Kvika

What Kvika is

Kvika is not a hot spring for swimming. It is a circular footbath carved into a single block of grey granite, created by Icelandic artist Ólöf Nordal and installed in 2005. Warm geothermal water from Seltjarnarnes boreholes fills the shallow basin.

The work sits directly on the rocky shore at Kisuklöppur, beside Norð­urströnd and on the coastal route towards Grótta. Its name means “magma” in Icelandic. Kvika is a functional artwork: take off shoes and socks, sit on the broad stone rim, and soak your feet while looking across the bay.

What to expect

This is a deliberately modest stop, not a spa. The basin is roughly 80–90 cm across and 25–30 cm deep, so only a few people fit around it at once. The water is generally around 39°C, but conditions at an exposed outdoor installation can vary.

The setting is the point. The paved shore path meets rougher beach here: dark rocks, gravel and tidal shallows lie seaward, while Seltjarnarnes’ residential streets are immediately behind. On a clear day, the view reaches across Faxaflói towards Esja and, farther northwest, Snæfellsjökull.

Getting there and combining it

Kvika is on the northern coast of Seltjarnarnes, about 4.7 km by road from central Reykjavík. Drive west via Eiðisgrandi and Norð­urströnd towards Grótta; a small parking area is nearby. The shoreline path also makes it an easy stop by bicycle or on foot from Reykjavík.

Allow 15–30 minutes for the footbath itself. It works best as a pause during a coastal walk rather than as a destination requiring a long stay. Continue along the path towards Grótta for wider coastal views; the lighthouse is separate from Kvika.

Access and practical use

Kvika is a free public outdoor site, accessible year-round. There are no changing rooms, showers or toilets at the footbath. Bring a small towel and wear footwear that is easy to remove.

• Use: feet and lower legs only; it is not a full-body bath.
• Share the rim: space is limited, particularly on clear summer evenings.
• Keep it clean: do not use soap or leave litter in the basin.
• Watch footing: wet coastal rock can be slippery, and the shore is exposed to wind and spray.

When to go

Late afternoon and sunset suit the northwest-facing shore, while long summer evenings extend the light. In winter, warm water makes a useful break on a coastal walk, but frost can make the path and rocks slick. Bring a windproof outer layer in every season: the open bay can feel substantially colder than central Reykjavík.