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The Vök Baths are maybe one of the best sizzling springs in Iceland — and my private favourite. I don’t say that frivolously; I’ve been to a couple of dozen of Iceland’s swimming pools!
A spectacularly designed geothermal spa on the banks of lovely Lake Urriðavatn, the Vök Baths one way or the other handle to do every little thing proper — plus lots of surprises.
For starters, this a part of the nation isn’t recognized for its geothermal exercise. Eastern Iceland couldn’t be extra totally different from the Golden Circle, a serious geothermal vacation spot with spas in each course.
But locals within the East all the time knew there have been patches on Lake Urriðavatn that didn’t freeze through the lengthy Arctic winters. Vök (plural vakir) is the Icelandic phrase for ice-free patches of water. Surprise! There was all the time geothermal energy right here!
The Vök Baths opened in July 2019 with geothermal floating swimming pools above these vakir, vibrant turquoise hexagons within the inky-blue lake, every boasting an infinity view. In reality, they’re the primary and solely floating swimming pools in Iceland!
You get the identical advantages as lots of the different well-known sizzling springs in Iceland. An in-pool bar? Check. Sauna? Check. Cold tunnels with a cold mist, just like the Sky Lagoon? Check.
But what makes the Vök Baths distinctive? The reality that you would be able to leap into the lake from the floating swimming pools! That, and you’ll put collectively a customized tisane on the tea bar, order some fabulous pork stomach bao, or sip a neon pink and blue slushy such as you’re a child once more.
What I beloved about this place is that they get every little thing proper.
Let’s check out what makes the Vök Baths so superior. You can guide your ticket right here.
Visiting the Vök Baths, Iceland
What first struck me in regards to the Vök Baths was how placing the constructing is. Designed by Reykjavik-based Basalt Architects and Design Group Italia, it’s a contemporary masterpiece that blends seamlessly into the untouched panorama.
Begin by descending into the constructing. Yes, you stroll downhill into the bottom right here, an expensive hobbit-like hideaway topped with a grass roof.
The setting is Nordic design at its greatest: heat picket partitions, giant glass home windows, vegetation and quiet calmness.
To your left, the infusion bar — a bar the place you may put collectively your personal customized tea. Hot or iced, select from native herbs like birch or angelica, black present or nettle. It’s free and limitless for guests.
And the water that makes the tea is geothermal water from Lake Urriðavatn! This is definitely the one licensed drinkable sizzling spring water in Iceland.
To your proper, the on-site restaurant, Vök Bistro, serves quite a lot of small plates made with native elements. More on that beneath.
You register and get your wristband. Like most Icelandic spas, this serves as your locker key and bank card.
You take your footwear off on the way in which into the altering room, undress and bathe totally, throw your bathing swimsuit on, and from there, step immediately into the nice and cozy water.
Geothermal Pools on the Vök Baths
There are a number of swimming pools on the Vök Baths. From the altering rooms, you enter the principle swimming pools adjoining to the constructing. These are technically one large pool with a small passage connecting the 2, and the temperature ranges from 38-38.5 C (100.4-101.3 F).
These swimming pools are adjoining to the outside pool bar, and you’ll simply depart the pool to go to the steam bathtub (which is 50 C/122 F) or the chilly water spray tunnel (10 C/50 F).
Further again are the pathways to the 2 floating swimming pools. Prepare to get chilly if it’s a wet day just like the day I visited! The raindrops will really feel like tiny needles piercing your pores and skin!
But you’ll be relieved as quickly as you get into the recent water, as a result of these are the most well liked swimming pools on the Vök Baths — the primary one is 39-40 C (102.2-104 F) and the additional one is 41 C (105.8 F).
Both of the swimming pools have infinity edges, and sure, you may leap into the lake! There is a ladder on the deck between the 2 swimming pools, giving you quick access out of the water.
Of course, preserve security in thoughts on the Vök Baths, particularly in the event you’ve by no means gone swimming in chilly water earlier than.
Vök Baths Swim-Up Bar
Yes, the Vök Baths have an in-water pool bar, so that you don’t have to depart the heat of the water to seize a drink. Most sizzling springs in Iceland have this, together with the standard drinks: beer, champagne, Collab sodas.
But this time my pal Amanda spots children ingesting slushies — vibrant pink and blue frozen drinks. OH HELL YES, WE’RE GETTING TWO OF THOSE.
And whereas I doubt I’d seize a slushy on my subsequent journey to 7-11, there’s simply one thing magical about consuming a frozen drink whereas in toasty heat water! Definitely a novel bathing expertise.
Vök Bistro
Yes, the Vök Baths have a restaurant on web site — the Vök Bistro. If you’re arriving after a busy day, like we did, it is a nice choice for dinner.
The restaurant serves dishes made with primarily natural elements from native producers.
Here they serve quite a lot of small plates, and advocate that two folks share a minimum of two dishes.
Some of the dishes embrace hummus with pine nuts, pomegranate and pita; soup of the day with bread; baked “brie” (an area smooth cheese much like brie) with grapes, lemon thyme, and walnuts; rooster wings; pork and rooster bao buns; and a charcuterie plate.
There can also be a kids’s menu: mini pizzas, rooster nuggets, fries, and so on.
Amanda and I ordered the pork stomach bao bun and the Vök premium plate (the charcuterie plate). And a number of Collab sodas, in fact!
The pork bao buns have been incredible. Well-made, bursting with taste, and really totally different from what you often see in Iceland.
We loved these a lot, we promptly ordered one other plate of fried rooster bao buns! They have been additionally scrumptious.
As for the Vök premium plate, a few of the meats and cheeses have been tasty, and others have been fairly unremarkable. If you’re used to consuming a number of tagliere in Italy (yep, that may be me), you’ll most likely be a bit disenchanted. Go with the bao as a substitute!
Changing Rooms on the Vök Baths
Most of Iceland’s sizzling springs and swimming swimming pools have communal altering amenities and open-air showers. Public nudity is a part of the tradition in Iceland, and altering out within the open is nothing to be ashamed of.
So what are the altering rooms like on the Vök Baths? For probably the most half they’re open air, with lockers and benches. You take your footwear off on the way in which in. Your wristband features as a locker key, each opening and locking it.
However — there are many closed bathe stalls that provide privateness for each altering and showering. This is uncommon in locker rooms in Iceland, so take benefit! The showers provide shampoo, conditioner, and physique wash.
You should bathe bare and wash your self earlier than going into the swimming pools. This is a strict rule all through Iceland. No exceptions.
You enter the primary sizzling swimming pools from the altering rooms, and there are racks by the exit the place you may retailer your towel.
Vök Baths Price and Packages
The Vök Baths have three totally different ranges of pricing:
Standard admission prices 5,990 ISK ($41 USD) and contains admission and tea drinks from the tisane bar. You can guide a typical admission ticket right here.
Comfort admission prices 6,890 ISK ($47 USD) and contains admission, tea drinks from the tisane bar, and a drink from the pool bar (chosen drinks solely).
Premium admission prices 9,990 ISK ($69 USD) and contains admission, tea drinks from the tisane bar, a drink from the pool bar (chosen drinks solely), and a premium platter at Vök Bistro.
Which bundle is greatest?
Standard admission is greatest right here, in my view. I added up the costs and it doesn’t prevent any cash to purchase the costlier packages.
At some geothermal spas, it may be good worth to improve, nevertheless it doesn’t make a distinction on the Vök Baths.
Just purchase a budget ticket and get the meals and drinks you really need. You can guide normal admission tickets right here.
What to Bring to the Vök Baths
All it’s essential deliver is your bathing swimsuit and a journey towel, although you may hire both of these for 900 ISK ($6) every. Some folks deliver flip-flops, however you go straight into the water from the altering room, so I don’t assume they’re crucial. Toys aren’t allowed on the Vök Baths.
Looking to do some pictures? You’ll most likely desire a dry bag to your DSLR, as once more, you go straight into the water from the altering room. You may also deliver a waterproof telephone protector in case your telephone isn’t waterproof.
Finally, the Vök Baths are a very talked-about place to drone, because of the juxtaposition of the turquoise hexagonal floating swimming pools with the inky-blue lake.
Droning on the Vök Baths is prohibited throughout opening hours, and the workers requests you contact them earlier than you drone.
Vök Baths FAQ
You should guide tickets prematurely between June 1 and August 31. It’s a good suggestion to guide tickets forward of time, no matter season. You can guide them right here.
The Vök Baths haven’t any age restrictions, however kids below 16 have to be accompanied by a father or mother or guardian. Bring the entire household!
Standard admission is 5,990 ISK ($41 USD) per individual, and you may guide right here.
Temperatures within the swimming pools vary from 38-41 C (100.4-105.8 F) and the floating swimming pools are hottest.
Yes. Towel or swimsuit rental is 900 ISK ($6 USD). They additionally hire heat hats, that are really useful on freezing days, for 500 ISK ($3.50 USD).
The Vök Baths are a five-minute drive from downtown Egilsstaðir, 500 meters from the Ring Road (Route 1). I like to recommend spending the evening in Egilsstaðir.
Where to Stay in Egilsstaðir
Egilsstaðir is an important cease when driving the Ring Road in Iceland. This is the most important settlement in a sparsely populated a part of Iceland, and it’s a sensible place to spend the evening earlier than persevering with your street journey.
If you’re on a funds: Lyngás Guesthouse. I stayed right here and it jogged my memory of a faculty dorm, however in a great way. Clean easy rooms, a kitchen on every ground, loads of shared bathrooms and showers. The subsequent morning, seize breakfast at Skálinn Diner, the 50s-style American diner throughout the road!
If you need one thing a bit nicer: Hérað – Berjaya Iceland Hotels. This lodge options rooms with ensuite baths and comfortable beds, a comfortable foyer space, and a restaurant dishing up scrumptious breakfasts and dinners.
See extra locations to remain within the city of Egilsstaðir right here.
More Things to Do in East Iceland
I used to be stunned how a lot I adored East Iceland. I believe it’s my favourite space in Iceland! The Eastfjords are a few of the most beautiful driving I skilled in Iceland.
Stuðlagil Canyon is the good place within the surrounding space — a just lately found canyon with a vibrant turquoise river. Well well worth the hourlong hike every method alongside the east facet, or simply go to the west facet for a fast picture op. I wrote an entire put up about it right here.
Seyðisfjörður is completely cute. This small city and artsy commune is perched on a fjord, simply half-hour from Egilsstaðir. The drive there’s a little bit of an journey.
Cool waterfalls abound within the East. Gufufoss and Fardagafoss close to Seyðisfjörður, Rijúkandi and Stuðlafoss close to Stuðlagil Canyon, Folaldafoss and Nykurhylsfoss (Sveinsstekksfoss) close to Djúpivogur…you’re spoiled for alternative. And some require no mountain climbing in any respect.
Petra’s Stone Collection is a beautiful little museum a number of hours south of Egilsstaðir, that includes an unbelievable rock and mineral assortment put collectively by one badass girl. It’s a cool place to pop into whereas driving by the spectacular Eastfjords.
Are the Vök Baths Worth It?
Let me inform you one thing: the Vök Baths are SO price it that in the event you’re solely visiting one sizzling spring in Iceland, I’d select right here. Seriously.
The Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon are cool, however not as cool because the Vök Baths. And it’s considerably higher than the Myvatn Nature Baths.
Book your ticket to the Vök Baths right here — and luxuriate in each minute! I can’t wait to return.
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Have you been to the Vök Baths in Iceland? Any solutions?