I think it’s safe to say that Blue Lagoon is one of the top destinations in Iceland and an ultimate bucket list experience! At least it surely was for me and I knew that once I go to Iceland I have to visit this spectacular place. It was surreal – when I was walking into its milky blue waters surrounded by black rocks I honestly felt like in a dream. Iceland hot springs blue lagoon
I loved the Blue Lagoon and I am sure I’ll go there again if I ever travel to Iceland in the future. This is my personal experience from this place and some tips for visiting! Iceland hot springs blue lagoon
How to get there
We planned visiting Blue Lagoon on the first day of our stay in Iceland, right after our arrival. Blue Lagoon, however, is a little bit tricky. If you try to search it in Google Maps, you will find two options – one is directly in Reykjavik and it’s called “Blue Lagoon Spa”. The other “Blue Lagoon Grindavik” is closer to the airport, about 50 km drive from Reykjavik. The second option is the correct one! It took us a while to figure it out, and we drove all the way to Reykjavik to our Airbnb and then 50 km back to jump into those insanely blue hot pools. Iceland hot springs blue lagoon
If your first night is in Reykjavik, you can stop in the Blue Lagoon on your way from the airport. There is a baggage drop and all you need is just your swimwear, they will provide you with towels, bathing robes, shampoo, conditioner, drinking water, hair dryers etc. If you don’t have car in Iceland, you can purchase tickets to Blue Lagoon with transfer included in the price.
Entrance Fees
Blue Lagoon entrance fee depends on the hour when you want to go. Their opening hours change from season to season – in May they were open from 8 am till 11 pm, during summer months June, July and August they open at 7 am and close at midnight. As the evening approaches the prices tend to drop, simply because you have less time to spend there.
We got the basic tickets which cost us 19,980.00 ISK for two people (approximately $252.77 AUD = 160 EUR). Not cheap! Also, keep in mind that you have to book your tickets online in advance! Blue Lagoon is very popular all year round and there is a very little chance you get your tickets right after arrival. For the price of the basic package, you get towels, white silica mask and a drink of your choice.
You can find their complete packages and prices here. Iceland hot springs blue lagoon
When to go and how long to stay
We arrived to the Blue Lagoon at 7 pm and stayed about 2 hours, which was more than enough. When we arrived, the weather did not look great, but by 7 pm the sky cleared. Luckily it wasn’t busy, sun came out and we had a great time. The Lagoon is quite big, so even if you arrive during “busy hour”, it shouldn’t feel crowded. There are plenty of coves and hidden places of rest, as well as bar, sauna and cold shower if you need to cool down.
Other options - Similar hot springs
If you think the price is a bit too high, there are very similar natural hot springs by the Lake Myvatn in the North of Iceland. The price is about half of what you pay in the Blue Lagoon, but the towels and bathrobes are extra (850.00 ISK for towel and 1800.00 ISK for bathrobe). Or you can search for natural pools around Iceland, most of them are for free, but there are no facilities around. Also the water doesn’t have such a beautiful mesmerizing blue color.
Interesting facts about Blue Lagoon
- Blue Lagoon is not natural, it is man-made. There are plenty of natural hot springs around Iceland, but the Blue Lagoon is not one of them. However, its surrounding is natural and the water is extremely rich with minerals.
- The water isn’t very good to your hair that is why you should use conditioner if you are planning to dip your hair in. I read mixed opinions about this statement, some girls said it destroyed their hair, some said it was fine, but I didn’t want to risk my fragile hair to be damaged so I kept my head above water all the time.
- The temperature of the water is between 37 and 40 degrees of Celsius.
- Even though Blue Lagoon is younger than a quarter of a century, it has become Iceland’s most visited tourist attraction and it appeared in several TV productions and movies.
- The Blue Lagoon is situated over an 800 years old active lava field on the southwest of Iceland.
Even thought Blue Lagoon is expensive, it is one of the “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences and I personally think it is worth the money. I hope these tips will help you to plan your own trip! Or have you already visited Blue Lagoon? What was your experience like?
If you are planning trip to Iceland, don’t forget to check out my itineraries for the Golden Circle, Ring Road and extra travel advice when driving around the Land of Elves.
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