Where Is Blue Lagoon & Why Should I Go?
The Blue Lagoon and spa (see their official page here) is located in a lava field near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula just a half-hour or roughly 12 miles out from Keflavik International Airport. Yes, it’s a little touristy and definitely pricey — $55 to $80 per person depending on your package when we went in Sept. 2019. But if you have limited time and want the all-out Icelandic hot spring experience, this is it.
We stopped there for a few hours after our flight landed in Reykjavik, so we could recover from jet lag before grabbing our rental van. You’ll want between 2-4 hours to spend there. There’s also a world-class restorative spa and multiple hotels onsite if you’d like to extend your stay. A free drink is included with your lagoon ticket (which includes alcoholic beverages, water/pop, or delicious smoothies), as well as a mud mask.
What Is Blue Lagoon Like?
Swimming in Blue Lagoon is truly an other-worldly experience straight out of a dystopian society novel — picture guards in uniform circling a huge geothermally warmed spa, walking around black volcanic, mountainous landscape. All while you lazily drift from bar to bar in the spa, detox in the sauna, and drink the fresh glacier water straight from the tap under a bridge. The water averages 37–39 °C (99–102 °F) and at its deepest, the lagoon is 4.7 feet deep.
Guests are required to shower prior to using the geothermal spa. The communal showers are split up by gender, and kids age 8 and under are only allowed entry with the use of arm floaters, provided free of charge. Children under 2 are not permitted in the Blue Lagoon, but it is wheelchair-accessible with a ramp leading down into the water. There is also a private changing room available for those with special needs.
Why Is The Water So Special?
If you needed another reason to visit Blue Lagoon, the silica and minerals in the water have scientifically researched healing properties, too. With the water renewing every 2 days, the average pH is 7.5 and the salt content is 2.5%. Very few living things survive in the water apart from blue-green algae, so don’t worry about anything biting your toes! It’s also naturally disinfected, so it contains no fecal bacteria, fungi, or plants.
Scientists around the world are studying the water’s effects. Studies made in the ’90s confirmed that the lagoon had a beneficial effect on the skin disease psoriasis. So just imagine what 1-2 hours soaking in this magic cocktail of a warm hug will do for your ailments! We felt incredible afterward.
In 2017, more than 1.3 million guests visited the Blue Lagoon. Although you’ll see conflicting opinions on other travel sites, what it really boils down to is whether or not you care how “natural” the lagoon is today. (It’s supplied by water used in the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power station.) Though it used to be a more intimate experience for locals, it’s now a big business. We’re of the mind that we can’t change that now… so why not enjoy the experience while it’s still there?
Showering Naked Beforehand Is Respectful
A note of importance: Be prepared to shower naked before you enter the pools. Yes, completely NAKED. It is custom here to be squeaky clean to protect the water’s properties and honor the pool’s integrity. Men and women do have their own shower rooms, so don’t be shy about stripping down in front of others. It’s completely normal here, with locals growing up doing this — in fact, if you don’t, you’ll be chastised. Be respectful.
*Just don’t forget to book your Blue Lagoon tickets in advance because they do sell out, and often, you’ll get stuck with morning sessions.
Want to find more to do in Reykjavik, Iceland? Click here for our top 5 favorites.
