I've driven 2,500 miles around Iceland – here's the beautiful spots tourists always miss

Iceland is famous for its hot springs (Image: Getty)

Many tourists flock to Iceland to enjoy its hot springs and geothermal pools. Resorts such as The Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon are popular options, but they can also hurt the hip pocket with packages for a day trip, potentially coming in at over three figures. I've driven around Iceland twice, racking up thousands of kilometres and travelling to places that a lot of visitors miss. 

If you're willing to go off the beaten path a bit or to places that are maybe not as glamorous as some of the more luxurious options available, you can have a great experience while still saving your hard-earned. Not only is there the prospect of saving money but you will also go through something that many other tourists miss as they travel with the herd and sacrifice their cash for convenience. 

There are hundreds of options across the country, but here are some of the best spots I have found on my travels in a bid to locate the best bargain soaks. 

This is one of the hardest places to get to on the list —  located in the Westfjords region of the land of fire and ice. It is recommended that you fill your vehicle to the brim before heading out in that direction or going further west. There is an unmanned N1 petrol station located just up the road from this natural hot spring but international tourists have reported problems using their bank cards at these pumps. 

This spring is remote and you can drive for quite a stretch before you see another car on the road. The hose pipe that feeds into it is nice and warm with a beautiful view over the water and a small stone wall that you can change behind. But the best thing about this particular hidden gem is that it is entirely free. It was told to me by a Canadian traveller and I probably wouldn't know about it otherwise. Most of the time you and your group will be the only ones there which means you will have the place to yourself. 

It is a good stop on the way out to or coming back from viewing the puffins that can be seen at Látrabjarg. If you are going to view the birds, be aware that the journey is not for the faint of heart, as it goes across sheer cliffs that suffer from rock falls. 

If you follow the Ring Road around Iceland then you will eventually come to the town of Akureyri, located in the north of the country about halfway along the x-axis of the nation. It contains an excellent and economical option to enjoy several pools including some that are powered by geothermal energy. 

The pool complex features multiple heated pools, hot tubs, waterslides, a steam bath, and even a cold plunge. You will be surrounded by Icelandic locals sitting next to you also enjoying the waters. At around £8 for entry, this place is a bargain and if you need to hire a towel or a bathing suit, you can do so for an additional fee. 

One thing that will be peculiar to foreigners is that you are expected to shower naked in an open bathroom using soap before entering the pool. This can be a weird thing to experience the first few times but you quickly realise no one bats an eyelid. 

This free swimming pool is located on the southern side of the national highway near several tourist attractions including quite a few waterfalls and the famous Solheimasandur Plane Wreck. It is definitely worth ticking off the bucket list and while it is not the hottest source of water in this article, it is luke warm. Seljavallalaug is very different from Akureyi which is a town pool — this one is a remote stand alone which rewards those who make the trek out to it. 

Constructed in 1923, the pool is a picturesque hike in from the car park where people normally take their swimsuit, towels and other items in a bag. It is not far from Vik which has a small shopping centre, petrol station and other amenities to get you on your way. 

The pool has a a mountain for one wall and beautiful views greet you during the walk to your swim and while you sit in the water relaxing. The floor of the pool is covered in algae so it is slippery but the atmosphere is definitely a pleasant one. Change rooms are located at the pool but unfortunately a lot of the time they are a mess due to people leaving their rubbish there. 

The author at Seljavallalaug - the only one brave enough to get in the luke warm water that day (Image: Rob Currell )

Located in a quaint village in northern Iceland, the Hauganes hot pots have been the playground for children in the area for a long time. These are unusual compared to other recommendations in this article because they are hot tubs on a black sand beach which utilises the village’s geothermal water. 

There are a small number of them which all have views of the coast and surrounding mountains. It is a great place to relax and take in a breathtaking vista. 

There is a small fee of around £6 per adult and half that for children 12 and under (this is subject to the exchange rate). You can pay at Baccalá Bar and there are a number of facilities in the town of the same name which you can use before hitting the road again. 

This is fast becoming one of the best-known swimming pools in Iceland because it has top-notch facilities. The pool is around 30 to 31°C and the hot tub is 38 to 39°C making it a great place for a dip. It is also located in the mid-north of the country and you can get there by taking the 76 road north off the national highway not too far from Akureyi. 

Admission is about eight pounds for adults and around £2.50 for children. 

A lot of these locations are in the north of the nation but other areas of the country have different sites such as more waterfalls, hikes and different scenery.