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Latest update: 27 December 2024
It is probably the most famous spa in the world: the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. I am hesitant about whether it is worth the money, but I decide to go anyway. I want to see it with my own eyes, and yes, the water is as really blue as in the photos. I am happy to tell you what to expect and how you can perhaps arrange a small discount on the Blue Lagoon.
In doubt: should I go to the Blue Lagoon or not?
I am not really a wellness person. Saunas make me feel claustrophobic, and after fifteen minutes in a bubble bath, I am usually done. So I’m not quite sure about the Blue Lagoon. It is also crazy expensive and super touristy. But hey, how often am I in Iceland? So I decide to experience it now that I have the chance.
Book the Blue Lagoon (with a discount?!)
If you decide that the Blue Lagoon should not be missing from your Iceland trip, then step 1 is to book. You can do this directly via the Blue Lagoon website, but first, check whether other providers may offer a small discount. During the week, the earliest and latest time slots are usually cheaper, which can also be good options when scheduling your visit.
Compare prices at Viator, GetYourGuide, and Tiqets. They also offer visits to the Blue Lagoon with transport. At Tiqets, you can get a 5% discount on the entrance fee. Use my Blue Lagoon discount code: KIMOPREIS22. Enter it at checkout.
Blue Lagoon ticket types
With the standard ‘comfort’ package of the Blue Lagoon, you can enter it at the time of your choice. You can pick up one mask at the Mask Bar and one drink at the bar in the water. You will also receive a towel. I pick the slightly more expensive ‘premium’ package, which includes an extra drink, two extra masks, and a bathrobe. With the ‘signature’ package, you also get skin care products to take home. The ‘luxury’ package includes lots of (expensive) extras.
The ‘comfort’ package is already really good, but I do enjoy the extra masks and drink from the ‘premium’ package. I don’t really need the bathrobe from my package because I spend almost all my time in the water. It is handy if you’re going to chill out a bit or walk back and forth between the lagoon and the sauna.
Visiting the Blue Lagoon
You probably know that there are regular volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Well, that also happened during my visit. And that’s why the Blue Lagoon is actually closed for my entire Iceland trip. I have a reservation for the last day of my trip, just before I have to catch a plane. Just when I think that reservation is going up in (volcano) smoke, the Blue Lagoon opens on ‘my’ day.
It is a strange sensation. The roads to the Blue Lagoon have been made accessible so that tourists can bathe again as soon as possible. In my head, the thought is definitely playing on whether this is all safe and whether commerce is not winning from safety here. Together with my travel partner, we drive past the still-smoldering lava. Normally, the Blue Lagoon is also between the lava fields, but then they are not so fresh.
At check-in, the woman explains the evacuation rules. Luckily, we don’t need them. We also receive a wristband to collect our drinks at the bar and then go straight to the changing rooms with lockers. To enter the Blue Lagoon, you first have to take a shower, and then you are allowed to enter the ice-blue water.
Masks and drinks in the Blue Lagoon
We were a bit afraid of a massive, busy ‘pool’. But it is not that bad. Of course, there are many people, and they are mainly tourists. But the Blue Lagoon is also huge, so there is plenty of space. Only the bar and the mask bar are logically busier.
The entrance ticket includes a drink. You can pick it up at the bar in the water. You can choose beer, prosecco, soft drinks, and apple cider. And you can go to the mask bar, where you get a blob in your hand that you smear on your face. The lady who hands out the masks explains what the stuff is good for and how long you should leave it on your face. After, you wipe it off your face with the water of the Blue Lagoon. At first, we think that’s a bit strange, polluting the water like that. But it actually makes perfect sense, because the masks are made from the algae and minerals from the Blue Lagoon water.
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa. Geothermal energy warms the water. The earth heats the water naturally. The striking blue color is due to all kinds of algae and minerals that are in the water. By the way, the Blue Lagoon is artificial. It is not a natural spa but uses natural geothermal energy.
The final verdict
I have set aside two hours for the Blue Lagoon before flying back home and I actually (against my expectations!) wanted to stay a bit longer. The Blue Lagoon is quite big, so I am busy walking/swimming around for a while. Besides that, masks and drinks are a good way to pass the time. So, if it is your first time in Iceland, I would definitely recommend going to the Blue Lagoon. If I get to go to Iceland again, I will try another spa. Krauma or the Sky Lagoon, for example. Because, for me, seeing the famous Blue Lagoon once is enough.
So the final verdict: yes go! And first, compare the prices everywhere, at the Blue Lagoon itself and with providers such as Viator, GetYourGuide, and Tiqets. At the latter, you get a 5% discount with the code: KIMOPREIS22. Have fun! Have fun!
More Iceland inspiration?
Useful links for your Iceland trip
- Accommodation. Favorite remains Booking.com. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. ‘Free’ walking tours can be booked at Freetour.com or GuruWalk.
- Car rental. If you want to compare more prices, try Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Guidebooks. I like paper travel guides to flip through, available for sale Amazon and others.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Trip, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? See what Expedia or CheapOair has on offer.
- Yoga retreat or horseback riding vacation. Or treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Iceland or a horseback riding vacation.
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
First published: September 2024. The article has been updated since.
