Why You Shouldn’t Skip The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon seems to be a hot topic when it comes to building the perfect Iceland itinerary. DON’T BOTHER, IT’S A TOURIST TRAP vs IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE EVER. Who’s right? Will it be worth your time and money? My opinion? I just flat out don’t understand why people say to skip this beautiful geothermal spa and here’s why…

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Location & Lockers

The Blue Lagoon is only a 20 minute drive from the main airport in Iceland and is along the way to Reykjavik. They have lockers large enough to store your luggage (within reason) so you don’t have to drop anything off at a hotel before coming. However, if you decide to go to your hotel in the city first and then double back to visit the Blue Lagoon it’s going to take you 45 minutes to get back out there. They also offer Blue Lagoon transfers from the airport if you aren’t renting a car or are only there for a layover. With it being so close to the airport, it’s just super convenient! Plan your visit just after landing or on your way back to the airport to maximize your time in Iceland.

Jet Lag

We made the Blue Lagoon our very first stop after a red-eye flight from San Francisco. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A GREAT CHOICE THIS WAS. It was our first experience in Iceland and as we looked around at the beauty of the lagoon, we felt like we were in a wonderland of sorts. As we submerged ourselves in the deliciously warm water, the stress and tension of the long flight immediately melted away. It was refreshing to just sit and enjoy our first moments in Iceland without having to be walking on a tour, or listening to a guide, or any of the typical tourist stuff. As we left the lagoon to headed to our hotel, not one of us was groggy from traveling or needed a nap. We also slept great that night and were all ready to take on the world the next day.

Lava Restaurant

If you’re looking for a great dining experience, make reservations at the Lava Restaurant. Again, this meal will cost you a little extra but their food was delicious. I chose to try lamb for the first time and it was cooked perfectly, my (picky) husband enjoyed the smoked haddock (also his first time trying that type of fish), and the rest of the group also thoroughly enjoyed each of their dishes. The funny thing about the restaurant though is that half of the guests are dressed up and the other half are in robes, fresh out of the lagoon, with wet messy buns. It makes for a pretty silly ambiance that I actually enjoyed because I always feel a bit out of place at upscale places. Overall, our first meal in Iceland did not disappoint and if you can find it in your budget to splurge on a meal, I would do it here at the Lava Restaurant.

In Water Massages

On the fence? I HIGHLY recommend this. I choked a little at the prices when I first saw them, but after this experience I will book the Lagoon with massages every single time I go back to Iceland. It was that worth it. The massage therapists have a secluded part of the lagoon that is tucked away into silence. They put you on a floating pad and cover you with a warm towel so you don’t get cold from the crisp air. They also gently submerge your body under water occasionally during the massage so a blanket of warm water flows over you to keep you warm. When we were there it was gently sprinkling and it felt so incredible to be warm, but to have that cool sprinkle all over your body. I can’t even describe how unique that felt compared to other massages I’ve had. A few of us had been skeptical about how much pressure they’d be able to use since we were floating but we were undoubtedly proven wrong. They found all the tension I was carrying and more. By the time I was done, I was a melted mess. Then instead of asking you to get off the mat, they just float you over to a resting area and let you relax until you’re ready to move again. I finished before my husband and got to watch him be floated over… he was out like a light!!! He finally came around and peeked out from the towel that had been covering his face and gave me a sleepy grin. Best massage ever.

The Dreaded Showers

Everyone always wants to know what the shower situation is. I have to shower naked in front of everyone?! I have to admit, I am one of those people… and it was fine. They have an open shower area and they also have private stalls with doors. Everyone is showering so quickly that there seemed to be stalls available at all times. Be respectful of their rules and shower without your suit in the stall, but I brought my suit in and just slipped it on after the shower. Just don’t forget to bring your towel with you so you don’t drip all over their floors on the way back to your locker. There are also private changing areas in each of the locker sections, but these seemed to have more of a wait than the showers.

Travel Trick – Use the conditioner in the showers generously before getting into the lagoon. Leave it in when you go into the lagoon. If you can, avoid getting your hair wet altogether in the lagoon. The minerals will make your hair dry and crunchy for about a week after you visit!

Tourist Trap

This is the excuse everyone always uses to avoid going to the Blue Lagoon. I admit, the entry fee is a little on the steep side but I think the experience is well worth the money at least once. One nice thing about this “tourist trap” is that once you’re in the lagoon, the murmur of the people seems to fade away into the distance. It’s surprisingly quiet! It also doesn’t ever seem crowded because there are lots of little areas of the lagoon to explore and everyone keeps to themselves. Yes, lots of people visit and it might be busier than some of the other smaller lagoons in the area, but in my opinion its popular for a reason – it’s a beautiful experience! Oh and did you know you can pretty much stay as long as you’d like? I would’t mind watching a sunset here on my next visit.

The Walk-up Bar

As a part of the entrance fee you get two free drinks. They have a limited selection with only a few beers on tap, wine, and a few non-alcoholic options. It was nice to have a couple cold beers as we relaxed in the water but what we didn’t think about was having to hold your arm out of the water the whole time! We finally walked over to the side of the lagoon and found a ledge we could set our drinks on until we finished them.

Health Benefits

While you’re relaxing and soaking up the warm water, you’ll also get a chance to enjoy these health benefits:

• Silica – cleanses skin and reduces pores; strengthens the skin
• Algea – moisturizes your skin while reducing lines and wrinkles,
• Minerals – exfoliates and stimulates circulation
• Thermal Spas – Helps with circulation, tension, soothes sore muscles and joints, and much more

If you’re interested in trying out any of these amazing products from the Blue Lagoon, scroll to the bottom of this post for links!

The Blue Lagoon also boasts of great results from their Psoriasis Treatment. You can contact the Blue Lagoon here if this is something you’d be interested in.

I hope you can make time in your schedule to visit the Blue Lagoon. It didn’t feel like a tourist trap at all to us and the blue water was beautiful and soothing. We will definitely do it again if we ever find ourselves in Iceland!

Quick Facts

• Booking Website
• Address: Norðurljósavegur 9, 240 Grindavík
• Phone: +354 420 8800
• Comfort Package (cheapest option): From $59usd but usually runs about $100
• Massages: Range from $147-$413 depending on length

Blue Lagoon Products