The Secret Lagoon in winter

When is the Secret Lagoon open in winter 2026-27?

Daily from 10:00 to 19:00, from 1 October 2026 to 31 May 2027. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve it closes an hour early, at 18:00.

Those are the lagoon's own winter hours. Summer adds an hour in the evening, from 1 June, so the winter day is the shorter one. There is no time limit for individual guests: you can stay until closing, and the average stay is 1.5 to 2 hours. If you drive, aim to be changed and in the water with time to spare before 7pm.

Book ahead. The lagoon says pre-booking is highly recommended and that it cannot guarantee a place without one. The entry ticket is for a date and a time, so pick the slot you can actually reach on a winter road.

How much daylight is there at the Secret Lagoon in winter?

About 7 hours in November and 5 in December and January, per Visit South Iceland, with average temperatures of 1 to 3°C in South Iceland.

The days get short fast. By the winter solstice on 21 December, a 10am arrival at opening time means a soak in the blue half-light, with the sun barely up over the hills. Then it climbs low across the sky and drops again by mid-afternoon. We love that light on the steam.

On a tour this is the operator's problem, not yours: the timetables are built around the light. If you drive, plan the Golden Circle stops for the brightest hours and save the lagoon for the end of the day, when the dark doesn't matter. The Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) prints sunrise and sunset times for Reykjavik next to its aurora forecast.

Can you drive to the Secret Lagoon in winter?

Yes, the lagoon is open all winter and has private parking for guests during opening hours. Check road conditions on umferdin.is, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration's traffic site, before you set off.

The drive is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Reykjavik, per the ticket listing, on roads that can be icy, snowy or windy in winter. The Road and Coastal Administration runs winter service on its main roads and says snow clearing on regular service days should be done before morning traffic starts. Its traffic service answers on 1777. Visit Iceland points drivers to safetravel.is for alerts and to the Met Office for the weather, and its own short line is blunt: winter roads are tough.

Not keen on winter driving? Take a tour. The guided tour's listing says the operator may delay, alter or cancel for extreme weather and refunds in full if it cancels. Most tours here pick you up or meet you in Reykjavik, and the lagoon ticket is in the price on every bus tour. Compare them in our Reykjavik to Secret Lagoon guide.

Can you see the northern lights from the Secret Lagoon?

No. The lagoon closes in the evening in the northern lights season, and the operator says you will not see the lights from the pool. The day tour with an evening aurora hunt is the way to get both.

Visit Iceland puts the northern lights season between September and April and says activity is usually strongest around midnight and a few hours either side. The pool closes at 7pm in winter. The lagoon is on private property, and it reports any after-hours visit to the police.

The Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and aurora chase solves the timing. You get 2 hours at the lagoon by day, Kerid, Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir, then a break in Reykjavik and an evening hunt with hot chocolate. Per the listing, the 9am tour is back around 5.30pm and the aurora tour starts at 8.30pm; the 10.30am tour is back around 7pm and the aurora tour starts at 9.30pm. Sightings cannot be guaranteed, and if you see no lights you can join again on another night for free.

Kotie, on the aurora combo (Nov 2026): “Sven was a fantastic guide....born and bred in Iceland, he was a fountain of knowledge! Would highly recommend”

Check the Icelandic Met Office's aurora forecast at vedur.is on the day: it maps cloud cover and rates activity at midnight on a scale of 0 to 9.

Soak in the oldest pool in Iceland by day, then chase the northern lights the same night, with a free retry if the sky stays dark.

★ 4.6 · 12 hours · from $208

Explore the Golden Circle, lagoon and aurora chase → Tour details

What should you pack for the Secret Lagoon in winter?

Your swimsuit and towel, then layers for the Golden Circle stops: wool, a fleece and a waterproof, windproof jacket, plus a hat, gloves and ice grips, per Visit South Iceland.

The pool itself is easy in winter: the water is 38-40°C, and the changing rooms are indoors. The cold bit is the short walk out, so leave the dry layer and a hat where you can grab them. Hair is fine in the sulfur-rich water, the lagoon says. Take off silver jewelry, which can change color.

Visit South Iceland adds two winter items people forget: ice cleats or anti-slip soles, and good sunglasses, because the low sun reflects off snow and wet roads. You shower without a swimsuit before you go in, in communal showers separated for men and women; soap and hair dryers are provided. More in our what to bring guide.

Is the Secret Lagoon worth visiting in winter?

Yes. Winter is the season for it: hot water, cold air, steam rolling off the pool and Litli Geysir puffing away by the path.

The hot springs around the pool supply all of the water, and it flows through continuously, so the temperature holds whatever the weather does. Try the cold plunge pool if you dare, then sink back into the hot paddling pool. A path loops past the boiling springs, which are 100°C and not for bathing.

Pick by how you want the day to run. The table below sorts the winter options. For month by month advice, see our guide to the best time to visit, and for this year's costs, our 2026 prices post.

Frequently asked questions