Of course while in Iceland I had to check out the famous Blue Lagoon. For those unaware, the Blue Lagoon is an outdoor geothermal spa with waters reaching 100 degree F temperatures. The spa is located in a lava field near Grindavík and in front of Mount Þorbjörn on Reykjanes Peninsula, in a location favorable for geothermal power, and is supplied by water used in the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power station.
Healing waters. A subterranean spa. Gourmet cuisine. Luxurious suites. Otherworldly vistas. A universe of radiant wellbeing. Let’s talk about it!
Entrance
I’ll start with entering. Unless you drive to Grindavík yourself, you will most likely be on a huge tour bus with others. You pull up to the entrance not really sure what to expect. I figured the line would be wrapped around the tour judging on the amount of people on my tour bus alone. When you get there, you will see the exterior sign. After walking through a quick and narrow concrete sidewalk with rocks on both sides of you, you make it to the front entrance.
The line inside goes by very quick as they have at least 4 different registers open for checking in. I had already pre-paid for admission (~$100) which only included round trip transfers and the admission itself. The priciest “pool” you’ll ever pay for but it’s way more than that (will get to that later). I paid 2000 ISK (~$18.63) for use of their towels, use of the algae face mask, and a complimentary drink of my choice. Note, for this package to make sense for you, you have to order an alcoholic drink. Otherwise, you’re not saving anything really. You are given a wristband that tracks your spending and allows you to open and close your locker.
Locker and Showers
After I paid, I walked through the women’s locker room to put my items in. If the locker is already opened, that’s how you know it’s available. They have staff members walking up and down to help you with your wristband but it’s pretty easy and you’ll most likely get the hang of it without needing assistance. The locker rooms are pretty spacious so ladies with the big purses, rejoice.
After placing all of my belongings in storage, headed to the showers where everyone is required to shower prior to entering the Blue Lagoon. You’ll DEFINITELY want to make use of the shampoo provided in each shower. The Blue Lagoon waters really mess your hair up. If you have long hair, they say to put it up. I kept mine down the whole time though. It will just take a few days to let the crunch get out of your hair. No biggie. But the shampoo really helped so keep it in your hair if you can before heading out to the waters.
Swim-Up Bar and Relaxing
Now, I’ve finally made it to the milky blue waters I’ve heard so much about and it felt like I was in a dream. It felt so unreal. The color of the water, the heat of the water mixed with the frigid cold air. Incredible. Can’t wait to relax in this wonderful space. But first… BAR. May as well get that drink included in my package.
I always thought the Blue Lagoon would be a mad house with tons of people everywhere and no place to breathe. I was happy to discover that it wasn’t the case. You could easily find your own piece of paradise in the Blue Lagoon. If you want to socialize, head to the swim-up bar. If you want to have a little R&R, swim out more and you will find a calm and peaceful slice of Heaven that was made for just you and your companions.
I can’t stress this enough: BOOK EARLY. The moment you know you’re going to Iceland and your flights are booked, go ahead and lock in Blue Lagoon. It sells out quickly (except for the 7p and 8p slots) and you will be disappointed if you don’t get a chance to make it out here after spending so much money to be here. So, it’s a good thing there’s a cap on the amount of people entering, but also provides a sense of urgency to make sure you have your tickets.
Facial Time and Snacks
After relaxing for a bit, we decided to try the Silica Mud Mask (included in the basic entry admission). Their facials are supposedly helpful with skin diseases like psoriasis. What a fun experience. Keep the goo on your face for about 15-20 minutes then wash off.
After the facial masks, we decided to grab a bite to eat. There are essentially 2 different eating establishments there. You can eat a light meal in a casual setting at their snack shop called Blue Cafe, which sells sandwiches/wraps, sushi, chips, and sweets or you can eat at their sit-down restaurant LAVA. My friends and a decided to eat at the Blue Cafe. Personally, if I want to try good Icelandic food I’d rather go to a local spot and not so much a tourist spot. My meal of a sandwich, chips and a drink came to 2000 ISK (~$18.63).
After snacking, we went back out to swim and chill for a little more. About 45 minutes ’til 6:00p we decided to get ready to leave. You can leave the Blue Lagoon any time you’d like as they leave every hour on the hour. I’d start getting ready to go 30+ minutes in advance. Don’t forget with your wristband, you have to pay any debt you accumulated while there. The line for that can fill up pretty quickly.
All in all, a great experience and I absolutely recommend! It’s very touristy but you will have a pleasant and enjoyable experience. If you’re not relaxed enough, book yourself a massage. ENJOY!
Planning your trip to Iceland?
