Whale Fjord isn't known for whale watching, and it used to be the site of a whaling station. But staff say whales have been spotted in the area, with humpbacks finally making a return after a 25-year absence. For night sky enthusiasts, the hot springs are from enough from Reykjavík to have only low levels of light pollution, and the night skies are clear enough for the northern lights in winter. Amenities in the art-filled bathhouse include showers and changing areas (both communal and private), a geothermal sauna, a swim-up bar slinging drinks like cocktails and seaweed-derived wellness shots, and a bistro for Icelandic eats like seafood stew and open-faced sourdough sandwiches. Activities such as ocean swimming sessions and stand-up paddle boarding, as well as Wim Hof breathing and cold endurance classes, are on offer. Guests can also try their hand at the stone-lifting Atlas Challenge to win prizes like complimentary drinks and even free admission for a year. If you don't want to make the drive back to Reykjavik, a number of historic farmhouses and cabins—tastefully updated to preserve their heritage while having modern creature comforts—provide places to rest your head overnight. Perched atop an elevated rise with panoramic views from its private hot spring and glass-walled living room, the Hilltop House not only has the best views on the property, but also the coolest backstory. Originally built by the British Navy, the cabin is said to have been the site of secret meetings held by Winston Churchill. Weather permitting (this is Iceland, after all), Hvammsvík Hot Springs is open daily throughout the year. Admission starts around $65 USD and includes unlimited hot springs and sauna access. To reach Hvammsvík, you'll either need a rental car or you can book transfers with a tour operator like Reykjavik Excursions.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
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North Korea just opened a beach resort for 20,000 people. But who will visit?
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The Kalma beach resort is next to an international airport, another indication the project is aimed at attracting foreign currency. International attendance at the ribbon-cutting was limited to the Russian ambassador and staff, a nod to Pyongyang's growing alignment with Moscow amid deepening isolation from the West under Kim's authoritarian regime. In 2024 UN human rights chief Volker Turk described North Korea under Kim's rule as 'a stifling, claustrophobic environment, where life is a daily struggle devoid of hope.' Last year, small groups of Russian tourists visited North Korea for three-day ski holidays at Maskiryong resort, which has been a long-standing tourist attraction since its opening in December 2013. These, like all tourist experiences in North Korea, were heavily monitored and controlled by the government. Returning tourists told CNN that they were subject to strict rules about what they could and could not photograph and were required to watch a choreographed dance performance by North Korean children in addition to the outdoor activities. 'Wonsan-Kalma is open to just North Koreans for now, but we should not be surprised to see Russians at the resort in the not-too-distant future,' said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow with the 38 North program at the Stimson Center. 'More broadly, the opening of a major beach resort like Wonsan-Kalma helps to reinforce the state media narrative of Kim's people-first policy and helps to balance out his greater focus on building up national defense,' Lee added. In a country where international tourism has been open mostly to Russian nationals since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and where domestic travel is heavily restricted, the new development raises familiar questions about access, audience, and economic feasibility. 'The initial target for this resort is going to be the privileged domestic elite of Pyongyang, such as party officials and other high-ranking figures,' said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean Studies at South Korea's Kyungnam University. 'The ceremony of the Wonsan-Kalma resort reflects Kim Jong Un's vision of 'socialist civilization' and is part of his strategic effort to seek economic breakthroughs through the tourism industry.' North Korea's most notable experiment with international tourism came in the late 1990s, when it opened the scenic Mount Kumgang area on its southeastern coast to visitors from South Korea. The project was hailed as a rare symbol of inter-Korean engagement during a period of cautious rapprochement. Nearly two million South Koreans traveled to the site over the next decade, providing Pyongyang with a critical stream of hard currency. 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According to its website, the first tour is scheduled to begin on July 7 and will last eight days. Travelers will fly from Pyongyang to Wonsan, spend four nights at the resort, and visit the nearby Masikryong Ski Resort. Kim said an expansion of North Korea's tourism zones would be formalized during the ruling party's next congress, likely in the next few months. The lessons learned at Kalma would also be used to develop 'promising large-scale tourist and cultural zones' in other parts of the country, Kim noted. The personal investment of North Korea's leader was underscored by at least seven visits to the Kalma construction site, where Kim offered what state media called 'on-the-spot guidance' and pushed for 'world-class' standards. For Kim's regime, the resort's completion is perceived at home as a significant win and opportunity to showcase development amid stiff international sanctions. In another dimension of symbolism, the nation's leader was joined by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, who is widely seen as his likely successor. 'The apparent full attendance of Kim Jong Un's family at the event implies that the project is intended to carry forward the legacy of his predecessors and be sustained for future generations,' explained Lim of Kyungnam University. Plans for the resort were first announced in 2013 as part of Kim's broader vision to transform Wonsan, a historically significant port city, into a hub of economic and leisure activity. The project was delayed several times, most recently because of the pandemic and international sanctions targeting North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Despite the projections of glamour across the new resort and images of an enigmatic leader touring wave pools and waterslides, experts expressed skepticism about the destination's prospects. 'Whether this resort will provide Kim Jong Un with his much-needed economic gain in the long-term, however, remains to be seen: Wonsan-Kalma is hardly a tourist hotspot in the first place,' said Dr. Edward Howell, a North Korea expert at the University of Oxford. 'Of note, since 2020, Kim Jong Un has adopted an increasingly severe approach towards social control; quashing any signs of the virus of outside information and ideologies entering the DPRK,' Howell emphasized. 'If any Western tourists do come to the resort, the ruling regime will no doubt want to ensure that their actions and movements remain regulated and controlled.'
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