Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach

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Things to Do,, Reykjavik, Iceland511 6630

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Hot tub Photo - Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach, Reykjavik, Iceland

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Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach

by Joy S

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

July 25, 2013

Best of IgoUgo Imagine this - you can go to the beach and swim in the sea in Reykjavik at any time of year - whatever the weather, whatever the temperature, the water will be warm! We wanted to see this interesting beach for ourselves.We visited on the same ...Read more Imagine this - you can go to the beach and swim in the sea in Reykjavik at any time of year - whatever the weather, whatever the temperature, the water will be warm! We wanted to see this interesting beach for ourselves.

We visited on the same morning we went to the Perlan. If you stroll through the woods behind this tourist building, you eventually come to the coast and the geothermal beach. It is open in summer every day between 10 am and 7 pm. Summer in Reykjavik is 15 May to 15 August. Opening times are reduced in winter. Admission is free in summer, in winter it costs 500 ISK.

The sea around Reykjavik is far too cold to tempt swimmers - except for the sea here. Apparently there is insufficient heat from the sun to warm up the sea, but the volcanoes, geysers and natural hot springs can do this job instead. Iceland takes advantage of these naturally occuring heat supplies - in Reykjavik they use geothermal energy to power the whole city and keep it warm too.

A hot stream that runs from the tanks at the Perlan was a very popular bathing place for Reykjavik residents in the 1980's. It was closed in 1985, until someone had the idea of having a beach here. They built a seawall, formed an artificial lagoon and diverted hot geothermal water into the lagoon to make the temperature of the water nice and warm.

The beach opened in 2000, after they shipped in sand from Morocco to make it golden, sandy and beautiful. There is a hot tub and some changing rooms. The temperature of the hot tub is 38 degrees centigrade all year round. The temperature of the sea is around 16 degrees centigrade.

We brought swimming costumes, but none of us fancied a dip when we got there. It was icy cold, the wind was blowing and we just could not bear the thought. There were a few people in the hot tub - those standing looking at them were wearing fur hats and were wrapped up! Some hardy souls also sprinted across the beach and into the sea. I couldn't understand how you could actually get from the changing rooms to the sea and not freeze en-route.

Smoking, alcohol , bikes and dogs are not allowed on this beach. It was too cold for us to take a dip, but it is a lovely place and even if you just dip your fingers into the warm sea water, it is still quite an experience. Close

From journal Iceland's Natural Wonders

Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach

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Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach