Everyone should experience the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, if only one time in their life. Today I’m going to go over my visit to this Geothermal Spa in Iceland and talk about how it was made, how to get there, and so much more. If you have questions about this iconic tourist attraction, I can guarantee they are answered in this tell-all review.
What is the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik?
This is a spa in the country of Iceland that is open 365 days per year offering a one of a kind experience. The spa water is completely renewed every 48 hours and it’s full of minerals that benefit your skin, such as silica and sulfur.
It’s also important to know that it’s not located in Reykjavik. This is a very common belief that many people fail to grasp. I guess people think that since most of the Icelandic people reside there, that’s where location, but it’s not. It’s in Grindavik.
The drive takes about 45 minutes. I used a tour company and had an amazing experience.
When you arrive, you’ll have a quick walk from the parking lot to the main building. This is where you will check in and get situated.
Make sure you book well in advance of your visit. If you plan on just “dropping in” you may find yourself “SOL.” (Sorry, out of luck.)
You heard it here first. It’s a very popular place and very well ran, so you won’t find yourself sliding a $20 to someone to get in. It’s very straight forward. Book ahead, and thank me later.
You have three options to choose from when you book your visit to the Blue Lagoon. All of them provide you access to the facility, so I’ll break down what you get with each option other than the obvious.
#1: Comfort
- Silica Mud Mask
- Use of Towel
- 1st Drink of your choice
2018 Price: 6990 ISK
#2: Premium
- Silica Mud Mask
- Use of Towel
- 1st Drink of your choice
- Algae Mask
- Use of Bathrobe
- Slippers
- Reservation at LAVA (optional)
- Sparkling wine if dining at LAVA
2018 Price: 9990 ISK
#3: Luxury
- Private Changing Rooms
- Entrance to Blue Lagoon
- Silica Mud Mask
- Use of Towel
- 1st Drink of your choice
- Algae Mask
- Use of Bathrobe
- Slippers
- Reservation at LAVA (optional)
- Sparkling wine if dining at LAVA
- Spa Journey Product Set
2018 Price: 53,000 ISK
If you know me by now, you know I’m not really a budget traveler, and some would consider me boujee by nature. I don’t think I’m boujee, but I do subscribe to the #YOLO theory in life, and especially when it comes to travel. I never knew if I’d return to Iceland and be able to do this again, so I went all in and spoiled myself to an experience I’ll never forget. Of course, now that I did it, I’m clamoring to get back and do it all over!
That said, along with my girlfriend, we chose the Luxury package. We were just coming from a rigorous hike and felt it would be a great way to reward ourselves and relax.
The Luxury Package Experience in Detail
This luxury package did NOT disappoint! Once you are in the facility, you are led by a private escort to a room where you can comfortably change, leave your belongings locked, shower, relax, and clean up. Once the attendant showed us around this room, we were headed down a flight of stairs to a private entrance and relaxation room full with fireplace, food, beverages, tea, and all sorts of snacks. A personal bartender was available to us as well and everything was charged to a wristband that had a chip in it. The direct access to the lagoon was through a private door that started with a private pool allowing us to acclimate to the water temperature and make-up prior to joining the masses outside.
Once in the lagoon, it’s literally the world’s largest selfie party! Everyone has selfie sticks, camera phones, or digital camera’s to document the entire experience. It’s almost overwhelming how large the man-made pools are, as they seem to go on forever. It’s a lot to take in at first. Everything from the grotto, to the happening bar area, to the pop up spa offering the algae and silica mud masks.
I experienced all of it, recorded some videos, took many pics, and retreated to the lounge for a 15 minute break. We did this twice during our three hours, and it was unreal to have the ability to have a home base of sort. It sure beat having to put our items in a locker and change in a public changing area, that’s for sure. You will also notice that if you aren’t in the luxury package you have to run outside with your provided robe, hang it up, and enter the pool as fast as possible in order to avoid the chilly wind. I’m not saying it’s the worst experience in the world if you have to do it that way, but if you have the budget to upgrade, I strongly suggest you do it. I don’t regret it one bit.
Things to Take Into Consideration
You are required to shower. Pretty standard practice if you ask me. They do require that you do it naked, but there are stalls so you will get privacy.
Women especially are encouraged to use lots of the provided conditioner. Plan on your hair being beat up quite a bit due to the elements and try to avoid the water. Being a male, I totally didn’t care about this part.
Another cool thing is that you can visit on your way to or from the airport. So if you are flying out in the afternoon and don’t have morning plans, you can spend the free time here on your way to the airport, since it’s on the way.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where is the Blue Lagoon Located?
Grindavik, which is between Reykjavik, and Keflavik.
Is the Blue Lagoon Man Made or Natural?
Many people ask “how was the Blue Lagoon Formed?
The spa is man made. It was made in 1976. While the surrounding land is entirely made of lava, and the land is natural, the heated water is made possible by the runoff from a nearby geothermal plant. While it’s not a “wonder of the world,” you’ll still be marveled at how they erected such a large hot spring of sort.
How much time can be spent here?
I booked a three hour stay, but you can certainly make a day out of it, especially if you invest in spa treatments.
How old do you have to be to get in?
Two years old. Up to 13 years old gets free admission.
How warm is the water?
The water temperature is 39°C / 102°F. There are areas of the water that are noticeably hotter than others.
When is the best time to Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland?
I visited during the Winter and hoped to see the Northern Lights. However, it was too stormy and we weren’t able to see them. While the experience was highly enjoyable, many people say that visiting in the Summer to see the “Midnight Moon” is very cool.
So that’s my down low on one of the coolest destinations you can visit in all of Europe. I’ll happily answer any questions or assist you however possible if you leave comments below.
Update April 2018: I’ll be visiting again in June of 2018! More content to come!
If you liked this Blue Lagoon review, make sure to check out my related Iceland content:
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum.
