Hidden Iceland has become a buzz phrase among road-trippers who would rather funnel their cash toward diesel and doughnuts than shell out triple-digit fees at the famous Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. As reported by the Daily Mail, one veteran driver who has circled the island twice says a shoestring approach not only protects the “hip pocket” but also unlocks sights most visitors never see. You will cover roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) if you make the complete circuit and detour into every fjord, fishing village and farmland track described below.
Plotting the 2,500-mile loop
- Start and finish: Reykjavík
- Main highway: Route 1, better known as the Ring Road
- Detours: Westfjords, Tröllaskagi Peninsula and black-sand beaches near Hauganes
- Fuel strategy: Top off whenever you pass a staffed station; card-only pumps often reject non-Icelandic debit and credit cards
Drivers who leave the Ring Road for the Westfjords should fill up in advance. The region is a spectacular empty quarter, but empty also sums up its services: the next gas, groceries or mechanic may be hours away.
Five bargain soaks that define Hidden Iceland
Hellulaug: the free fjord-edge bathtub
A narrow cliff road west of Bíldudalur brings you to Hellulaug, a seaside spring tucked below a low stone wall. There is no admission fee, no attendant and usually no one else around. Local advice calls for arriving stocked with snacks, water and a full fuel tank; the lone N1 pump nearby can be finicky with foreign cards. Combine the soak with a side trip to the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, but brace for hair-raising switchbacks and rockfall-prone ledges.
Akureyri Swimming Pool: mingle with locals for the price of a latte
Akureyri sits halfway around the Ring Road and offers a municipal complex that rivals luxe resorts—minus the resort price tag. Entry is about £8 and buys access to lap lanes, two waterslides, steam baths, hot tubs and a wince-inducing cold plunge. Icelandic pool etiquette requires a naked, soapy scrub in the communal showers before you step outside; first-timers blush, then realize no one’s looking.
Seljavallalaug: a 1923 mountain pool you hike to
Half-way between Selfoss and Vik, Seljavallalaug hides in a moss-green valley below Eyjafjallajökull. Park, shoulder your towel and walk 10–15 minutes along a riverbed to reach a century-old concrete rectangle warmed by a tepid trickle. The water is more lukewarm than hot, and algae makes the floor slippery, yet the setting—in which one pool wall is literally the mountain—earns a spot on any Iceland bucket list. Bring flip-flops and be prepared for messy, unattended changing sheds.
Hauganes Hot Pots: beach-front tubs for the cost of a beer
Picture steaming wooden tubs planted in black sand with views of humpback-rich Eyjafjörður. That’s Hauganes, a fishing hamlet on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. Pay roughly £6 at Baccalá Bar across the road (kids half price) and claim one of several tubs that siphon geothermal water straight from the earth. Facilities in town—café, restrooms, seafood smokehouse—make this a comfortable midday or sunset pause.
Hofsós Pool: the rising Instagram star
An infinity-edge design, 30 °C main pool and 39 °C hot tub are propelling Hofsós from local hangout to social-media sensation. The complex perches above Skagafjörður and costs about £8 for adults, £2.50 for children. Arrive early or late to dodge bus tours, and leave time for a short stroll through the historic trading-post village nearby.
Driving tips for tackling Iceland’s back roads
- Rent a 4×4 if you plan to venture into the Westfjords or highlands; many gravel sections are steep and can flood after rain.
- Carry a physical map or download offline navigation files; cell coverage fades in fjords and mountain passes.
- Stay under 50 kph in towns and 90 kph on paved highways—speeding tickets are hefty and mailed directly to the rental agency.
- Watch for sheep; they wander freely and have the right of way.
Money-saving hacks for hot-spring lovers
- Pack microfiber towels; rentals typically cost 500–1,000 ISK (£3–£6) each time.
- Buy a reusable water bottle—tap water is glacier-fresh, so skip bottled.
- Travel in shoulder season (late September or May) when pool crowds thin and car rentals drop.
- Follow local Facebook groups and gas-station bulletin boards for pop-up farmers’ markets that sell discounted produce and homemade bread.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book these pools in advance?
No. Except for Hofsós on peak summer weekends, most facilities operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Is nudity mandatory in Icelandic pools?
Only in the shower area. Swimming attire is required once you step outside. Will my foreign credit card work everywhere?
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but unmanned rural pumps sometimes refuse international cards. Have a chip-and-PIN card or buy prepaid fuel cards in larger towns. Are the pools open in winter?
Yes, though road closures can cut access. Check road.is each morning and always keep an eye on wind advisories.
Hidden Iceland rewards travelers who trade spa robes for hiking shoes. With a well-planned fuel strategy, microfiber towel and willingness to strip down in communal showers, you can complete a 2,500-mile odyssey that costs less than a single day at Reykjavík’s headline spas. Every mile reveals a different geothermal quirk—from a cliff-top bathtub to a black-sand beach hot pot—proving the world’s youngest land mass still has plenty of surprises beyond the postcard standards.
