Interested in visiting Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon? Here are some tips and details from our experience at this geothermal spa.
Blue Lagoon is Iceland's most famous hot spring lagoon. Named for the icy blue color of the water, it's a photogenic destination that also promises pampering and relaxation. A place to warm up from the chilly climate!
The Blue Lagoon was our first stop after touching down in Reykjavik, before we headed out to backpack the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuhals trails. Is it on your list of places to get to someday? Here's what you can expect.
Where Does the Water Come From?
The Blue Lagoon is not a natural hot spring. It's a manmade pool fed by superheated seawater. The water does a lot of work on its way to the lagoon, first running through turbines at a nearby power plant before finally making it to the pools at a comfortable temperature.
The water has a high mineral content and a lot of silica (that's what gives it such an otherworldly blue color). In the 1980's people began to notice that bathing in it was good for their skin, and the spa experience began to take shape.
Now the Blue Lagoon is home to a hotel, a luxury retreat, restaurants, and multiple amenities for a day visit.
Getting There
The lagoon is near the airport (about 25 minutes, unless there are road closures that make it longer).
The airport shuttle (Flybus) can take you there for a set time and then take you on to your destination. You can also book the stop on the way back to the airport.
It’s not close to downtown Reykjavik (about a one-hour drive away).
Lots of tour bus companies also offer packages to get you to the Blue Lagoon.
We opted to drive there with the rental car we picked up at the airport.
Managing Crowds at the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is definitely not a solitary experience. In fact, after looking at the size of the parking lot and the long walking path into the building, I’ll admit I was getting amusement park vibes.
We had an 8 a.m. admission time, and it actually wasn’t super crowded when we were there, although the crowd did continue to grow as the morning went on.
If you want a quieter experience, try to book one of the earliest spots.
As we left (around 10 a.m.) buses were dropping off SO MANY people and I was quite happy we missed the biggest crowds.
Locker Rooms and Shower Setup
Your admission ticket includes a wrist-band for your locker. There are directions in the locker room area. You’ll scan a sensor in the middle of the locker area and then scan your locker.
I’m not sure if the locker I chose was glitchy, but I had quite a bit of trouble getting it to work, which was somewhat stressful.
There were attendants to help, but I had to look for one.
Blue Lagoon does require you to shower (without a bathing suit on) before getting in the lagoon, but there are plenty of private shower stalls available. (No group shower situation necessary!)
The Blue Lagoon and Your Hair
The minerals in the water are TOUGH on your hair and will dry it out.
I’ve heard that they recommend putting conditioner all over your hair before entering, but no one explained that to me in person, so be warned. I opted for the safer option: pulling my hair up in a bun.
Which Package Should I Choose?
For Blue Lagoon, we opted for the cheapest package (Comfort), which gave us access to one of their face masks and one drink at the lagoon bar. (There were limited alcohol options and some non-alcoholic options.)
The pricier packages (Premium and Signature) give you additional masks, an extra drink and a bathrobe, which I didn’t think seemed worth it beforehand. Afterwards, I’m still happy with the cheaper package we chose.
Was I Able to Relax in the Blue Lagoon?
Honestly, no. It was incredibly beautiful, and it’s probably partially my fault because I had just gotten off a red-eye flight where I didn’t sleep. (The view from the plane was too pretty!)
We also had a time limit that morning, which made it harder to relax. Also, I was (unnecessarily) stressing about my hair getting in the water accidentally. (It didn’t.)
My anxiety issues aside, it also seemed like there were just a lot of people attempting to funnel through the amenities all at once (even with the smaller crowds we saw).
The lagoon bartender also seemed a bit stressed trying to manage the line and make sure people returned their used cups to the correct location.
Should I Visit the Blue Lagoon?
Maybe! If you have the time, the finances (it can be expensive), and really want to see that icy blue water, go for it!
Just be aware that depending on the time of day or the weather the water may be greener than blue. We just happened to hit it when it was perfectly blue.
Other Safety Considerations
There is currently an active volcano near the Blue Lagoon, and the lagoon has repeatedly needed to close down for safety reasons.
The lava flow covered the road to the lagoon for a while, but as of July 2024, there was a new (longer) road to the facility that you can take if needed. Taking the alternative road adds about 30 minutes of drive time onto your route to or from the airport, as well as an extra 30 minutes (or longer) in between the lagoon and Reykjavik.
When Should I Book Tickets?
Typically the Blue Lagoon tickets sell out well in advance.
When we visited I was able to book spots just about a week ahead of time, probably because of the volcano issues.
Blue Lagoon Skin Care Products
You can try out some extra skin care while you're there, including a silica mud mask, algae mask, mineral mask, or lava scrub.
The "mask bar" alongside the pool doles out portions of each product, depending on which package you bought.
These products (and more, like eye serum, lip balm, lotion, and cleanser) are sold on site and online if you want to take some home with you.
Dining Options
We didn't try the full-service restaurants, but the Moss Restaurant is Michelin-starred and offers a 7-course meal. The Lava Restaurant has an a la carte menu or a set of four courses. Reservations are needed!
The Blue Café has small bites, a breakfast box, and drinks available, and the Spa Restaurant allows you to dine without a reservation (and stay in your bathrobe if you want to).
Do you have any questions about visiting the Blue Lagoon? Let me know in the comments and I'll try to help!
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