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With its famously geothermal landscapes, spas and Iceland are a fabulous fit. Several hotels have their own naturally heated hot tubs, while The Retreat and Silica Hotel – a little outside the city – form part of the Blue Lagoon. In the diminutive capital itself, the choices picked out are the most comprehensive in the city, with a good range of treatments often offered alongside saunas and steam rooms. And they're a welcome sight, too, providing an added layer of bliss to a day spent walking downtown, visiting museums and edgy art galleries, exploring the gastronomic and nightlife scene, or day-tripping to lunar lava fields, majestic waterfalls and spouting geysers. Here's our pick of the best spa hotels in Reykjavik for a wholesome Icelandic spa holiday with culture right on the doorstep.

This chic hotel, set in its own rocky, lava-filled landscape, is part of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon resort. Aside from the on-site facilities to explore (lagoons, bars, restaurants), guests can follow paths through the surrounding Reykjanes Peninsula – a Unesco Global Geopark dotted with craters, fissures, mud pools, steam vents, hot springs, and moss-covered lava fields. All guests get free access to the hotel’s own Silica Lagoon, which is large enough to accommodate a full hotel without feeling crowded, and each guest also gets a complimentary premium admission ticket to the (much busier) Blue Lagoon. Read expert review From £ 473

• The best hotels in Reykjavik

This was one of Iceland’s first luxury hotels and was originally built for famous Icelandic strong-man and adventurer Jóhannes Jósefsson. It’s set on one of the most scenic and pleasantly landscaped squares in the city centre (Austurvöllur) and is within walking distance to many restaurants, bars and attractions. Rooms are decorated in a flurry of classy, custom-made furnishings, stylish Bang & Olufsen televisions and Art Deco styling. The handsome spa (which may cost extra depending on the type of room you’re staying in) has a relaxation annex with a steam bath, sauna and treatment rooms. Read expert review From £ 193

• The best boutique hotels in Reykjavik

In the midst of sprawling lava fields, The Blue Lagoon has drawn visitors to Iceland for decades. The lagoon’s supposedly restorative waters emit plumes of steam day and night – while at night the odd display of Northern Lights reminds one of the energy fizzling overhead. The resort’s star amenity is its cavernous spa, a world-class wellness facility segmented by multiple relaxation zones; a dimly lit chamber offering the Blue Lagoon’s hammam-like cleansing ritual; and access to a calm, enclosed section of the lagoon. It's about 45 minutes' drive from Reykjavik. Read expert review From £ 1,255

• The most romantic hotels in Reykjavik

Hotel Reykjavik Natura is close to several natural attractions, including the small village of Skerjafjordur, the designated nature space Oskjuhlid and the urban beach Nautholsvik, which has an artificial hot spring. But there’s plenty on-site to keep you occupied, not least the Natura Spa, which encompasses a pool, sauna, whirlpool tub, fitness centre and an array of beauty treatments including massages using the Bowen technique and treatments using Sóley Organics and [comfort zone]. Note that the spa costs ISK 3000 (£20) unless you’re in a King Deluxe room or a suite. Read expert review From £ 113

• The best budget hotels in Reykjavik

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior, every inch of the hotel's interior aims to impress. It was one of Reykjavik’s first boutique hotels and was designed by owner and professional designer Ingibjörg S. Pálmadóttir. All the rooms are conspicuously smart, featuring mellow colour schemes complemented by stylish rugs on wooden floors. There’s enough on offer to make it a destination hotel. As well as the extremely swish bar and restaurant, there’s a basement gym and spa with a steam bath, plunge pool and hot tub (in-room spa treatments are also available), plus a DVD library. Read expert review From £ 202

• The best hotels in Reykjavik city centre

This is perhaps one of the most stylish of CenterHotels’ six Reykjavik hotels. The Thingholt occupies a former 1940s printing factory and has an interior designed by Icelandic architect Gulla Jonsdottir, who has experience in Beverley Hills and Hollywood. Her playful, chic vision includes a distinctive wood-heavy reception, sculpture installations and black leather walls. There's a decent bar and restaurant, and a downstairs spa area with a steam room, hot tub and services such as massage and beauty treatments available. Rooms and suites are decorated in the same slick style as the public areas. Read expert review From £ 194

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Iceland’s first dedicated wellness and medical hotel is located on the edge of downtown Reykjavik, and offers a comfortable, mid-range stay as well as direct access to a team of healthcare specialists who provide world-class treatments. As well as the Klínikin Centre, the hotel has a soothingly decorated and fairly upscale spa that offers relevant treatments like traditional Swedish and Thai massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy plus several health classes and a first-class gym. There’s also a hot and cold tub, a small floating pool and sauna - though guests need to pay ISK 3,990 (£28) per day for use of these facilities (check the hotel's website for package availability). Read expert review From £ 138

• An insider guide to Reykjavik

The hotel’s Reykjavík Spa is one of the city’s more glamorous, offering whirlpool tubs, sauna and steam bath and a romantic relaxation room complete with candles and a fireplace. There is also a gym and a pleasant garden for ultimate relaxation. The rooms here are spacious and comfortable, and the Brasserie Grand restaurant offers a classic, quasi-romantic setting with dark wooden floors and walls contrasted with crisp white tablecloths. You can walk to most city-centre sights and spots within half an hour, or just hop on one of the regular buses. Read expert review From £ 131

• Where to stay in Reykjavik: Hotels by area

The Nordica’s decent spread of amenities include a very good spa with whirlpool tubs, a steam bath and a dry sauna. The ultra-spacious lobby, large enough to contain several separate seating areas, has an inviting coffee-and-cream colour scheme dotted with colourful artworks. Darker woods prevail in the restaurant and you'll find glittering beige-and-aquamarine mosaics in the spa. Rooms come with large, comfortable beds, lovely wooden floors and windows that let in lots of natural light and allow for fantastic views. The hotel is situated about a mile from Reykjavik’s downtown area. Read expert review From £ 124

Contributions by John O'Ceallaigh

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