Does Icelandic Water Really Smell That Bad?

First-time travellers to Iceland are often shocked when they take their first Icelandic bath and feel puzzled by the strange smell after the long, warm but stinking shower in the land of fire and ice.

Icelanders are, as they should be, incredibly proud of their water source and can sometimes feel a bit butt-hurt when foreigners talk about its smell. Once you are out of the warm shower, however, you do not smell at all. The reason for this particular smell is because the hot water in Iceland sometimes smells of sulphur because of the geothermal origins of the warm water. The warm water comes from the ground and is supplied by geothermal power plants, it is ideal for bathing but not drinking. Due to this, Icelanders have hot and cold water from two different sources. The drinking water runs straight from our natural springs and is as we say, the best in the world. It is one of the purest and most refreshing water on the planet.

Natural spring water

The fresh water is actually so clean that in Silfra fissure, which is known as one of the top dive sites in the world, you can actually drink the pristine water while you dive. Where and what is this place with some of the clearest water on earth? It is actually a crack, located in UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thingvellir, between the Eurasian and North American continents, the only crack on earth that allows you to dive between two continental plates. As if that was not enough, you will not go thirsty while doing so.

Bathing water from hot springs

There are many other benefits of the unique hot water source. Public bathing in outdoor swimming pools has been popular since Icelanders started to harness geothermal energy. The swimming pool culture is deeply rooted in the Icelandic people who enjoy their dark winter nights at public swimming pools in a warm jacuzzi with snowflakes hitting their face. Even famous historian Snorri Sturluson had his own thermal pool to soak in… during the 12th century!
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Safe to say you can travel to Iceland and bath in the unique and pure water, even if it smells a bit, you can rest assured, it is cleaner than most other places on Earth.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.