Spa-Style Stays in Egilsstaðir: Hot Tubs and Saunas
Egilsstaðir is the main town of east Iceland, set beside Lake Lagarfljót, and its spa offer is built around hot tubs and saunas at individual properties, not a large wellness resort. This page lists five stays: Gistihúsið - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir, which lists spa facilities, Hotel 1001 Nott with outdoor hot tubs, Finnsstaðir Holiday Home with a hot tub and an open-air bath, Kaldá Lyngholt with a sauna and a hot tub, and Hótel Eyvindará, close to a geothermal pool. I describe each from its listing and say who it suits, with a plain note on what is and is not offered.
Egilsstadir itself exudes a calm and welcoming atmosphere, serving as a central hub for the Eastfjords. It's a town where the pace of life is slower, allowing visitors to truly connect with nature and local culture. The surrounding landscapes, from the vast Lagarfljót lake to the Hallormsstaðaskógur forest, contribute to a sense of peace and openness. This tranquil environment perfectly complements the wellness offerings, creating a holistic experience where the beauty of the outdoors enhances the relaxation found within your accommodation.
Where to stay
Soaking after a day in the east
In east Iceland, a spa stay means choosing the property that brings the water to you. Only one of the five listings mentions spa facilities as such, and the others offer hot tubs, an open-air bath, a sauna or a nearby geothermal pool. That suits travellers who want a soak after a day of hiking, fjord roads and waterfalls, and it disappoints anyone expecting treatment rooms. I flag each property's real offer so that the label does not oversell it.
Gistihúsið - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir is the only stay here whose listing names a spa. It is a renovated farmhouse by Lake Lagarfljót with bright, modern rooms, private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, tea and coffee facilities, an in-house restaurant and a communal lounge. The hotel carries three stars and scores 8.9 from 1,056 reviews, a large sample. It suits families and couples who want a hotel with a restaurant and a spa on site, though I would check the spa's exact facilities with the property. For a first night in the east, the lake setting and the in-house meal make arrival simple after a long drive.
Hotel 1001 Nott opened in 2018 and offers modern accommodation near Egilsstaðir, with outdoor hot tubs that look over Lake Lagarfljót. The rooms have mountain views and private bathrooms, there is an on-site bar, and the hotel is pet-friendly. Horse riding and fishing are available nearby. It scores 9.2 from 1,005 reviews, which makes it the strongest-reviewed option with a large sample. This is the one I would choose for a couple who want a hot tub with a view of the lake in the evening. Horse riding and fishing nearby make it easy to fill a day before returning to the water in the evening.
For a private soak with more space, two holiday-home options stand out. Finnsstaðir Holiday Home with Hot tub has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a hot tub, an open-air bath, a sun terrace and a garden, with free WiFi, private parking, ski equipment hire and play areas, and scores 9.1 from 231 reviews. Kaldá Lyngholt offers holiday homes with a sauna, a hot tub, barbecue facilities, private terraces and yoga mats beside a river with a waterfall, and scores 9.5 from only 85 reviews. Both are rural holiday homes, so a car is the practical way to reach shops and restaurants in town.
Hótel Eyvindará and Hengifosslodge Skáldahús round out the list. Hótel Eyvindará is a family-run countryside hotel with rooms and cottages, private bathrooms, garden views, free WiFi in the lobby, a geothermal pool nearby and a skiing area a short drive away, scoring 8.2 from 760 reviews. Hengifosslodge Skáldahús, with 9.4 from 378 reviews, has no hot tub in its listing, but its private beach area and sun terrace sit 6 km from the Hengifoss waterfall. Both are quiet, rural options in the area, so they suit travellers who plan to drive and like to keep evenings simple.
A traveler's takeI would choose Hotel 1001 Nott for a couple who want an evening hot tub overlooking the lake, Finnsstaðir Holiday Home with Hot tub for a family that needs space and an open-air bath, and Kaldá Lyngholt for a sauna and hot tub beside a waterfall. Gistihúsið - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir suits those who want a spa and a restaurant in one place. My advice: read each listing for what is actually on site.
Spa & wellnessKaldá Lyngholt
Private holiday homes with a hot tub, sauna, and waterfall views
Why guests love itKaldá Lyngholt offers holiday homes with wooden interiors, private bathrooms, kitchenettes with complimentary coffee and tea, and private terraces with barbecue facilities. Guests can use a sauna, a hot tub and yoga mats, all beside a river with a waterfall. The setting suits hiking and bird watching. A 9.5 rating across 85 reviews is strong. I would choose it for a family or couple who want a quiet riverside stay near Egilsstaðir.
Spa & wellnessHengifosslodge Skáldahús
Elegant apartment with a private beach area and waterfall views
Why guests love itI recommend Hengifosslodge Skáldahús to couples and small families who want an elegant apartment near Egilsstaðir. Each apartment has a well-equipped kitchenette, a private bathroom and a dining area, and the property adds a private beach area, a sun terrace and a garden, with lake, garden and mountain views. Hengifoss waterfall is 6 km away. Guests rate it 9.4 across more than 370 reviews, a top score.
Spa & wellnessHotel 1001 Nott
Modern hotel with hot tubs overlooking Lake Lagarfljót
Why guests love itHotel 1001 Nott opened in 2018 near Egilsstaðir, and its outdoor hot tubs look over Lake Lagarfljót. Rooms have mountain views and private bathrooms, there is an on-site bar, and pets are welcome. Horse riding and fishing are available nearby. Guests rate it 9.2 across 1,005 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a modern, well-reviewed hotel for couples and families who want to soak in a lake view after a day in the east.
Spa & wellnessFinnsstaðir Holiday Home with Hot tub
Spacious family holiday home with a hot tub and play areas
Why guests love itI recommend the Finnsstaðir Holiday Home to families and groups who want a whole house near Egilsstaðir. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a hot tub, an open-air bath, a sun terrace and a garden, with free WiFi and private parking. Play areas keep children busy, and ski equipment hire is available. Guests rate it 9.1 across more than 230 reviews, a very high score for a roomy house built around outdoor time.
Spa & wellnessGistihúsið - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir
Modern comfort in a renovated farmhouse by Lake Lagarfljót
Why guests love itGistihúsið sits in a renovated farmhouse beside Lake Lagarfljót, and the lakeside setting is the draw. Rooms are bright and modern with private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, free WiFi and tea and coffee facilities. The in-house restaurant, a communal lounge and a spa mean a family does not have to drive out every evening. Guests rate it 8.9 across 1,056 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a calm, rural base near Egilsstaðir.
Spa & wellnessHótel Eyvindará
Family-run hotel with countryside charm and geothermal access
Why guests love itHótel Eyvindará is a family-run hotel in the countryside near Egilsstaðir, with rooms and cottages that have private bathrooms and private terraces. Garden views and free WiFi in the lobby come with the stay. A geothermal pool is nearby and a skiing area is a short drive away. Guests rate it 8.2 across 760 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a calm, family-run base for travellers with a car who like the countryside to the town.
Local tips
- 1Treat the spa label property by property: Gistihúsið - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir lists a spa, while Hotel 1001 Nott lists outdoor hot tubs.
- 2Ask Hotel 1001 Nott about the hot tub hours and booking, since the lake view is the reason to choose it.
- 3Choose Finnsstaðir Holiday Home with Hot tub for a family: it has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a hot tub and an open-air bath.
- 4Kaldá Lyngholt has a sauna, a hot tub and yoga mats beside a river with a waterfall, a good fit for hikers and bird watchers.
- 5Hengifosslodge Skáldahús sits 6 km from Hengifoss waterfall, so plan the walk to the falls from there.
- 6Hótel Eyvindará lists a geothermal pool nearby, so ask the hotel which pool and what its opening arrangements are.