A trip to Iceland would be incomplete without a stop at the famous Blue Lagoon. You’re probably already familiar with the photos of the milky-blue waters against the backdrop of snow-covered lava rocks and people with white clay masks enjoying a steamy hot bath in the lagoon. But is it worth the hype? And should you splurge on the spa package? Read on for our honest review of the Blue Lagoon experience.
What is the Blue Lagoon?
The Blue Lagoon is a sprawling complex that includes two hotels, a spa, shop, restaurants and cafés, built around a man-made lagoon. Indeed, contrary to what you might think, the Blue Lagoon is not a natural hot spring, but is actually waste water from the nearby Svartsengí geothermal power plant. But don’t worry, the geothermal seawater is completely safe, it renews itself every 48 hours, and has a constant 39 degrees Celsius – just perfect for a hot bath on a cold winter day! It is rich in silica, algae, and minerals, giving it healing and nourishing properties. In fact, in the ‘80s, the water was mainly used as a treatment for psoriasis. Nowadays, you can enjoy a whole range of treatments, from facials to in-water massages.
Booking the Blue Lagoon experience
You can visit the Blue Lagoon either on a day visit, or by staying at one of the hotels in the complex. Most people go for a day visit and club it with other tours, like the Golden Circle. However, if you want to really enjoy it, plan to spend at least half a day there. For day visits, there are 3 packages available at different prices. The Comfort package is the cheapest (49 €) and, aside from the entrance, includes a towel, a silica mud mask and a welcome drink. This is recommended for those that are short on time and just want a quick experience for the famous white mask selfie. The Premium package is slightly more expensive (70 €) and gets you an additional mask, slippers, bathrobe and a restaurant reservation. Worth the upgrade, if you ask us.
For those that want a more private and exclusive experience, there is the luxury Retreat Spa package, which costs 278 € per person (minimum 2 people). It includes a welcome drink, bathrobes and slippers, a complete body treatment with silica scrub and algae body lotion, the use of a private changing suite and bathroom, and the unlimited use of all other facilities like sauna and steam rooms for a total of 4 hours.
The best option is to book it either on your way from or to the airport, since it is closer to the airport than Reykjavik. We did it as a day trip from Reykjavik and regretted wasting so much time on the bus.
Honest tip: Be sure to book your entry ticket well in advance – you will have to select the date and timeslot – as sometimes it can get fully booked days or even weeks in advance.
Is the luxury Retreat Spa experience worth the price?
We visited the Blue Lagoon on Valentine’s Day and close to Andre’s birthday so we decided to splurge and go for the most private, although expensive, option.
The Spa’s atmosphere is very relaxed and for 4 hours we had access to the private part of the lagoon – at most times we were the only ones in the water. Keep in mind that photos and noise are not allowed inside or outside. However, you can always ask the staff to take photos of you, which they’ll then send to your registered email. Alternatively, you can walk to the main pools, where you can take photos at will.
The package includes a 3-step spa ritual, with different scrubs and masks which you will have to apply in a specific sequence. You can apply the silica and algae masks any time you like, however a dedicated staff is there to assist and direct you to get the best results from these treatments. Even though they are administered in common areas, there is usually space for everyone.
Just before leaving, the manager gifted us a complete set of creams and masks to use at home.
All in all, we loved the exclusive experience, the concept of privacy and the body treatments, but the price is quite high, so save it for a special occasion.
Honest tip: A good alternative is to spend a night at the Retreat hotel which includes access to the Retreat Spa and the Blue Lagoon, as well as breakfast and other amenities. It is a cost effective solution, considering that a night there costs just slightly more than the 4 hours access to the Spa.
How to reach the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik
The Blue Lagoon is located near the international airport, some 50 minutes from Reykjavik city center. If you rented a car, just head towards the airport and then follow the signs for the blue lagoon. You’ll find an exit to a secondary road after the town of Vogar, which takes you straight to your destination.
If you don’t have a car, you can use a taxi or a shuttle bus. We wouldn’t recommend the use of taxis as they are extremely expensive. The shuttle buses network is instead well developed and reasonably priced. There are many options available, from the transport offered by the Blue Lagoon itself to many private companies.
We used the Blue Lagoon shuttle by Reykjavik Excursions and were quite happy with it. When you book your transportation online or at any local office, you need to mention the bus stop and timing you want them to pick you up. These are the public transportation stops and are used by everyone as reference.
Most of the time, your bus won’t drive you directly to destination. An intermediate stop is usually added at the main bus terminal where you will be asked to board another bus. This process may be time consuming, so read carefully the next paragraph before booking your ride.
A two-way bus ride costs between 5,500 ISK (40 euro) to 8,000 (60 Euro) depending on the company you use and the trip you chose. A Reykjavik – Blue Lagoon – Keflavik Airport is usually cheaper than a return ride to the capital.
Be aware of the time required
As earlier mentioned, companies usually send minivans to collect customers from the city and to transport them to the main bus terminal. Some have their own terminal at the city’s outskirts. There you have to convert your mobile ticket (if you bought the ride online) to a physical one and board the bus heading to the Blue Lagoon. Be there early because the bus fills quickly and you don’t want to be the one told to wait for the next bus. If you return to Reykjavik after enjoying the thermal waters, be ready to be dropped to the BSI terminal first and then to your bus stop by a dedicated minivan.
Note: You cannot book your seat, and the service is on first come first served basis. It is possible that the bus ride you booked gets full if you are late.
We understood that the ride was 50 minutes from the pick up time. However, it takes 50 minutes from the moment you leave the main bus terminal. Just because Andre insisted in arriving there much earlier we managed to arrive with just 10 minutes of delay. So make sure you are there early to make the most of your Blue Lagoon experience.
You may be interested in reading also: Iceland Golden Circle Day Trip
It’s touristy but we loved it here! I always recommend going right when you land, since you’re already in the area
(and for my US friends, it’s usually a redeye and therefore not as crowded)
I still need to post my pics and my experience on my travel blog, on visit50.com – I’m shared some on my IG already