Best Hot Tub and Spa Stays in Blönduós, Iceland
Blönduós is a small town on the Ring Road in North Iceland, and the spa label needs a plain reading: there is no wellness resort here. What the stays offer are hot tubs, a few private saunas and a summer outdoor pool. Gladheimar Cottages sits by the Blanda river with geothermal hot tubs, Laxás Cottage is a renovated holiday home with an outdoor hot tub, and Hvammur 2 Guesthouse has a shared hot tub and a shared kitchen. Summerhouse Torfalundur and Hunavellir Guesthouse complete the shortlist, and I would choose by whether you want a private tub or a shared one.
Blönduós is a small town in North Iceland on the Ring Road, set where the river meets the Húnaflói fjord. It is quiet and practical, with guesthouses, cottages and views, and it works as a stop between the Westfjords, Akureyri and the highlands.
Where to stay
Riverside and hillside hot tubs
What spa means in Blönduós
Gladheimar Cottages is the most reviewed stay here with 559 reviews, and it is the most spa-like in character. The cottages sit beside the Blanda river, just off the Ring Road, and each has a private kitchen, a sofa and a furnished terrace. Most have a geothermal hot tub and a barbecue, and some have a private sauna. Its score of 7.5 is modest, so I would read recent comments, but the combination of hot tub, kitchen and river views is the closest you will find to a private soak in town.
Laxás Cottage is a few minutes from Blönduós, a renovated three-bedroom holiday home with a living room, a private entrance, parquet floors, air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen and an outdoor hot tub, with sea, lake and mountain views. It scores 8.9 from 155 reviews. It is the one I would choose if I wanted a private tub and a comfortable house, and it suits two couples or a family. Summerhouse Torfalundur is another three-bedroom holiday home with a hot tub, a garden and a terrace with mountain and river views, but it has only 8 reviews.
If you prefer a guesthouse, Hvammur 2 Guesthouse and Hvammur 2 Guesthouse Red House both list an outdoor hot tub, with mountain views, a garden and a shared kitchen. They use shared bathrooms in the family rooms, and Hvammur 2 offers free private parking while Red House is pet-friendly and has an outdoor fireplace. They score 8.6 and 8.5, so they are the best value of the stays with a tub. You share the hot tub with other guests, so ask about quiet hours before you book. Both are simple, friendly places.
For something different, Hunavellir Guesthouse sits 6 km from Route 1 with mountain and lake views over Lake Svínavatn, a summer outdoor swimming pool, a playground and an indoor sports arena, and Guesthouse Kiljan offers fjord views and a barbecue terrace. Neither has a hot tub, and the Hunavellir pool is a summer feature, so I would not choose either for a winter soak. They are more useful as a family stop than as a place to treat yourself. They are better for a stop than for a night of pampering, and they keep the price down.
A traveler's takeIf a private soak is what you want, I would book Laxás Cottage for its outdoor hot tub and the 8.9 score, or Gladheimar Cottages if you want a hot tub and possibly a sauna by the river. If you only want to share a hot tub, Hvammur 2 Guesthouse is the value choice I would pick. I would not expect a spa resort in Blönduós, only these small, honest soaks.
Spa & wellnessSummerhouse Torfalundur
A pet-friendly holiday home with a hot tub and mountain views in Blönduós
Why guests love itSummerhouse Torfalundur is a three-bedroom holiday home in Blönduós with a fully equipped kitchen, a living room and a spacious garden. The terrace looks over mountains and a river, and the hot tub sits outside for evenings after a day on the road. Barbecue facilities, free WiFi and private parking are included, and pets are welcome. Guests give it a perfect 10 across 8 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a calm, self-catered base for a family or small group.
Spa & wellnessLaxás Cottage
Renovated holiday home with a hot tub and sea and mountain views
Why guests love itI recommend Laxás Cottage to families and groups who want a renovated three-bedroom holiday home a few minutes from Blönduós. It has a living room, a private entrance, parquet floors, a fully equipped kitchen, air-conditioning and an outdoor hot tub, with views of the sea, the lake and the mountains. Views are the main draw here. Guests rate it 8.9 across more than 150 reviews, a good score for a roomy, comfortable house.
Spa & wellnessHvammur 2 Guesthouse
Mountain-view family rooms with a hot tub and shared kitchen in Blönduós
Why guests love itHvammur 2 Guesthouse in Blönduós has family rooms with mountain views and shared bathrooms, which is worth knowing before booking. Guests can use a garden, a terrace, a lounge and an outdoor hot tub, plus a shared kitchen and free private parking. Hiking is nearby. With an 8.6 score from 282 reviews, I recommend it to families and couples on a budget who accept shared facilities.
Spa & wellnessHvammur 2 Guesthouse Red House
Mountain-view family rooms with a hot tub and shared kitchen in Blönduós
Why guests love itHvammur 2 Guesthouse Red House in Blönduós has family rooms with mountain views and shared bathrooms. Guests can use a sun terrace, a garden, an outdoor fireplace and a hot tub, plus a shared kitchen and a lounge. WiFi is free in public areas, and the guesthouse is pet-friendly. With an 8.5 score from 195 reviews, I recommend it to budget families and travellers with pets who accept shared facilities.
Spa & wellnessHunavellir Guesthouse
Mountain views, a summer pool, and activities near Blönduós
Why guests love itHunavellir lies 6 km off the Ring Road, with rooms that face the mountains and some that overlook Lake Svínavatn. The extras suit families: a summer outdoor swimming pool, a playground and an indoor sports arena. Horseback riding, hiking and fishing can be arranged. The pool is a summer feature, so check the season before counting on it. A sensible rural stop for families on a budget.
Spa & wellnessGuesthouse Kiljan
Fjord views and a restaurant just off the Ring Road
Why guests love itGuesthouse Kiljan sits just off the Ring Road in northern Iceland, with views of the Húnaflói Fjord. Rooms come with either private or shared bathrooms, so check which you are booking. There is an on-site restaurant with a bar, free WiFi and a furnished terrace with barbecue facilities. Guests rate it 7.7 across 378 reviews, which is on the lower side, so read recent comments before booking.
Spa & wellnessGladheimar Cottages
Riverside cottages with private kitchens, terraces and geothermal hot tubs
Why guests love itGladheimar Cottages stand beside the Ring Road at Blönduós, facing the Blanda river. Each cabin has a private kitchen, a sofa and a furnished terrace, and most have a geothermal hot tub and a barbecue; some add a private sauna. Parking is free. Independent stays are the point here, so bring food. Check which cabin has the sauna, since only some do. Ratings are more mixed than average.
Local tips
- 1Choose Gladheimar Cottages or Laxás Cottage if you want a private hot tub, as the guesthouses share theirs.
- 2Do not expect a spa resort: the soaking here comes from hot tubs, a few private saunas and a summer pool.
- 3Ask about quiet hours at Hvammur 2 Guesthouse and Red House before you book, as the hot tub is shared.
- 4Check whether the sauna is included in your Gladheimar Cottages unit, since only some have one.
- 5Bring warm layers and flip-flops for the walk to the tub, as evenings are cool even in summer.
- 6Book early for summer weekends, because the cottages are small and the cheaper units go first.