Nautholsvik beach
Nautholsvik Beach is a beach created artificially using natural geothermal springs and brought to the country's territory sunny golden sand from the southern hemisphere. It accepts up to 1000 visitors a year, is equipped even better than some Mediterranean resorts, and has been awarded the Blue Flag. An extreme recreation area for some, and great opportunity to relax for residents of the northern latitudes by all beach rules.
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Beach description
Iceland is famous for a large number of volcanoes and natural hot springs, thanks to which a country with such a cold climate provides itself with heating and enough electricity. The temperature of the Earth’s core reaches several thousand degrees. All this heat comes to the surface in the region of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and flows through craters, cracks, permeable rocks.
In Reykjavik, in the bay protected by Eskühlid Hill, it was decided to restore the once popular, and later closed beach, having improved it to the maximum. Massive walls surrounding the bay were built here. The coast was covered with fine-grained golden sand brought from Morocco. Despite the low winter temperatures of water and the environment, the revived beach has become very popular among Icelanders, and not only in summer.
Neutholtswick has been officially operating since May 15 and closes the season on August 15, but service centers and beach infrastructure facilities serve visitors during the off-season. The lagoon is constantly replenished with thermal water, on the beach there is a sauna and two swimming pools where adults and very little children can swim.
Lovers to relax with a book on a sand flock to a warm lagoon, swim in comfortably warm water, visit a sauna or fo for a picnic with a friendly company. The zone was created as a shelter for many recreational and sports events. Citizens and tourists take sunbathing here, swim in the sea, go yachting. There is a complete feeling that the inhabitants of very northern latitudes are not deprived of the sun and the opportunity to sunbathe, frolic in the sea waves.
What awaits tourists on the geothermal beach:
- Brought to a comfortable water temperature for full sea bathing (19 °C). The hot tub is maintained at around 35-38 °C.
- Sauna and pools for visitors of different ages.
- Jacuzzi hot tub.
- Locker rooms and showers.
- Recreational activities.
- Rental of towels, bathing accessories.
- Points of sale for ice cream, snacks, hot and carbonated drinks.
- Service Center.
- Sailing Club.
For the convenience of holidaymakers, pedestrian paths are laid along the sand. Services are free during the season; in winter, visitors are charged a nominal fee. Tourists get all the necessary information about the rules of conduct and safety.
When is it better to go?
"Summer" with a temperature in the region of +10 degrees lasts up to 3 months. The best time to travel is from July to August when last year’s snows have already disappeared, and tourists enjoy the Martian landscapes, fjords, and glaciers on "white" nights. Since September, the daytime is declined, public transport activity drops, and nature gives fewer smiles. Due to the unpredictability of the climate, it is worth stocking up a raincoat and windproof clothing. The Gulf Stream helps warm green meadows and a mass of rare birds.
Video: Beach Nautholsvik
Infrastructure
Freyja Guesthouse & Suites, 2, 5* is popular with city guests due to its favourable location very close to the thermal beach, as well as restaurants and shops of Reykjavik. The rooms are warm and comfortable, impeccable kitchen and bathroom, delicious varied breakfasts.
The kind hosts will help with booking transport to the airport, there is a bus stop near the hotel. The facility provides cycling for free. The guest house provides barbecue equipment. The main attractions of the city are very close.
Shopping, nightclubs, and restaurants are worth starting from Laugavegur street, where there are so many of them. Small shops work here from 9.00 to 18.00, on Saturday the working day is reduced to 16.00, and large shopping centers are open any day until 23.00.
The national cuisine is rich in seafood. In addition to the salmon or herring dishes familiar to the taste, you should try the whale steak or the meat of a fur seal. Hakarl is made from shark meat, which is kept in the ground for about two months. Lamb is preferred here, out of meat dishes. The so-called volcanic bread is prepared during the day, dipping the dough in hot soil in a special container. If you have to order coffee in a restaurant, then all repeated cups will be brought free of charge. There is a wide range of alcohol, but it is quite expensive.
To please relatives with souvenirs from Reykjavik, you should buy silver jewelry or ceramics in one of the shops or something from woolen products.
Weather in Nautholsvik
Best hotels of Nautholsvik
All hotels of NautholsvikUseful information
- Getting from the airport to Neutholtswick is not difficult, having agreed in advance about the transfer with the hotel. Travelers over 25 years old can take advantage of car rental services. Moreover, it is not necessary to travel on the roads of the capital necessarily on an SUV. Contrary to popular belief, the roads here, even unpaved, are of excellent quality.
- The level of safety for tourists is maintained at a fairly high level, although there are incidents that are usually associated with immigrants. You should carefully consider movements outside the city limits. There are geysers, mud pits, in which there is a risk of falling if you walk through unfamiliar areas without a guide.
- Nightlife is quite hectic, but such adult entertainment as striptease is officially prohibited.
What to do:
- Visit a city tour.
- Visit the Valley of Geysers.
- View Gullfors waterfall and mangrove forests.
- Take a trip to the Blue Lagoon spa resort, which is 30 km from the capital.
- Don't miss out on an exciting jeep safari in Thingvellir National Park.
- You can explore the local nature as part of a cycling tour or rafting, from the side of a nimble kayak.