As many of you know, we just got back from a 5 day trip to Iceland! I plan to share more about the trip in the weeks that come, but today wanted to share what I know about the Blue Lagoon. Most of the questions about our trip have been about the Blue Lagoon! Although extremely tourist-y, it is an absolute must for a trip to Iceland.
What exactly is the Blue Lagoon?
First of all, the Blue Lagoon is not natural. This blew my mind when I actually looked into it for our trip. The Blue Lagoon is basically just a really nice spa that is heated by water from the geothermal plant next door. The water is around 100 degrees (basically a big hot tub!) The land and lava surrounding this giant pool are all natural, and the water is natural, but it’s not it’s some natural phenomenon!
Where is the Blue Lagoon?
It is not in Reykjavik, it is actually really close to the airport (which is about 45 minutes from Reykjavik). My first piece of advice for you is to go straight from the airport. It would be a waste to go straight into Reykjavik when you are so close to Blue Lagoon when you arrive. Most of the flights to Iceland arrive in the morning and you can’t check-in to your hotel or Airbnb until the afternoon. Going in the morning right after your flight is a perfect way to fill that time (and so relaxing after that long flight!) Why not go on the way out of town? We were tired and ready to go home at the end, so I don’t think we would have enjoyed it as much if we went at the end.
Do I need a Reservation?
Yes! Your reservation is good for a 60 minute window. For example, if you book the 12pm time slot, you have to enter by 1pm. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get your luggage, go through customs, find the shuttle, etc. and still be at your reservation no later than 60 minutes after you booked. I would book your reservation at least a month in advance as it does sell out (or so I heard!)
What Package Should I Book?
You only need to book the ‘comfort’ package. There are other more expensive packages, but they really aren’t necessary. The comfort package includes a towel, a free drink, and all the face masks you could wish for. It is not necessary for the experience to have a robe, slippers, etc. but if you want to go all, go for it! We saw some people getting in-water massages and it looked amazing. If you really want to go all out, book a massage or some spa services as well!
How did you get there?
We booked our transportation to and from the Blue Lagoon through their website. The bus picked us up from the airport and drove us to the Blue Lagoon. A bus then picked us up after the Blue Lagoon and took us to downtown Reykjavik where we were staying. I doubt it was the cheapest option, but was super handy!
What do we do with our suitcases?
Assuming you are coming straight from the airport, you will have big suitcases with you. There is a baggage storage area in the parking lot of the Blue Lagoon. For a few bucks a bag, you can store it there (bags are always supervised) while you enjoy the Blue Lagoon.
Was it Crowded?
Yes it was crowded, but it did not takeaway from our experience. You can see that there are people in the background of some of our photos, but there is plenty of space for everyone. We had no issue walking or swimming where we wanted. The bar area was pretty crowded, but otherwise, this was not an issue. I also heard that the earlier you go in the day, the less crowded.
What should I bring?
- Pack your swimsuit in your carry-on bag. As previously mentioned, you will have to store any large suitcases in their bag storage area, so you will need to have any items you need with you. We brought flip flops but did not really use them. You will walk barefoot from the locker room area to the pool.
- Bring a change of clothes in your carry-on for after the lagoon. This might sound obvious but we did not think of it! After being in the lagoon we had to change back to the clothes that we traveled in (because the luggage was stored). The worst!
- Bring a phone with a waterproof case. I personally wouldn’t recommend bringing a large DSLR camera. You just don’t really know if it will get wet.
- Bring snacks with you for before or after the lagoon. The food there was expensive (and didn’t look that great) so I would recommend eating some snacks on the bus. You get a free drink there (anything on the menu) so you can order a smoothie or something if you are hungry too.
What’s the deal with conditioning your hair?
Use the conditioner! I was dead set on leaving my hair down and dry for the Blue Lagoon (got to get the shot, right?) then get it wet after taking some photos. But after hearing horror stories about what happens to your hair from the Blue Lagoon if you do not condition it beforehand, I reconsidered. The Blue Lagoon requires that you take a shower before going in. Apply massive amounts of conditioner to your hair and leave it in for the lagoon. Your hair will not be all dry and gross after!
How long were you there?
We stayed at the Blue Lagoon for about three hours. We spent a lot of time just hanging out and sipping drinks in the Blue Lagoon and we also used the steam room, sauna, and relaxation area. If you plan to get some sort of spa treatment I would plan on four hours. Three hours was sufficient for us. We were plenty hot and pruned by the time we left!
Any other questions? Let me know! Tell me, is the Blue Lagoon on any of your bucket lists?