Region
South Iceland
Three settlement centers
Blaskogabyggd: The Golden Circle Municipality
A South Iceland municipality at the heart of the Golden Circle, taking in the Geysir geothermal area, Laugarvatn village, and wide stretches of farmland.
Population
~2,000
South Iceland • Golden Circle Region
Blaskogabyggd is the rural municipality that contains much of the Golden Circle. It takes in the Geysir geothermal area, the lakeside village of Laugarvatn, and farmland where Icelandic horses graze below glaciers and mountains. Most visitors pass through on Golden Circle tours, but the area is also a long-established farming community, warmed by the same geothermal activity that drives Strokkur's eruptions.
Sources and page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
Blaskogabyggd municipality includes dispersed settlements across a large area.
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Official sources to check
Population
~2,000
Spread across a large rural municipality
Known for
Geysir & Golden Circle
Home to Strokkur geyser and Laugarvatn
Top Attractions near Blaskogabyggd
Geysir Geothermal Area
The original geyser that gave all geysers their name. While Great Geysir is mostly dormant, Strokkur erupts every 5-10 minutes, launching boiling water up to 20 meters high.
Gullfoss Waterfall
One of Iceland's most powerful waterfalls, where the Hvita river drops 32 meters in two stages into a canyon. Check current access and parking arrangements.
Laugarvatn Fontana
Geothermal baths in Laugarvatn village with natural steam rooms built directly over hot springs, mineral pools, and a lakeside relaxation area. Rye-bread demonstrations have their own booking options.
Thingvellir National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site at the western edge of the municipality where the Althing (world's oldest parliament) was founded in 930 AD. Walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Hvita River Rafting
Guided river outings have specific meeting points, age limits and operating dates; check these with the chosen operator.
Langjokull Glacier
Iceland's second-largest glacier sits just north of the municipality. Tours run snowmobiling on the ice cap and visits to a man-made ice tunnel carved into the glacier.
How to Get to Blaskogabyggd
From Reykjavik: Choose the exact attraction or accommodation as your destination. The municipality extends across several Golden Circle stops, so a single town pin or distance does not describe the drive.
By bus: Several tour operators run daily Golden Circle excursions from Reykjavik. For public transport, check the specific stop, departure and return with Straeto; a Golden Circle sightseeing tour has different stops and booking conditions. A rental car gives the most flexibility.
Best Time to Visit Blaskogabyggd
Summer (June-August): Long daylight hours allow you to explore all the Golden Circle sites at a relaxed pace. Hvita river rafting operates, highland access depends on current conditions, and the Laugarvatn Fontana baths make a good end to a day of sightseeing. Expect temperatures of 10-15 degrees C.
Winter (November-February): Strokkur still erupts against a snowy backdrop, and Gullfoss partially freezes. Crowds are smaller. Check road conditions before traveling and leave enough daylight for the outdoor stops.
Pick a village before choosing the overnight stop
The municipality identifies three settlement centers: Laugarvatn, Laugaras and Reykholt. The administrative name covers all three plus the countryside. Put the individual village and property into a booking comparison, then calculate the drive to your next day’s first stop.
Laugarvatn combines a village and lake; Laugaras has the riverside lagoon. The municipality operates public pools in Laugarvatn and Reykholt, so a hotel or spa package is not the only type of bathing stop to investigate.
Reykholt here means the South Iceland village where the municipal offices occupy Aratunga. If your itinerary includes Snorrastofa or Snorri Sturluson’s historical site, check the address again: that Reykholt is in Borgarfjordur in West Iceland. Matching the region avoids a much larger navigation mistake than simply choosing the wrong street.
Planning help
Blaskogabyggd FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
Is Blaskogabyggd a town?
It is a municipality. Its three settlement centers are Laugaras, Laugarvatn and Reykholt, with farms and visitor attractions spread across the surrounding countryside.
Which Golden Circle sites are in Blaskogabyggd?
The municipality identifies Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss among its landmarks, as well as Laugarvatn and Skalholt.
Where are the municipal offices?
They are in Aratunga community hall in Reykholt. That is an administrative address, not a central meeting point for every Golden Circle tour.
Where can I find a public swimming pool?
The municipality operates sports centers with pools and hot tubs in Laugarvatn and Reykholt. Check the individual timetable before visiting.
How far is Blaskogabyggd from Reykjavik?
There is no single useful distance for the whole municipality. Calculate the drive to your actual accommodation, attraction or meeting point.
Is this the Reykholt associated with Snorri Sturluson?
No. Reykholt in Blaskogabyggd is in South Iceland. The historical Reykholt and Snorrastofa are in Borgarfjordur in West Iceland.
For national population totals and trends to put local figures in context, see our Iceland statistics.