Things you can see near Hotel Fluðir

Taking a foreign friend around the classic Golden Circle route brought up some new perspective to the most well-known Icelandic natural sights you can visit. These are all found within an hour’s drive from Hotel Fluðir.

1. The Secret Lagoon

We went to the legendary Secret Lagoon on a cool, rainy March evening after a two-hour drive from Keflavík Airport. It’s a 10-minute walk from Hotel Fluðir. When we got to the lagoon, the sun was setting and we walked the few steps (that seemed to take forever!) into the hot natural spring. And there is no other feeling quite like it, especially on a bit chilly day. It's like a liquid sauna in a surreal setting. The sun set behind the hills, a bit spooky old dressing room building stood in the gloomy light of the nearby greenhouses and my friend noted: ”I feel like I’m in a Tim Burton movie set.”

2. Tomatoes of Friðheimar 

What could be so special about some tomatoes, we thought, when driving to Friðheimar the next day. It was rainy and a bit chilly, so we were looking forward to the warmth of the greenhouses where Icelanders grow their tomatoes. And we were not disappointed! Not only was the greenhouse a beautiful place to check out, the Fridheimar restaurant did indeed have the most incredible tomato soup we had ever tasted! We did not even dare try the Bloody Marys – we can only imagine… Thumbs up for this lunch spot – and if you ask at the right moment, the hotel manager of Hotel Fluðir, Magga, might even take you there!

3. Gullfoss

Goes without saying there is no Golden Circle tour without a glimpse of the Gullfoss. Depending on the weather it can present itself as an incredible, refreshing force of nature (summer) or downright scary and intimidating  (any other time of year). We, of course, witnessed the latter. But no matter when you see it, it takes your breath away. Gullfoss has both natural power and a powerful story to tell: in the early 20th century foreign investors wanted to buy the waterfall to build an electrical plant. But the farmer who owned Gullfoss, Tómas Tómasson, refused the offers to sell. He leased Gullfoss to a foreigner later, but apparently raised a stubborn daughter, too, because his daughter Sigriður later fought ferociously to have the rental contract voided – and through incredible perseverance succeeded. In 1940 the waterfall was sold to the Icelandic government and in 1979 made into a nature reserve.

4. Geysir

The geysir after which all the other geysirs got their calling name spurts out water every 10 or so minutes. Which makes it a tedious photo opportunity, but such a fun time to watch everyone else wait for it, too! In me and my friend’s case we saw the Geysir erupt twice, but didn’t catch one photograph of it (well, my friend caught half of the towering water spray). But we got some pretty funny images of people watching and waiting like statues for their perfect shot!

5. Mushrooms at Hotel Fluðir

The geothermal heat in the Fluðir area has made it the best place in the country to grow, not only tomatoes, but also mushrooms. In fact, the only Icelandic mushroom factory can be found at Flúðir. Hotel Fluðir restaurant serves only locally-grown fruits and vegetable, and even serves locally raised beef, so it will be a nice way to cap your local experience.