When reading any list of things you should do in Iceland, you will undoubtedly find the Blue Lagoon. This geothermal spa is one of Iceland’s most famous attractions, and most visitors can’t wait to take a dip in the warm, milky-blue water. But when I started researching for our trip to Iceland, it seems like a dissenting opinion about Blue Lagoon is becoming more and more popular. Some people call it touristy and expensive. Others ask why you would visit a man-made hot spring when Iceland is full of natural ones. We decide to find out for ourselves whether Blue Lagoon was worth the price.
Getting to the Blue Lagoon
We arrived in Iceland early in the morning of August 6, 2021 (which just so happened to be our five-year anniversary!), having flown directly to Keflavik Airport from Denver. Since the Blue Lagoon is actually closer to the airport than to Reykjavik, we decided to make it our first stop, and pre-booked their most basic package for the first time-slot of the day, 9:00 a.m. I think that the hours have been extended since our visit, which was not long after Iceland began lifting its Covid restrictions. It is important to note that the Blue Lagoon sells out quickly, especially in the summer months. This is definitely something you will want to book ahead of time.
We arrived in Iceland early enough in the day, that even with getting our Covid documents checked and having to pick up our rental car, we still had time to grab a quick bite to eat at a little bakery in Keflavik and run to the grocery store before making our way to the Blue Lagoon right in time for it to open.
There are a few different packages you can choose from at the Blue Lagoon. If you really want to pamper yourself, you can even stay overnight, but the vast majority of visitors will be choosing between the “comfort” and “premium” packages. The only real differences, in my opinion, are a bathrobe and an extra mud mask. We decided to save a few dollars and go with the comfort package.
Because we visited first thing in the morning, we were able to rush out to the pools and take a few pictures before many people were there, so I recommend choosing the earliest time slot if that’s an option (unless you don’t care about pictures, in which case, the time of day you visit doesn’t really matter.) Our first hour at the Blue Lagoon was very quiet and peaceful, but with each new round of visitors, the pools became more and more crowded. However, the area is actually quite large, so it is not hard to find a corner for yourself even when it’s busy (which it probably will be).
About the Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is huge, and the various sections of the pools range quite a bit in temperature, supposedly between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius (98-104 F). The water is filled with silica, which is what gives the lagoon its famous milky color. Silica is also what makes the water so good for your skin (but not so good for your hair).
We spent about an hour just wandering around the lagoon, finding the warmest water and simply relaxing. Then we made our way over to the face-mask station for the silica mud mask that was included in our package. With our skin glowing, we then visited the swim up bar. One drink is included with the comfort package, but you can purchase more if you would like. I was surprised to learn that we could choose not only from fresh juices, but from alcoholic drinks as well. We enjoyed some sparkling wine as we lounged in the warm water.
Altogether, we ended up spending about three hours in the water. You could easily spend more or less time than this depending on your preference. If you wanted to extend your time, you can also book a massage or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants, but we didn’t do either of these things.
Is It Worth It?
My final opinion is that the Blue Lagoon was worth the cost. It is pricy if you think of it as just sitting in a big hot tub, but the experience was more than that, I think. First, you are getting to experience one of Iceland’s most famous sites, which is worth something in itself. Second, the setting is very beautiful. The contrast of the dark volcanic rock, the green moss, and the bright blue water is very picturesque. Third, the atmosphere was very relaxing. I’m sure this depends on what kind of crowd is there during your visit, but the gentle environment was exactly what I needed after a long flight. I mean, come on, are people really going to complain about a big, beautiful hot tub?
The Blue Lagoon was the perfect first stop on our adventure through Iceland. Little did I know that those first few hours were going to be just about my only opportunity to relax for the next ten days!
Leave a Reply