Forest Lagoon in Akureyri is a peaceful oasis on the edge of a beautiful Icelandic fjord. Visit for the relaxation, the sauna, and the views!
Forest Lagoon is not far from the city center in Akureyri, North Iceland, but it feels peaceful and tucked away.
In Icelandic it's called Skógarböð, which literally means forest bath. Surrounded by birch and pine trees, it's aptly named in both languages.
We spent time at this relaxing and scenic lagoon in summer 2024. Here's what you need to know about visiting!
Booking Tickets
When we visited, admission was 6900 per adult (about $50 per person, USD).
Towel or bathrobe rental is extra, so if you bring your own you can save some money.
There were no package options to choose from when we visited, just an entry fee.
When we visited, there were still plenty of available tickets available the day of. (It didn’t seem to book up ahead of time as much as the lagoons closer to Reykjavik do, like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon.)
That said, while it was fairly empty at first, by late morning it started to get full with visitors from a cruise ship that had docked in the port. I’d recommend going early for a quieter experience.
During the summer, there's a complimentary shuttle bus to and from central Akureyri (about a 5-minute drive). Check the lagoon's website for pickup locations and times.
Changing Room and Showers
You’ll get a bracelet at check in that gives you access to a locker to store your clothes.
One private changing stall was available in both the women’s locker room area and in the men’s locker room, or you can change clothes near your locker.
This lagoon also had a large open shower area, but no worries if you don’t want to use it; there were also shower cubicles for more privacy.
Relaxing in Forest Lagoon
The lagoon was pretty with a nice view into the forest below. You could see glimpses of Akureyri and the mountains through the trees.
There was a water fountain to help you stay hydrated.
There's a cold pool near the sauna (it stays about 50 degrees Fahrenheit). The hot pools are between 98 and 104 Fahrenheit.
Forest Lagoon Sauna
One thing we really enjoyed here was the sauna! It was nice to get out of the warm lagoon, cool off in the cold pool (or take a cold mist shower), and then enter the sauna.
It's a dry sauna as opposed to a steam room, so the humidity is very low.
The sauna has a glass window with relaxing views of the lagoon and forest.
After, cool down again (either in the cold pool or with a cool mist shower) and get back in the lagoon.
Food and Drink
There are two lagoon bars, one at each end of the main pool.
We were there fairly early, so we started off with some freshly prepared smoothies: one green, one fruit.
Later in the morning we also had a mimosa.
If you want real food, there’s the Skógur Bistro inside. (Change back into your regular clothes before visiting.)
At the bistro, you can enjoy brunch, soup, salad, pizza, and other light eats, complete with a cozy fireplace and view over the fjord.
There was also a food truck opening for lunch just as we left.
Forest Lagoon gave us an enjoyable morning of relaxation! Akureyri is a beautiful place to visit; we recommend taking some time to explore it (and to have breakfast at the wonderful Kaffi Ilmur). Here are more of our top things to do in the region.
Leave a Comment: