The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa situated in southwestern Iceland, recognized for its vivid blue waters and distinctive setting in a lava area. The lagoon is full of mineral-wealthy water that’s heated by the earth’s pure geothermal exercise and is understood for its therapeutic properties.
Today, the Blue Lagoon is without doubt one of the hottest vacationer sights in Iceland, attracting over 1,000,000 guests every year.
How to Visit the Blue Lagoon Iceland
Should you go to the Blue Lagoon when visiting Iceland? Is it actually value it? And how do you go to the Blue Lagoon? We reply these questions and extra after visiting this well-known geothermal spa.
Where is the Blue Lagoon?
The Blue Lagoon is situated between the capital metropolis of Reykjavik and the Iceland International airport. It is situated throughout the Reykjanes UNESCO Geopark and is 50 minutes from Reykjavík and simply 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport.
It was our final day in Iceland once we visited the Blue Lagoon. We didn’t fly overseas till 5:30 pm and we had but to go to the legendary geothermal seawater spa. Before our lengthy flight residence, it was great to appease our journey-weary muscle mass below the massaging waterfall, within the sauna, and steam room.
Since our automotive rental return was on the airport, we checked out of our resort early and set off to expertise the new thermal baths of Iceland’s most well-known attraction, the Blue lagoon.
About the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is situated close to a geothermal energy plant referred to as Svartsengi. Iceland will get a lot of its energy from geothermal vitality. It’s a volcanic nation that may be very lively and the land continues to be growing, so there’s quite a lot of warmth occurring below the floor. The Svartsengi energy plant generates vitality for 21,000 households within the space and provides the Blue Lagoon.
Every two days, a brand new batch of superheated water full of minerals like sulfur and silica flows into the lagoon from the ability station. And boy, are you able to ever odor the sulfur. It’s a powerful stench that it’s important to get used to.
Unlike different scorching springs round Iceland, the Blue Lagoon doesn’t get its scorching water naturally. It is all fed from an influence plant. That should be quite a lot of energy as a result of this lagoon is large.
We have been shocked by the scale of the pool. The whole Lagoon is immense at 8700 sq. meters (93,646 sq. ft). There are little nooks and crannies which you could discover or sit in carved-out shallow swimming pools surrounded by a waterfall, steam room, sauna, and a quiet sitting space with a pool bar within the heart of all of it.
The Blue Lagoon has stunning milky blue water like nothing we now have ever seen. It could also be man-made, however it’s stunning.
When Should You Visit The Blue Lagoon?
If you need to expertise the Blue Lagoon at its busiest and most vigorous, the very best time to go is throughout the summer season months of June, July, and August. These months have the longest days and the climate is usually heat and sunny, making it a good time to benefit from the outside scorching springs. However, these months will also be crowded and the costs for lodging and actions could also be larger.
If you like a extra peaceable and intimate expertise, contemplate visiting the Blue Lagoon within the shoulder seasons of spring or autumn. The climate continues to be nice and you’ll keep away from the crowds and peak season costs. The Blue Lagoon can be a preferred vacation spot within the winter months when the water is at its warmest and the encompassing panorama is roofed in a blanket of snow. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are additionally extra seen within the winter months, making it a good time to go to if you wish to mix your Blue Lagoon expertise with a Northern Lights tour.
Overall, the very best time to go to the Blue Lagoon is subjective and will depend on your private preferences and finances. Keep in thoughts that the climate in Iceland may be unpredictable and it’s advisable to deliver heat and waterproof clothes whatever the season.
How to Get to the Blue Lagoon
It’s straightforward to get to the Blue Lagoon from the airport and most of the people both pop over from town of Reykjavik or pop in whereas touring to and from their flight from Keflavík International Airport which is close by. We noticed multiple particular person on our airplane throughout our flight out that we ran into within the pool.
Our tour firm, Iceland Travel leaves it as much as you if you wish to go to this crowded vacationer attraction throughout your journey across the Golden Circle. The Blue Lagoon isn’t part of the itinerary, however the Blue Lagoon can simply be integrated into any Iceland itinerary.
Can You Visit the Blue Lagoon at Night?
The Blue Lagoon Iceland at night time is a very magical expertise. As the solar units, the nice and cozy, milky blue waters of the lagoon appear to glow within the darkness, creating an otherworldly ambiance. The steam rising from the water creates a misty, dreamlike ambiance that’s each calming and invigorating.
At night time, the Blue Lagoon is especially peaceable, because the crowds are inclined to skinny out and the ambiance turns into extra intimate. Visitors can chill out within the heat waters, take in the minerals, and really feel the stress of the day melting away.
How to Enjoy Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
You’ll discover that most individuals go to the well-known thermal waters both as quickly as they arrive in Iceland or on their option to the airport on the way in which residence.
But now that there are inns on the Blue Lagoon, persons are really making in a single day retreats to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. This makes the expertise much more particular.
Hotels on the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon Retreat is a 5-star resort that opened in 2018.
The luxurious escape overlooks the lagoon and stands excessive sufficient to see the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Your keep on the Blue Lagoon Retreat consists of entry to the Blue Lagoon and Private Retreat Lagoon. There are every day yoga lessons and group hikes into the lava area.
It has a steep value at 1200€ per night time, however if you’re solely in Iceland as soon as and need to expertise the geothermal spa because it as soon as was in peace and quiet, this is able to be the way in which to go. There are even unique caves to take pleasure in on the.
Imagine staying in luxurious and having the thermal springs all to your self as you benefit from the northern lights dancing over the lava fields whereas sipping champagne as you chill out on the well-known Blue Lagoon.
The different resort on the Blue Lagoon is the Silica Hotel. Just a ten-minute stroll from the Blue Lagoon, nestled among the many lava fields this award-profitable resort is a superb possibility when staying in a single day on the Blue Lagoon. Prices begin at €500 per night time.
What to Expect When you Arrive on the Blue Lagoon
When we arrived on the entrance to the Blue Lagoon, we needed to cope with a protracted line. This is to be anticipated because it is without doubt one of the high sights in Iceland. People walked down the road asking if anybody had a coupon, and people who did have been escorted to the entrance of the queue whereas the remainder of us regarded on with unhappy pet canine eyes.
To add insult to damage, the bus excursions that got here in after we have been rushed by way of the turnstile as nicely. Don’t do what we did, as a substitute, e-book your ticket forward of time so you’ll be able to skip the ticket line. This Blue Lagoon Entry ticket consists of entry to the lagoon with a towel and silica mud masks. (sure towels are additional should you don’t e-book prematurely.)
What Does it Cost to Enter the Blue Lagoon?
While we waited, we needed to make a troublesome selection. Which bundle can we select to go to the Blue Lagoon? We wished to take pleasure in ourselves, but it surely was extraordinarily costly for a dip in a giant scorching tub. The most cost-effective Blue Lagoon tour was €35. That will get you in and that’s about it.
We lastly determined to compromise and take the center-priced consolation bundle at €72 per particular person. This gave us entry to the Blue Lagoon, a gown, a towel, a face masks, and 1 free drink. We didn’t even get to maintain the slippers!
Packages on the Blue Lagoon
Comfort: Blue Lagoon – 8,490 ISK (€56). It consists of entrance to the Blue Lagoon Silica mud masks, use of towel, and 1 drink. Premium: Blue Lagoon – 10,990 ISK(€72). It consists of entrance to the Blue Lagoon, Silica mud masks, plus two further masks, use of twoer, 1 drink, and 1 glass of glowing wine plus use of a bathrobe. Luxury Retreat Spa – 59,000 ISK (€390) – Includes entry to the Blue Lagoon, The Blue Lagoon Spa, Retreat Lounge, non-public altering room, skincare facilities, 1 drink, and entry to five Subterranean areas.
Once we lastly entered the spa, Dave and I went out separate methods to our altering rooms to slide into our bathing fits and lock our stuff within the supplied lockers.
Everyone will get entry to lockers to lock their valuables away. For hygiene functions, you’re required to bathe bare earlier than accessing the showering and swimming space of the lagoon. And it’s extremely really helpful to slather your hair with conditioner earlier than going into the new springs. This was our first Blue Lagoon go to so we heeded the recommendation. The water within the Blue Lagoon is full of robust minerals.
The minerals within the Blue Lagoon make your hair brittle, so it was prompt that these with lengthy hair particularly, be sure that to place the conditioner from the supplied dispenser in and go away it in. But don’t fear, the minerals received’t break your hair, it can simply be annoying to spend the remainder of the day with laborious hair. Not enjoyable when flying residence.
Leave Your Towel in Your Locker
You get one towel included along with your keep, and we propose you permit your towel in your locker. We opted for the gown bundle and we’re glad that we did. The air was cool and between dips, within the scorching pool, we have been glad to have a gown to wrap ourselves in.
So deliver solely your gown with you. You’ll want that towel on the finish and also you’ll simply find yourself dropping it when you find yourself out on the swimming pools. Have a Short time in Iceland? Buy the information – 72 Hours in Reykjavik on Amazon
The Blue Lagoon Experience
We met up outdoors and walked out into the chilly. After having to bathe bare I used to be glad for my gown however after I noticed the ocean of different robes hanging on the hooks, I wasn’t certain I’d get the proper one again after I was carried out.
To be sure that we had probability of discovering them once more, Dave and I hung our robes collectively and stuffed them within the again so no one would unintentionally combine them up. With the chilliness within the air, we then received within the scorching water as rapidly as attainable.
Inside the Hot Pool
Everyone who enters the Blue Lagoon wears completely different digital bracelets relying on what your bundle consists of. Ours included a drink on the pool bar, so we made our manner there first because it appeared like place to start out.
Our €72 bundle gave us a free drink and a free silica mud masks. The bartender swiped our bracelets and gave us our mud masks and glass of beer. (In a plastic glass for security in fact)
Drink Packages on the Blue Lagoon
After overlaying our faces with the therapeutic mud, we took our beers and went for a stroll across the large lagoon as we let the minerals harden on our pores and skin.
The water adjustments temperatures in several areas of the pool. Whenever we discovered an exceptionally heat spot, we’d cease and benefit from the second.
Healing Muds of the Blue Lagoon
When we went over to the far aspect of the pool, we noticed individuals scooping out white minerals and smoothing it on their very own faces and realized that we didn’t essentially want the Silica masks. I’m undecided what the distinction was between the mud we purchased and the mud within the pool, however if you’re on a finances you’ll be able to skip our bundle.
We most likely spent an additional €10 for every for our ‘included mud mask’ and right here we might do it ourselves without cost! That’s a giant strike towards shopping for the dearer bundle.
Amenities on the Blue Lagoon
Steam Room
Once we completed our beer, we washed off our faces and went over to the steam room. Oh, how I really like a steam room. I might sit in them for hours. But not on the Blue Lagoon.
The steam room had too robust of a sulfur stench for me and we lasted about 5 minutes. It wasn’t inviting or stunning and we simply wished out.
Sauna
The sauna was good, but small. There are a whole bunch of individuals within the lagoon without delay and each the steam room and sauna solely maintain 8 individuals at a time. After extra individuals piled in, we felt uncomfortable and left.
Hot Waterfall
We actually wished to check out the new waterfall and let it therapeutic massage our aching shoulders from our 12 days of driving, however the line was lengthy and by the point we stood beneath we had misplaced curiosity.
We didn’t final very lengthy and we felt stress to maneuver on since there was a protracted queue behind us. For the quick time the water beat on our shoulders, it did really feel good.
We tried the chilly mist bathe for enjoyable after which received again within the pool to stroll round earlier than calling it a day.
When we first arrived, I used to be unhappy that we didn’t have an extended time on the Blue Lagoon, however by the point our couple of hours was up, I used to be glad to depart.
Restaurants
There are three eating places on the Blue Lagoon. The Spa Restaurant on the Retreat Spa, The Lava Restaurant that includes Icelandic Cuisine in a basic volcanic setting, and the Michelin-recommended Moss Restaurant overlook the lagoon from the very best level of the Blue Lagoon.
Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa
The Blue Lagoon spa has different areas that provide premium experiences. The Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa is a quieter extra unique expertise and if you wish to have a bucket checklist expertise, that is it.
We extremely advocate getting out of the one giant pool to take pleasure in among the quieter spa facilities. It has the texture of a Scandinavian Spa full with experiencing the weather within the Ritual Cycle.
At the Retreat Spa, you’ve got a whole expertise with physique scrubs. You’ll cowl your physique with Silica, Algae, and mineral scrub to rejuvenate your pores and skin.
The Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa offers you entry to a quieter sanctuary of the Blue Lagoon. Its 5 subterranean areas provide full rest.
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Treatments
The Blue Lagoon may be very busy, so if you’re planning a visit to Iceland, we advocate reserving your remedies prematurely. You can select every part from the floating remedy pool within the mineral wealthy water of the Blue Lagoon Spa, and numerous therapeutic massage, magnificence, and skincare remedies. All of those remedies may be booked a the Blue Lagoon Spa.
We tried sitting within the quiet room for a bit, however there weren’t many chairs and we needed to stand and look ahead to one to turn out to be free.
Finally, a chair opened up, but it surely was just one. So I instructed Dave to take a seat again and chill out. I’d go forward and have a bathe and take my time blow-drying my hair. I grabbed my gown and off I went again to the women’ locker room. My Iceland Blue Lagoon expertise was over and Dave’s was almost carried out.
Leaving the Blue Lagoon
Leaving the Blue Lagoon is definitely time-consuming. We have been about 20 minutes forward of schedule so I felt assured that we’d make it to the airport in time to return our automotive. But to my shock, there was a queue to get out of the Blue Lagoon!
Good factor we didn’t cease within the Lava Restaurant to seize a fast glass of glowing wine!
As the minutes ticked down, I felt panic set in 10 minutes and quarter-hour glided by as we stood in line. Finally, we reached the entrance of the road. They scanned our bracelets and instructed us we have been free to go.
Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Go Early and consider Pre-Booking: Afternoons are the busiest time to go to the Blue Lagoon looks like the busy time and the time for tour buses to reach. Don’t trouble paying for the gown/face masks/drink bundle – It was a waste. You don’t want the gown. Once you’re taking it off initially of the day, you don’t put on it once more till you permit. Bring your individual towel – There is a cost for towels, however you’ll be able to deliver your individual. We advocate two bringing two towels. One to dry off after your Blue Lagoon expertise. They received’t allow you to again in if you’re dripping moist. The second towel is to dry off after your bathe. Drinks: If you need drinks you should utilize your wristband to run a tab. Then pay for them while you go away. But is ingesting alcohol in a scorching tub a good suggestion? It was costly and we actually didn’t want it. Water: Bring a bottle of water. For a rustic that boasts a lot about its clear water, they’re fairly stingy. You’d assume they’d provide free water fountains or coolers for his or her friends. Don’t fall for the coupon rip-off. We thought our €56 entrance payment was as a result of they gave us a coupon for a mud masks. It ended up being a €5 low cost for merchandise within the store that sells for a fortune. Give your self quite a lot of time on the Blue Lagoon. We thought we had loads of time but it surely went rapidly. We arrived after lunch pondering 3 hours could be lots. Or higher but, e-book an in a single day keep to take pleasure in the entire finer issues just like the Moss Restaurant, The Blue Lagoon Spa, and quiet moments within the swimming amenities.
Blue Lagoon Iceland Quick Tips
A day go to bundle begins at ISK 8490 (€56). We took the premium bundle at ISK 10990 (€72) for additional perks. There can be a extra luxurious bundle for ISK 59,000 giving entry to the Retreat Spa in addition to the lagoon.
We discovered that the water fluctuated in temperature as we walked across the huge lagoon. We discovered scorching and cooler temperatures all through. But it’s mentioned that the temperature within the bathing and swimming space is between 37-39C (99 -102F)
There are two inns on the Blue Lagoon, the Retreat Hotel, and the Silica Hotel.
Would we return to the Blue Lagoon once more? No manner! Am I glad we went? Hell Yes! Not going to the Blue Lagoon, Iceland is like not going up the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You must see it as soon as.
It might not stay as much as your expectations, but it surely’s one thing that must be seen. Our Blue Lagoon expertise was rushed and hectic, however a woman can nonetheless dream.
Our tour by way of Iceland was courtesy of Iceland Travel. The Iceland Odyssey and the Wonders of the West self-drive tour across the ring street give the traveler the liberty to discover on their very own whereas staying in consolation at inns and B&Bs.
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