When planning a trip to Iceland you will probably come across the famous Blue Lagoon more times than you can count. Perhaps, soaking in the milky blue water was your driving force to book your ticket to this country.
If you have never heard of it or seen the mesmerizing videos of it on the internet, the Blue Lagoon is a spa and a man made hot spring. Since the warm water is made up of silica, algae and minerals, it will do wonders to your skin.
Year round, the temperature of the water is 102 F / 39 C. It is not as hot as a hot tub, but more like lukewarm bath water. I found it is very entertaining to soak in the warm water for hours in a string bikini as the lifeguards circle the pool in warm, fur trimmed coats.
Location
The Blue Lagoon is located right outside of Keflavik. Why does the name Keflavik look familiar? You may not be able to pronounce it, but if you have booked your ticket to Iceland, you have seen it. Keflavik International Airport is most likely your first stop in Iceland, because… well, there are not too many options to fly in to.
Many people take a quick dip when having a layover in Iceland, because the hot spring is only located 15 minutes away from the airport. You can book a shuttle from the airport, where there are storage lockers on site for you to conveniently store your luggage while taking a soak.
Due to its proximity to the airport, I would suggest booking your ticket to the Blue Lagoon either shortly after you land, or while you are heading back to the airport at the end of your trip. I booked mine as a final stop. I figured that a nice, relaxing soak at a spa was the best way to send the vacation before heading onto a crammed flight home. Also, if I would have done it in the beginning, I know I would have been anxious to leave and see what else Iceland has to offer.
Cost
One of the most common questions I see is: Is the Blue Lagoon worth it? I have to admit, when I saw the price attached to the ticket, I had my hesitations. For a few moments, I considered the other, less expensive choices, like the Secret Lagoon. But I figured, I would come all that way to see Iceland, I better check out one of its most popular attractions.
To cut down on costs, I recommend you bring your own towel and purchase the standard package. This will get you access to the lagoon, your own locker, saunas and showers.
What to Expect
We pre-booked our tickets for the first time slot in the morning, so there was not a long line to get in. The entrance was beautiful constructed and set the mood for a relaxing spa environment. There were signs posted around the ticket office with fun facts and displays with beauty products for sale.
When you give the ticket office your voucher, they clasp an electronic bracelet onto your wrist and explain how it will be the key to your locker and a way to charge items while you are in the Blue Lagoon. Then, they sent you on your way to the locker rooms.
The ladies locker room was spacious and clean. There are many attendants around to assist you with the locker and to dry the floors. It was really cool using the bracelets as a lock for the lockers and felt very futuristic. Now, that you are undressed and in your swimsuit, it was time for the showers.
Most hot springs require you to take a shower before entering to cut down of the contamination of outside sources and also promote cleanliness in the water. Showering in public locker rooms always causes some anxiety for me. However, these showers were really nice and private, so I did not feel exposed.
Tip: Before you enter the Blue Lagoon hot spring, coat your hair with conditioner and do not wash it out. The minerals in the water may cause your hair to get dry, but the conditioner helps prevent it.
Once we were dressed and showered, we were allowed to make our way into the Blue Lagoon. Since we arrived so early, we had the first few hours of the Blue Lagoon practically to ourselves. Even as it got closer to noon and more people arrived, but it was not crowded.
Things to Know
Pre-book your tickets. This is one of Iceland’s biggest tourist destinations, which means you run the chance of not being able to enter if you did not have a pre-booked ticket.
This Geothermal spa has saunas, restaurants, swim up bars, lockers, showers, etc. All for your comfort and convenience.
The National Geographic has named it one of the top 25 Wonders of the World.
The Blue Lagoon is technically the waste water from the nearby geothermal power plant, which really turns off some people. But, it is complete safe to swim in!
The spa is surrounded by 800 year old lava fields.
Do Not Wear Jewelry into the Blue Lagoon.
Please make sure you do not bring jewelry into the pool. Due to the mineral concentration of the water, it may cause your jewelry to tarnish or discolor. So, make sure anything you are wearing is safely locked up in your locker. You should only be wearing your swimsuit and Blue Lagoon bracelet into the water.
There is another big reason not to wear any valuable jewelry into the pool. Please learn from my bad example.
As soon as I got into the water, I remember that I still had my brand-new wedding band still on my finger. Of course, I did not want anything to happen to it, so I quickly took it off and proceeded to place it in my underwater phone holder—thinking it would be nice and safe in there.
Well, I think you know where this story is heading… as I was about to drop it inside, the gold ring slipped out of my wet fingers. While scrambling to catch it and watching it quickly disappear into the milky, blue water, I had the biggest “Oh $hit” moments of my life.
The past few months leading up to this moment, I have seen my new husband drop his in the grass at night, misplace it in bed sheets and run after his as it headed underneath a riding lawn mower at Home Depot. I cannot tell you how many times he has joked to me about losing his ring. But let me tell you, as soon as that ring was out of my sight my first thought was “I CANNOT lose that ring before he does!”
It was definitely not one of my prouder moments. And thank God, we were there early in the morning, when the hot spring only had a few visitors in it. I patted my foot frantically on the floor on the Blue Lagoon until I was able to locate the familiar, circular piece of gold. However, at this location of the pool, the water was up to my chest, which means you cannot really bend over and pick it up. Also, I was not sure if you could dunk your head under the water. You certainly should not open your eyes.
My friend swam over to the lifeguard and asked him if we were allowed to go under the water. He replied “yes” but with a questioning face. While I was watching her do this, I was able to work one of my toes under the metal, and hook it up like a fishing lure. Success! My treasure was safely retrieve, and with assistance this time, I was able to put it in my phone holder.
The Experience
In the water, you will find a few special treats. There is a gorgeous waterfall, near the entrance building, that’s pounding water is great for a neck, shoulder and back massage. Also, the lagoon has a couple of swim up bars. One is a snack and drink bar, which I did not find the cost too outrageous compared to the other Icelandic restaurants.
The other is a silica mask bar, which is FREE! Built into the bar is large cauldrons for you to dip into and smother your face and skin. The mask feels great on your skin and leaves it super silky. Who does not love a free treatment?
The depth of the Blue Lagoon varies throughout the pool. The deepest it will get is about 1.6 meters deep. In the back, there is a shallower area that you can sit and lay down, but still be completely submerged. I liked to lay in the section of the water and fantasize about looking like a mermaid lounging on a rock.
As we were floating on our backs and relaxing, my friend and I heard the strangest thing. It sounded like there was a motorized plane or drone flying above us, but it was nowhere to be found. The sound was a light buzzing/clicking at the base of your neck and shoulders, yet we could not locate the source. Honestly, it was a very unnerving experience.
At this time, the lagoon was practically empty and there was no one around. The clicking disappeared as we made our way to the entrance of the lagoon, and when we went back a few minutes later, the sound was gone. As soon as we were able to connect to the wifi, we were looking up the reason for the buzzing to prove we were not crazy or delusional. Other people have encountered the mysterious sound and took to the internet for some answers.
Of course, there were some creative answers, such as “oh, that is just the elves playing tricks on you”, but then we found that it may be the pumps and filter system. Knowing that other people were as confused as us was a very assuring feeling.
Overall, I do not have any complaints about the Blue Lagoon. The staff was friendly and the facilities were well maintained. It was the best way I could end my first Icelandic experience. I found the whole experience worth my wild, and I would definitely plan to go there again.
