Forest Lagoon Akureyri, Geothermal Spa in North Iceland

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Nestled in-between the tall birch and pine trees of the Vaðlaskógur forest, you’ll find Iceland’s new lagoon; the luxurious and scenic Forest Lagoon spa in North Iceland! A geothermal oasis, offering a toasty infinity-edge pool that overlooks the Eyjafjörður fjord and twinkling lights of Akureyri.

Where is Forest Lagoon?

Icelands new Forest Lagoon, also named Skógarböð Geothermal Spa is located in Eyjafjarðarsveit. Just opposite a large town in North Iceland named Akureyri. Roughly a 4 hour drive from the capital city of Reykjavik or a 3 hour trip from Egilstaðir in the east.

Forest Lagoon address & map

Vaðlaskógur, 605 Akureyri, Iceland

The lagoon’s opening times

The new Forest Lagoon is open from 10am- midnight every day, and can accommodate up to 200 visitors at a time.

Note: You have to exit the lagoon 30 minutes before closing time.

Is there free parking at Forest Lagoon?

Situated at the base of Forest Lagoon you’ll find a free car park with ample parking. Simply park up and follow the meandering cobbled path skyward towards the picturesque spa.

How much are tickets for forest lagoon?

General admission for adults is 6.590 kr (£38.40) each, for one adult and one child (up to 16 years old) its 9.880 kr (£57.56) or an adult ticket with one drink is 7.750 kr (£45.16)

Are children allowed at Forest Lagoon?

Children up to 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Children under 5 years old are free at Forest Lagoon but they must share a locker with their parent/guardian.

All children who can’t swim must use ‘floaties’ and no children under the age of 12 are allowed in the lagoon past 8pm.

Should I prebook Iceland’s new lagoon?

We visited the Forest Lagoon in May and managed to book our tickets an hour before we planned to visit. There were still plenty of tickets and time-slots available. I’m unsure if this was because we visited during shoulder season, or because its further from Reykjavik and therefor less travelled?

If you know the date and time you wish to attend, then I’d recommend you book your ticket ahead of time. The last thing you want is to be left disappointed that it’s fully booked.

What’s included in your ticket?

Unlike Blue lagoon, you don’t get a drink, facemask or towel included within your basic admission ticket price.

You can pack your own towel, or there is an option to hire one from reception for 900ISK (£5.22)

We used our quick drying and travel-friendly Dock & Bay towels, which are perfect for travelling.

Things to do at forest lagoon

Iceland’s Forest Lagoon has two swim up bars, one at either end of the pool. There is a larger main pool at 5,700 square feet, and a smaller 570 square foot raised pool which sits a little hotter. You’ll also find a cold plunge pool which is naturally fed from a creak, and a Finnish dry sauna which boasts stunning panoramic views over the lagoon and across to Akureryi.

How cold is the plunge pool?

The cold plunge pool at forest lagoon is 11°C (51.8F). Although that doesn’t sound too chilly, it definitely took some courage and bravery to keep your shoulders beneath the water. Cold water therapy has so many wonderful health benefits, so go for a dunk and give it a whirl. You might just surprise yourself at how long you last!

Water temperature at forest lagoon

The main pool is around 37°C (98.6F) but the smaller pool is slightly warmer at 40°C (104F) Both were lovely and hot, like a relaxing toasty bath. The hotter pool was my favourite as you could lay back and watch the tips of the trees swaying gently in the breeze. Super relaxing.

Places to eat at Forest Lagoon

There is an onsite restaurant named Forest Bistro/ Skógur Bistro which looks divine. Scandinavian in design with wooden cladding, simplistic styling and a view across the fjord to the mountains. A beautiful place to dine and relax whilst listening to the crackling fire.

The Bistro is open from 10am-11pm but the kitchen opening times vary depending on the day you visit. Monday-Thursday it’s 11am-9pm, and 1am-3pm and 4:30pm-9pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

How deep is the water at Forest Lagoon

You don’t need to be able to swim to visit Forest Lagoon, as the depth of water isn’t overly deep. It’s ranges from 120-130cm deep across the lagoon.

Where to stay near Forest Lagoon

Iceland’s new spa is a quick 5 minute drive from the centre of Akureyri, a town which has a plethora of accommodation options. We stayed at a fabulous boutique hotel called Hotel Akureyri Dynheimar, which was one of my favourite accommodations during our Iceland ring road trip. The room was compact, but it was fun, comfortable and stylish. I highly recommend!

Changing rooms at the lagoon

Forest Lagoon has the most beautiful changing rooms that I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Exceptionally clean with an exquisite design full of natural tones and textures. You have to remove your shoes as soon as you enter the changing rooms and leave them in the shoe storage rack at the entrance. Walk around the corner and you’ll find a large open space with plenty of wooden benches, if you prefer a little privacy there are only a couple of cubicles. Although they were always available when I was there.

There are separate male and female changing rooms, and anyone over the age of 6 must use the gender appropriate changing room.

Are the lockers free?

There are plenty of lockers inside the changing rooms to keep your belongings safe. They are free to use and are easily operated with your admission wrist band.

Showering at Forest Lagoon

You have to shower fully naked before you enter the lagoon. There is a row of open communal showers if you’re comfortable showering in front of others. If you’d rather not show everyone your birthday suit, there are a few cubicles with frosted glass walls and doors. Both options have free toiletries available for you to use.

Does the water damage your hair like Blue Lagoon?

Thankfully, no. It’s the silica inside the blue lagoon which causes your hair to dry up, and turns the water that beautiful cloudy blue colour. The crystal-clear geothermal water at Forest Lagoon doesn’t contain silica, so it won’t leave your hair parched and crispy.

Is Forest Lagoon busy?

We visited Forest Lagoon around 9pm, and although it was still enjoyable it did feel busy and slightly crowded. There was much more of a party atmosphere in comparison to the larger blue lagoon too.

Maybe that’s because we visited at night, or perhaps it was a reflection of the other visitors that were there at the time. There seemed to be a large group-tour of people that were getting drunk, swearing (when getting in the cold pool) and just being loud in general. The quietest spot we found to get away from the rowdiness was up in the smaller pool.

It could, potentially, have a completely different vibe during the day. Maybe then its more mellow and relaxing? However, when we visited it was certainly more of a lively party scene. There was roughly 50 people in the lagoon when we visited, so at full (200 people) capacity, I’m not sure how relaxing that would feel.

Final thoughts

It’s rare to be surrounded by trees in this country, so Forest Lagoon feels like a unique phenomenon in Iceland. The carefully crafted design and architecture has been spared no expense, making Forest Lagoon an ideal place for an Icelandic spa break.

Your experience here can range from a tranquil spa retreat to an upbeat party atmosphere, and it all hinges on the time of your visit. Should you find yourself amidst the serenity, you’ll have a relaxing experience forest bathing in the lagoon’s warm geothermal waters. Alternatively, if you’re in pursuit of a livelier atmosphere, secure an evening ticket instead.

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