A bucket list item for many adventure travelers, the geothermal spa at the Blue Lagoon is a must for anyone traveling to Iceland. Here you can take a dip in the lagoon’s heated, milky-blue, silica-rich waters, a guilty pleasure in an otherwise rugged land. It is beautiful, surreal, rejuvenating, and some say, healing.
The Blue Lagoon is the most convenient and accessible attraction in Iceland, located in a lava field just fifteen minutes from the airport. Because of its proximity to the airport, many tourists make the Blue Lagoon either the first or the last thing they do in Iceland. It’s close enough that if you have a long layover in Iceland you could still possibly visit the Blue Lagoon. In fact, more than a few travelers purposely book a long layover in order to visit the lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is also just 50 minutes from Reykjavik.
The Blue Lagoon is not a natural body of water. The water comes from the adjacent geothermal plant. When the plant first opened, the runoff water made pools. A psoriasis patient bathed in the silica-rich water and noticed it helped with his symptoms. Word spread about the healing properties of the lagoon, and the location gradually expanded to become what it is today.
Prior to my visit to Iceland I had heard about the crowds during the day at the Blue Lagoon. Luckily, my red-eye flight to Iceland arrived at 5:45AM, and with the lagoon just a short distance away, I was able to arrive when it opened.
You will want to make online reservations for your visit to the Blue Lagoon. Prices start at $46 USD per person.
The lagoon felt so good after my red-eye flight.
The water is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It felt like a warm bath to me.
Prior to entering the lagoon you must take a shower in the locker room that is supervised by Blue Lagoon personnel. Though they are required to watch and verify that you take a shower, the workers weren’t watching too closely and it wasn’t uncomfortable on my visit.
Silica deposits are found throughout the lagoon and there is a silica station in the middle of the lagoon where you can apply the silica to your face and body.
The steam from the geothermal plant adds a nice visual.
There is a cafe at the Blue Lagoon with sandwiches, fruit cups, smoothies etc. I didn’t eat at the cafe, instead I traveled to nearby Grindavik for an awesome lunch at Papa’s Restaurant (highly recommended).
By the time I was leaving Blue Lagoon, which was mid-morning, the place was filling up quickly with tourists arriving by the busload.
Skincare products and accessories are available at the store.
The Verdict
Overall, the Blue Lagoon is a cool, but somewhat pricey destination. If you go, try to visit early in the morning when it opens to avoid the crowds. I don’t recommend visiting with anything that involves a tour bus, as you could be standing in line for awhile. This is a half-day destination at the most, for you can only spend so much time standing in what amounts to warm bath water. Not to take anything away from the water, as the heated water and the crisp Iceland weather make a perfect, rejuvenating combination. You WILL feel better after your visit to the Blue Lagoon, even if the feeling is only psychological. Also, be sure to stop by the harbor town of Grindavik on your trip to the Blue Lagoon. Despite being 5-10 minutes away from the lagoon, the town is relatively untouched by tourism and remains an authentic snapshot of Iceland.
