Are you wondering if the famous Blue Lagoon in Iceland is really worth the hype or just another overrated tourist trap? Watch my video to find out!
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If you’re curious about what makes this hot spring so talked about and whether it’s truly worth your time and money, this video has the answers you’re looking for. As a seasoned traveler who’s visited 65 countries, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate pricing, logistics, and whether or not certain experiences live up to their reputation.
In this video, I break down everything you need to know about visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, from how to get there and what packages to choose, to tips on making the most of your experience (while avoiding the crowds).
I’ll share my personal experience, including practical advice on beating jet lag, maximizing your stay, and whether the lagoon’s pricing and amenities justify the cost. If you’re trying to decide whether to add the Blue Lagoon to your Iceland itinerary, this video will help you make an informed decision while providing insider tips to ensure you have the best experience possible!
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Where to Stay to Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
They actually have two hotels at the Blue Lagoon, The Retreat Hotel and the Silica Hotel. If you want to experience all the spa treatments and amazing things at the Blue Lagoon, then I recommend staying at those hotels.
But, there is absolutely nothing around the Blue Lagoon, so it will be 25 minutes back to the airport or an hour back to Reykjavik. If you’d rather spend less time at the lagoon and more time exploring Iceland, I recommend staying at a hotel in Reykjavik.
Places to Stay at the Blue Lagoon:
Places to Stay in Reykjavik:
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Are you curious about the Blue Lagoon in Iceland? Where is it, how to get there, how much does it cost, and is it worth the money? Well, this video has all of the tips and tricks you’re going to need to know for going to the Blue Lagoon!
I’m Kim, The Abundant Traveler, and welcome to the channel! I’ve been to 65 countries, lived in five, and I am a travel expert. And I’m here to make your travels easier, more fun, and more seamless, and provide inspiration and ideas for you.
Let’s go ahead and get started with the Blue Lagoon. What’s interesting about the Blue Lagoon is that it was artificially created in the early 70s. It is actually a pool from a runoff of a geothermal plant. Today, the water is replenished every 48 hours, and it comes up from 2,000 meters below. It’s full of minerals, algae, and silica, which gives it that beautiful blue hue.
So, how do you get to the Blue Lagoon? Well, if you’re coming from Reykjavik, it’s about $80 US to get there with a taxi, and it’s about $35 if you’re going by bus. Best thing to do, in my opinion, and it’s what we did, we actually landed at the international airport, and it’s about a 25-minute drive. We rented a car, so it was very easy to get off the plane, get our luggage, get our rental car, and head to the Blue Lagoon.
Actually, there is a tip out there that says it will help you get over jet lag if you sit in warm water right after you’ve gotten off an international flight! So, we took about 2 hours inside the Blue Lagoon right after we got off the plane.
Now, how much does the Blue Lagoon cost? Well, you can spend about $95 for the basic package, and this is one face mask, which was a lot of fun, and one drink. You also get a towel if you upgrade, which is about a $25 upgrade. Then, you can get two masks, so you get a wrinkle mask and a silica mask to make your skin feel very smooth. You also get two drinks in the bar instead of just one, and some of the drinks that they have, they’ve got beer and wine and cider. They also have some great green juice and a carrot juice. Really, really delicious. Not super high-end alcohol, but it is great, and when it’s included in your package, that’s even better.
Also, with the next package, which is the middle package, you also get a robe, and honestly, it was really, really nice to be at the Blue Lagoon wandering around outside of the lagoon and be able to use a robe. So, if it were me, and I recommend to you, I recommend doing the middle package, at least. And their top package, which includes some of their mineral products, is about another $40 more. So, for me, I think the best is the middle package, where you get the bathrobe, two masks, and two drinks.
So, something to note when you are booking your package, if you do have to pick a particular time. We chose 10:00 a.m. for a 6:00 a.m. arrival into Iceland at the international airport, and we were actually about 30 minutes early. So, we arrived at 9:30 instead of our 10:00, and they went ahead and let us in.
So, when you check in, they give you a wristband, and the color of the wristband depends on which package you bought. And as you’re going, you’re getting your face mask, or you’re getting your drinks, they will actually scan your band. They will also check your band to let you know whether you can get a bathrobe or just a towel.
What’s so crazy, is when we were checking in, the lady said, if you hear any alarms go off, what you need to do is get out of the pool, grab your clothes, and we’re all evacuating because there’s been so much volcanic activity in the area. So, despite the warning, nothing happened, and we had a wonderful time at the Blue Lagoon.
You know, if you’re interested in going to Iceland and looking for the perfect packing guide, then make sure to go to the description below and download my free guide! It is free, and I promise you there are going to be a couple of things you’re not thinking about when you’re packing for your trip to Iceland. So, download the free guide here.
So, after you check in, you’re given all of your goodies, and you go in, and you are required to take a shower. They really want you to take it without your bathing suit because they want to keep the water as fresh as possible. Additionally, they do recommend that you keep the conditioner in your hair because the water is very, very harsh on your hair. Full of silica and algae, so they want you to keep all of the conditioner in your hair, as well, to keep your hair soft and delicious. Then, after you’ve had a shower, you go into the Blue Lagoon, and then you start to relax.
The Blue Lagoon is so popular. It’s one of the biggest tourist attractions here in Iceland and there were so many people. When we got there at 9:30, the Blue Lagoon was open, there weren’t many people. But, by 10:30 / 10:45, there was a line like 20 people deep for a single drink, and another line about 20 people deep just to get your silica mask. So, I would recommend going to the Blue Lagoon as early as you can, or going really late in the evening. That’s one of the perks of going in the summer to Iceland. It’s like 20 hours of sunlight, so you can go super early and do things and super late.
Despite so many people at the Blue Lagoon, there are so many little nooks and private spaces. There’s bridges that you can go under, there’s a private area where no phones, no music, no nothing is allowed over there. There are little nooks around the lava fields that you can go to, and you can have some private time without so many people around you. But, in general, if you’re in the main area, which is a huge open area, it’s gorgeous, but it is absolutely full of people.
So, what does the Blue Lagoon feel like? It is warm and inviting! It’s like a perfect, I don’t know, 102° in Fahrenheit. It’s so, so yummy and relaxing. It’s only about 4 feet deep, so there’s no diving, there’s not people swimming around. You’re just kind of floating and enjoying. It’s like sitting in a hot tub, except your hot tub is gigantic, surrounded by lava fields.
If this type of hot springs is your jam, well, they actually have a little cafe and a restaurant, formal restaurant. The restaurant doesn’t open until lunch, so we actually left prior to the restaurant opening. They also have two hotels, The Retreat Hotel, which starts at about $1,600 a night. They also have the Silica Hotel, which starts about $700 a night. Now, if you want all the spa treatments and you want to do all the amazing things at the Blue Lagoon, then I recommend staying at those hotels if you want to spend that money.
But, there is absolutely nothing around the Blue Lagoon, so it’s going to be 25 minutes back to the airport or an hour back to Reykjavik if you are going to be staying at those two hotels. So, I’d suggest if you want to spend time at the Blue Lagoon, then stay at the hotels. If not, come and go, do your thing, and go ahead and leave and stay at your hotel either at the airport or in Reykjavik.
So, despite all the hype and all the tourists, is Blue Lagoon worth it? Well, for me, it absolutely was! It was a great way to kick the jet lag from my overseas flight. It was great because it’s right outside of the international airport. It was fantastic because it was very relaxing and soothing and, supposedly, I’ve done one of the best things you can do in the entire world. Yes, it’s worth $115. Yes, it’s absolutely worth it! You want to go see the Blue Lagoon when you are in Iceland.
Again, I’m Kim, The Abundant Traveler. Thanks so much for watching! Make sure to check out this video on Iceland, as well, and I will see y’all on the next adventure.
