45km outside of Reykjavic lies Hveragerði, an area of hot springs that are spread across a 5,000 year-old lava field. These springs originally brought a small number of settlers to the area, whose livelihood has now become fully dependent on horticulture. Hveragerði is a tourist hotspot due to the extensive walking trails, pools, natural springs, whirpools and saunas.

The Geothermal Park, open daily throughout the summer, houses a large swimming pool, as well as a number of hot springs and natural clay footpaths for you to have a relaxing soak in, all while enjoying the gorgeous surroundings. Watch locals cook their famous black bread in the natural ovens found in the holes of the park, or boil your own locally sourced egg in the springs. Just 50 metres from the park you can dine in a rather unique restaurant that uses geothermal heat for its outdoor kitchen.

Guides are on hand around the park during the summer months, but for those visiting during off-season, contact the local information office which can arrange group tours upon request.

Hveragerði was struck by a powerful earthquake (6.3 Richter scale) on the 29th of May in 2008, which caused a number of new hot springs to burst out of the ground surface here. Watch them spit and read all about the devastation caused by the quake in the newly opened exhibition on site at Hveragerði.