
If you are planning a trip in Iceland, it is pretty sure that you have heard about the Blue Lagoon. And it is very likely that you are considering to add it to your itinerary but you might not be sure yet. This hot springs with light blue – milky colour is one of the most popular attraction in Iceland. When we planed our trip we thought that would be a perfect treat to finish our Icelandic trip. Finally, our experience completely match our high expectations. We spent a really enjoyable moment to relax with a mud mask and a cocktail in such amazing hot thermal pool! In short the Blue Lagoon is an otherworldly wonder in the heart of a volcanic landscape.
In this post, we are telling you about our experience in the Blue Lagoon and why we think you should plan a visit in this spot. We are also sharing some tips and practical information that could be useful to know beforehand to enjoy a perfect visit :). Hopefully, it will answer some questions that you may have before your visit.
Table of Contents
Visit the Blue Lagoon or not?
We read contradicting comments on the Blue Lagoon on different blogs. True it is a very expensive experience as we paid 9,990 ISK/person which was £72 each at the time we went. And yes it is a touristy spot. So is it worth it anyway? Absolutely!
We booked an early slot at 9.00am. One of the first things that struck us was the nice milky colour of the Lagoon. This colour is one of the key ingredient that gives a sensation of being in a surreal and dream place. While it looks blue, the water is actually white. The sun simply makes it look blue!
In total, we stayed about 2h30 there. Once you get inside, you can stay as long as you like to enjoy the different pools. My favourite spot was the in-water mask bar. It is a help yourself bar where you can apply a silica mud to your face and body. After a few minutes and of course a couple of pictures you can rinse it and you will feel a cleansing radiance sensation!
Alexis’s favourite place was the in-water bar. How cool and refreshing is it to chose a smoothie that you can drink without leaving the water ;)! There is also a sauna, a steam cave and a steam room. You will see time flies so fast.
However after 11am the spot becomes quite crowded. And we had stil one last spot to explore before catching our plane – the Reykjanes peninsula – see our post with our full itinerary of 5 days.

What package should you book?
If you are now convinced that you want to enjoy this experience, book ahead to avoid disappointment. You must pre-book your tickets online to select one day and a time slot. The Blue Lagoon has become increasingly popular in the last few years, so it has modernized and expanded. If you want to extend your stay and you want to experiment the lagoon at night you can even book a night in one of the 2 luxury hotels.
You can choose between 3 packages [prices as of June 2020]:
- Comfort [from ISK 5,990*] : entrance to the Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, towel and 1 drink
- Premium [from ISK 8,990*] : comfort package + second mask, slippers, bathrobe, table booking at Lava restaurant and 1 glass of sparkling wine
- Luxury – retreat spa [from ISK 79,000*] : unlimited access to the Retreat Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon
*The sooner you book your ticket the better it is since the price increase as you get closer to the date. We booked a comfort package in August and we paid ISK 9,990 / person.
Personally we think you don’t need to book the most expensive package to spend an amazing time and to get great pictures in the Blue Lagoon.
How to get there and what is the best time to visit the Blue Lagoon?
The Blue Lagoon is located on the main highway that connects Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík. You have to turn at the sign marked “Blue Lagoon” and then you keep driving for about 10km. It takes about 20 min from Keflavík Airport to Blue Lagoon and 50 min from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon. The majority of the tourist will go there either as their first stop in Iceland or on their way back to the airport. Personally, I think it is much better to hit the Blue Lagoon just before taking off, especially if you plan a long road trip in Iceland. You will be delighted at the end of your trip to be able to chill and relax. And it will be something to look forward until the last hours of your trip.
The Blue Lagoon opens at 8am. We really recommend to get there as early as possible. It will enable you to enjoy the spot with less tourist. As a result you should appreciate the vastness of the geothermal pools in peace :). On the opposite, you should avoid to come at peak time during lunch break.
Tell me more about this spot and the water
The water in the Blue Lagoon originates 2,000 meters below the surface and is full of silica, algae, and minerals which gives it very atypic colour. The water is brought up from a geothermal power plant next door and used to create electricity for nearby communities before it goes into the lagoon. As a result it is not a natural hot spring.
This aquamarine coloured water and thick white silica mud are known to make your complexion bright and your skin super-soft. We were surprised the water is not so hot but the temperature varies depending where you are. The temperature is usually ranging between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius (98 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit).

What do you need to bring ?
Don’t forget to take your flip flop with you. It is very convenient and you can leave them at the entrance of the lagoon with the towel that is included in each package. Of course it may be obvious but bring your most photogenic swimsuit and don’t forget your booking email. There are big locker rooms so you can change and leave your stuff in the changing room. If you have long hair bring a hair tie.
If you plan on taking some photos there it can be useful to have a waterproof case. Alternatively you can hold your camera/phone above the water to get some memories of this great day :). Be extra careful to not submerge your phone without a case even if it is waterproof as the mineral rich water could damage it. You can go to the changing room as often as you want if you need to leave your device in your locker.
Other helpful tips (special ladies)
Ladies this section is for you. I gathered a couple of tips that might interest you. Hopefully it will reassure you before your visit.
First of all don’t worry – your hair will not get ruin because you spend a couple of hours in the lagoon! As the geothermal seawater has high levels of silica, it is true that you hair could get a strange texture but it will last maximum 48 hours. It is highly recommended to apply conditioner to your hair before entering into the lagoon. I also suggest that you tie them in a bun or a ponytail. You will probably be there only once in your life so if you want the full experience, put your face underwater and just enjoy.
Another tip, I wish I would have known before I visit this place, I recommend that you remove your rings before entering in the lagoon. It would be a pity that it get tarnished by the geothermal seawater.
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