Lake · Capital Region
Rauðavatn
lake in Grafarholt og Úlfarsárdalur, Iceland
Before you go
Stay on marked paths, leave no trace and close gates behind you. Driving off-road is illegal in Iceland.
Areas can be closed at short notice to protect them. Check the official page before travelling.
Warm up after: pools & lagoons with a visitor pass
Passes from ISK 7,900. Lagoons cost extra per visit.
Sign in to see the recommendations
The best sights in each region, and where to soak afterwards.
Quick facts
- Rauðavatn is 12 km from Reykjavík by road, about 16 min by car.
- The nearest town to Rauðavatn is Kópavogur.
- Rauðavatn is a lake in the Capital Region of Iceland.
The facts
| Nearest town | Kópavogur |
|---|---|
| From Reykjavík | 12 km by road, about 16 min |
| Region | Capital Region |
| Coordinates | 64.1080° N, 21.7716° W |
Getting there
Directions go to the sight's mapped point. For a mountain, glacier or lake that can be well away from the road, so park only in marked areas and walk from there.
Questions people ask
What is Rauðavatn?
Rauðavatn is a lake in the Capital Region of Iceland.
Where is Rauðavatn?
Rauðavatn is at 64.1080° N, 21.7716° W, in the Capital Region of Iceland. The nearest town is Kópavogur. The nearest other sight on our map is Rauðhólar, a mountain about 1.9 km away in a straight line.
How far is Rauðavatn from Reykjavík?
Rauðavatn is 12 km from Reykjavík by road, about 16 min by car.
How do I get to Rauðavatn?
The Google Maps and Apple Maps directions on this page go to the mapped point of Rauðavatn, not to a search for its name. The nearest town is Kópavogur.
Does it cost anything to visit Rauðavatn?
We have not verified a fee for Rauðavatn. Some landowners charge for parking or entry, so check the signs on arrival. Iceland's right of public access comes with duties: stay on marked paths and leave no trace.
Where can you swim near Rauðavatn?
The nearest place to get in warm water is World Class Árbær & Pool, about 9 minutes' drive from Rauðavatn. It is included on any LifePass, so there is nothing to pay at the door. Also within reach: World Class Breiðholt & Pool (14 min), World Class Mosfellsbær - Gym & Pool (15 min).
Soak here afterwards
- World Class Árbær & Pool9 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
- World Class Breiðholt & Pool14 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
- World Class Mosfellsbær - Gym & Pool15 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
- World Class Laugar & Pool17 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
- Sky Lagoon20 min driveper visit with LifePass
- World Class Seltjarnarnes - Gym & Pool25 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
- World Class Akranes & Pool45 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
- World Class Selfoss & Pool48 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
On the way back
- World Class Hella & Pool78 min driveIncluded on any LifePass
Nearby sights
All sights →Straight-line distance, not driving distance.
RauðhólarMountain · 1.9 kmCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland
ElliðavatnLake · 2.5 kmCC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland
ReynisvatnLake · 2.6 kmPublic domain · Photo: SokratexGvendarbrunnarLake · 3 km
VatnahringurHike · 3.8 km
Úlfarsfell trailHike · 3.9 km
Sources
Place data from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata. Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, credited individually.
- Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
- Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.