From Reykjavik to the lagoon

How far is the Secret Lagoon from Reykjavik?

About 1 hour 20 minutes by car, per the GetYourGuide ticket listing. The lagoon is in Flúðir, which Visit South Iceland places about 25 minutes off the Ring Road.

Flúðir is a village of about 800 people in Hrunamannahreppur, in the farm country of South Iceland. Geothermal heat runs its greenhouses and, per Visit South Iceland, the country's biggest mushroom farm. The lagoon itself sits at Hverahólmi, a geothermal area on Hvammsvegur.

It is not on the classic Golden Circle loop, but it is close to it. That is why so many Golden Circle tours add the lagoon as a stop, and why tour days run 8 to 12 hours.

How do you get to the Secret Lagoon by car?

Head east out of Reykjavik into South Iceland; the address is Hvammsvegur, 845 Flúðir, about 25 minutes off the Ring Road. The lagoon has private parking for guests during opening hours.

Set the satnav to the Secret Lagoon or the address and give yourself a margin: tickets are timed, and the lagoon cannot promise entry outside your slot. A few things to know:

• Parking is for guests during opening hours only. No camping and no overnight parking.
• Camping is at the Flúðir campground, 1.5 km away, and Garður guesthouse (4 double rooms) is next door.
• Opening hours are 10:00 to 19:00 in winter (1 October to 31 May) and 10:00 to 20:00 in summer.
• The springs around the pool are 100°C. Stay on the path.

With a car, the plan we like is to add the lagoon to your own Golden Circle loop and soak at the end of the day. The entry ticket has no time limit, so you set the pace.

Can you take a public bus to the Secret Lagoon?

Yes, but the lagoon itself says the bus between Selfoss and Flúðir is very limited. Strætó runs route 51 from Reykjavik to Selfoss, then route 72 from Selfoss to Flúðir.

Strætó, the Icelandic bus company, changed its countryside network on 1 January 2026: route 51 now runs only between Reykjavik and Selfoss, with more trips on weekdays, and route 72 serves Selfoss to Flúðir. Check both legs in the route planner on straeto.is for your date before you rely on them, and plan the trip back too.

A taxi is the other option. The lagoon's FAQ calls it the most luxurious and therefore most expensive way to get there. For most people, a tour costs less and adds the Golden Circle sights.

Which Golden Circle tours stop at the Secret Lagoon, and for how long?

Nine tours on this site stop at the lagoon. You get 1.5 hours on the most booked tour, 2 hours on the day trip, the aurora combo and the private tour with 6 stops, and a fixed 2pm slot on the private tour.

Here is each one by what you get in the water:

• 1.5 hours, ticket included. The Golden Circle, Kerid and Secret Lagoon tour, rated 4.8 from 6,610 reviews, from $133.
• 2 hours, ticket included. The Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon day trip, from $146, and the aurora combo, from $208.
• At the end of the day, ticket included. The guided tour (rated 4.9 from 232 reviews) and the small-group tour with Faxi waterfall.
• Before Kerid, ticket included. The small-group day tour, back in Reykjavik around 7pm.
• Private, ticket included. The private tour with a farm market, for up to 4.
• Private, ticket not included. The private Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon tour (a 2pm slot) and the private tour with 6 stops (2 hours). Add the lagoon entry when you book.

Kerid crater first, then 1.5 hours in the Secret Lagoon, Strokkur, Gullfoss and Thingvellir. The lagoon entry and the Kerid ticket are in the price.

★ 4.8 · 10 hours · from $133

Explore the Golden Circle, Kerid and Secret Lagoon tour → Tour details

What is the Golden Circle route with the Secret Lagoon?

Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir area with Strokkur, and Gullfoss, with the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir as an extra stop. Some tours add Kerid crater, Faxi waterfall or Fridheimar.

The order changes from tour to tour, per the listings:

• Golden Circle, Kerid and Secret Lagoon: Kerid crater, the lagoon, Strokkur, Gullfoss, then Thingvellir. Strokkur spouts about 30 meters every 8 minutes, per the listing.
• The day trip: Thingvellir (45 minutes), Geysir (1 hour), Gullfoss (45 minutes), then 2 hours at the lagoon.
• The small-group day tour: Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir, the lagoon, then Kerid.
• The small-group tour: Thingvellir, Faxi waterfall, Geysir, Gullfoss, then the lagoon.
• The private tour with 6 stops: Thingvellir, Kerid, tomato soup at Fridheimar, Geysir and Gullfoss, a visit to BRU horse farm, then 2 hours at the lagoon.

Finishing in the warm water after a day of wind at the waterfalls is the classic order, and it is a good one. Bryony, Nov 2026, on the most booked tour: "All the sights were incredible and we had plenty of time to relax at the Secret Lagoon."

Do Secret Lagoon tours pick you up at your hotel?

Several do. The guided tour, the small-group day tour and the private tours collect you from your accommodation; the most booked tour, the day trip and the newer small-group tour also run from set bus stops in Reykjavik.

Where each one starts, per the listings:

• Golden Circle, Kerid and Secret Lagoon: Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg (on Þórunnartún), or pickup if you choose that option.
• The day trip: BSÍ Bus Terminal, at least 15 minutes before departure, or pickup.
• The small-group tour: Bus stop 1, City Hall (Ráðhúsið).
• The guided tour and the small-group day tour: pickup from a long list of Reykjavik hotels and bus stops.
• The private tours: pickup at your accommodation in Reykjavik.

Check the pickup list when you book. If your hotel is not on it, choose the nearest numbered bus stop, and be there a little early.

Is it safe to drive to the Secret Lagoon in winter?

Yes, with care and a check before you set off. Look at the road conditions from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin) on umferdin.is, also known as road.is, and the weather on vedur.is.

Winter roads in Iceland can be snowy or icy, and Visit Iceland's SafeTravel advice puts it plainly: know the road and weather conditions before you drive. SafeTravel also runs a travel conditions map and an app, and the emergency number is 112. Daylight is short in midwinter, so start early enough to drive both ways in the light.

A tour takes the driving off your hands. Operators may change or cancel a day for weather, and the guided tour's listing promises a full refund if it cancels for unsafe conditions. Catherine, Apr 2026, on the guided tour: "We were so lucky with the weather; it was a perfect sunny day and the snowy landscape was stunning." For more on the season, see this winter at the Secret Lagoon and when to go.

All Secret Lagoon tours from Reykjavik compared

Ten ways to reach the lagoon from Reykjavik: nine tours plus the self-drive ticket. Prices run from $33 for the ticket to $1,312 per group for a private day.

From-prices are GetYourGuide prices in USD, per person unless marked per group. Every option cancels free up to 24 hours before.

Frequently asked questions