To many people, Iceland feels like a mysterious and wondrous far-off land that is inaccessible. They assume they’ll never go there, because it’s a magical island in the middle of nowhere. And while Iceland is certainly wondrous and magical, going there shouldn’t feel like an item on your bucket list that you’ll never cross off. Iceland is a gorgeous and friendly country with incredible sights, and it’s easier than you think to get there!
Among the many famous and enticing attractions in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon. And yes, you might have originally heard about the Blue Lagoon from the notorious Brooke Shields movie from the 1980’s. But the Blue Lagoon is more than just a backdrop in a romantic film. It’s an incredible place that has to be seen to be believed. In this video, we’ll tell you all about the Blue Lagoon, so you can see why it’s so special, and perhaps start planning your trip to Iceland! So stick around, as Viewcation presents: Visiting the Blue Lagoon, Iceland Belongs on Your Bucket List!
What is the Blue Lagoon? It’s a geothermal spa in the southwest region of Iceland. Which is a fancy way of saying it’s an outdoor spa, perfect for a chance to relax. It was created by a mix of natural occurrences and man-made activity. Towards the end of the ‘70s, a local power plant was trying to drill for geothermal energy. They tried one of the lots near their plant, and discovered something unusual. There was a ton of excess team and hot water spouting out. From then on, it became an incredible discovery that humans would soon use to their relaxing advantage. It’s important to note also that the plower plant and the lagoon are far enough away from each other that their elements have not contaminated each other. None of the lagoon water leaks into the plant, and none of the plants many chemicals can get into the lagoon. So it’s perfectly safe to be in!
Health Benefits
The hot spring at the Blue Lagoon has brackish water that actually contains a lot of naturally occurring minerals in it. That, when combined with the exfoliating nature of the mud in the lagoon, makes the Blue Lagoon very appealing for people looking for a spa-esque skin treatment. The primary minerals found in the Blue Lagoon waters are sulfur and silica. (These two, when combined, create a blue hue that gives the Blue Lagoon its signature color.) There are also some kinds of algae within the lagoon that are unique to the area. When combined with the minerals and the exfoliating mud, they make for a soothing and therapeutic treatment for human skin. The most common ailment that people look to the Blue Lagoon waters to treat is psoriasis. This is partly because the normal treatment for psoriasis involves a lot of harmful UV light. The lagoon allows a soothing and treatment of psoriasis without bombarding the skin with UV, which is both more safe and more relaxing! And there’s no bad time to dip into the Blue Lagoon to get this spa-worthy skin treatment. It stays around 102 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. It’s basically a therapeutic hot tub!
Location
It’s located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, and it’s actually Iceland’s most famous and popular site. People fly from all over the world just to check out it’s incredible scenery. It’s also easily accessible once you get to Iceland, which adds to its appeal. If you fly into Keflavic International Airport, you’ll be able to reach the Blue Lagoon by car in around 15 minutes. Of course, you might want to visit Reykjavik first and get settled into a hotel and get a nice meal. In that case, you’re still incredibly close to the Blue Lagoon. It’s about a half an hour drive from the center of Reykjavik. Those who are going the rental car route will be able to jump in their rental and head right there. But even if you aren’t renting a car, it’s still easy to get to the Blue Lagoon because of the many Blue Lagoon tours you can go on. Because of its advantageous location, it’s perhaps most often visited by tourists right at the beginning of their Icelandic adventure, or right at the end, before flying back out of Reykjavik.
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When To Go
If you’ve already flown all the way to Iceland, you surely want to make sure you hit up the Blue Lagoon at the best possible time of day. That will make your time there much more worthwhile. It can be disheartening to visit any big attraction and be forced to deal with more crowds than you were anticipating. You also want to visit in a way that will allow you to fully experience the hot springs. As such, we recommend going either in the morning or the evening. What’s great about going in the morning is that there’s no time limit to your visit. Once you’re in the spa, you can stay there all day if you like. So going in the morning will allow you to take your time and leisurely experience the Blue Lagoon. There are also fewer people there the earlier you visit. The other best option is to arrive around four hours before the spa closes. It’s also a little less crowded than the afternoon and late morning, and it’s a great way to get a relaxing soak in before you eat dinner and head to bed.
Regardless of what time you schedule your visit to the Blue Lagoon, you’ll want to make sure you leave enough time. Anything less than two hours there will be too little. Most people tend to enjoy around 4 hours at the spa. That’s partially because it can take a little while once you arrive to check in and then go through the process of meeting the required hygiene protocols. And you certainly don’t want this initial phase to take away from the time you have inside the actual spa! The attraction does a good job of handling reservations in a way that it’s never insanely crowded, because they keep the maximum capacity at a relatively comfortable number. As far as what time of year to visit… you truly can’t go wrong regardless of the season. But one popular time of year is the winter, because the famous Northern Lights are visible in the sky. So people can enjoy soaking in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon and seeing one of the planet’s most incredible natural sights in the sky.
Accommodations
If you’d like to stay at the Blue Lagoon, rather than get a hotel in Reykjavik, you have a couple great options. For those looking for a lavish, five-star experience, the Blue Lagoon Retreat will be a hit. It stands next to the Lagoon and overlooks it. So you can sit in your room and gaze at the wondrous natural landmark before and after actually going in. The price is steeper than most hotels in the area, but you’ll get a high-class experience while you’re there. Getting a room there also allows you free entrance to the Blue Lagoon and the Private Treat Lagoon. The hotel also offers group hikes into the nearby lava field as well as yoga classes.
Your other option when it comes to hotels at the Blue Lagoon is the Silica Hotel. It’s slightly further away from the Lagoon itself (about 10 minutes on foot) but it’s a charming hotel that has won many awards over the years. It’s located in the local lava fields, which are a sight to see themselves. Either hotel will be a great option if you’re looking to spend a little more time at the Lagoon.
Cost
Prices for entering the Blue Lagoon vary a lot, depending on a few things like the time of year, the time of days, and if you are getting any of their optional services. As of January, 2022, there are three primary packages to get in. They all include entrance to the pools, the sauna and the steam room, as well as an area inside the facility for relaxation.
There’s the Comfort Package, which runs from about $50-90 and you get a mud mask as well as a free drink. Then there’s the Premium Package, which also adds another face mask and a bathrobe. It also gets you a reservation at the restaurant inside. Not to mention a bottle of sparkling wine! That package will run you $85-110. And finally there’s the Luxury Retreat Spa Package, which is a 5-hour experience with prices starting at $430. It comes with access to a private area of the Blue Lagoon, as well as a series of spa treatments, access to the restaurant, a private area for change, and more.
We strongly recommend making a reservation, regardless of when you go and what package you choose. It books up pretty far in advance, and you don’t want to be stuck without a chance to get in! You can make reservations on the Blue Lagoon site, or though other travel sites.
So there you have it – everything you need to know about a trip to the famous Blue Lagoon. Now it’s time to hear from you. Do you think you’ll ever make it to this incredible Icelandic attraction? Let us know in the comments section below. And before you go, make sure to give this video a like, and subscribe to Viewcation if you haven’t already. Click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content.