Blue Lagoon Iceland: a Local’s Honest Review

Almost every traveler headed to Iceland dreams of visiting the Blue Lagoon, and most of you probably will plan to. But is the Blue Lagoon worth it?

In this article, a local (that’s me) will dive into what it’s really like to visit the Blue Lagoon, break down whether its worth the hype, and give you some local tips on better alternative geothermal spas in Iceland. Here’s an honest Blue Lagoon review!

What is the The Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland (not the one in Malta!) is a naturally occurring geothermal hot spring that has been developed and curated to create an elevated spa experience, for locals and tourists in Iceland.

The name is a direct reference to its greatest visual attribute: its color. The Blue Lagoon actually gets its iconic blue colors from its high silica content which reflects blue light.

Silica is also the reason many believe the Blue Lagoon has skin healing properties.

Where is the Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon is located in the Reykjanes Peninsula, just 20 minutes from the airport.

This makes it the closest geothermal spa to Keflavik Airport, so for those who only have a layover in Iceland but want to experience a spa, I would fully recommend coming here simply out of convenience.

Read More: How to spend a layover in Reykjavik

Best Time to Visit the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is enjoyable in every season.

The pools are hot enough to keep your body warm even in winter. Furthermore, the lockers have an entry point that takes you directly into the pool from an indoor entry area, so you never need to make contact with cold air if you don’t want to!

In winter, you’ll have longer ours of dark skies which heightens chances of seeing the infamous Icelandic northern lights from the pools.

Spring and autumn are similar in terms of air temperature and daylight hours, with the only downside that it tends to rain more in spring, especially in March.

Summer is obviously great, as the temperatures are warm and the sky is always bright. The downside here is that there will be tons of tourists here, and you will definitely need to boo far in advance to secure tickets.

Blue Lagoon Tickets

Due to its popularity, it is not possible to show up to the Blue Lagoon without a paid reservation ahead of time.

To book an entry ticket into the Blue Lagoon, simply visit their website here.

You typically should aim to book your Blue Lagoon visit as early as possible as entry slots do tend to book out days in advance. In summer, they can be fully booked weeks or even a month ahead.

Your entry ticket will designate the date and time you will be permitted to enter the lagoon, so choose wisely as these are not typically refundable or exchangeable.

Don’t overthink it though. The entry ticket you choose only dictates the time you can enter, but there is no time limit as to how long you can stay.

Blue Lagoon Price

When booking your entry ticket, the price will depend on a few things:

1. the time of day you book
2. the time of year you book
3. the day of the week you book
4. the package you wish to purchase (more on that later)
5. the age of those in your group

As you can see, the price does vary a lot, but for most of us we can expect to pay between $72 – $126 USD per person for entry.

Booking a time slot either during lunch hours or right before closing tends to be the cheapest, so are bookings made for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bookings in the winter season tend to be slightly cheaper, with prices creeping up by about $10 USD once June rolls around.

If you have kids under the age of 13, their admission will be free, but they do not get a locker, robe or welcome drink (of course).

Packages at the Blue Lagoon

The biggest decision to make when visiting the Blue Lagoon is which experience package you want.

Most of us peasants will settle for either the Comfort admission or Premium admission. Both provide entry into the main lagoon, a free welcome drink, access to the steam rooms and lockers, and one free silica mud mask.

The only real difference, is that the Premium admission comes with one extra drink, an additional lava mask, and a bathrobe.

If you are interested in a more private, luxurious experience you can look into booking the Retreat Spa experience. This allows you 5 hours access to the exclusive Retreat Spa and other special experiences and amenities. This costs about $643 USD for two people.

For those who are in a higher tax bracket, you can also look into booking a full day retreat, a Jet Lag Recovery spa, or a Weightless Wellbeing package for the ultimate Blue Lagoon experience. Each of those start at just over $1,000 per person.

Blue Lagoon Amenities

If you purchase the Comfort or Premium admission package, you’ll have access to:

• shared changing rooms with showers
• complimentary shampoo, body wash, & lotion
• a towel
• hair dryers
• a single locker with a lock
• access to the main lagoon
• swim up bar
• swim up mud mask bar
• steam room
• sauna
• cave relaxation room
• indoor lounge area with view of the lagoon
• onsite restaurants and food

All of the above are accessible to all guests.

Food, souvenirs, swimsuit rentals, and additional drinks beyond the welcome drink can be purchased. As can certain add-on services, such as in-water massages and bathrobes.

Blue Lagoon Honest Review

I visited the Blue Lagoon again recently in February 2024 and paid for the comfort admission.

So now for the million dollar question: do I honestly feel that the Blue Lagoon lives up to the hype?

Well, yes and no.

If the Blue Lagoon was the first geothermal spa I ever visited in Iceland, then maybe I would have been more impressed. But I have been to dozens of other geothermal baths already, so personally, I find it somewhat underwhelming.

I’d say the most positive attributes unique to the Blue Lagoon are the color of the water, which is undoubtably beautiful and looks amazing in photos, and its prime location near the airport. That’s kind of it.

As far as everything else goes, there are better spas all over Iceland.

For amenities, the Blue Lagoon does have the free mud mask, welcome drink, a steam room and sauna. But aside from the mud mask, most spas in Iceland offer these things, and in many cases, with better facilities.

The Sky Lagoon has a sauna with a window overlooking the sea. The Forest Lagoon has multiple saunas and cold pools at different temperatures for a more comprehensive spa experience.

In terms of the actual bathing experience, the Blue Lagoon leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not surrounded by natural scenery nor does it offer any views. It’s really just one big pool, and with water that actually hurts the skin at times because of how salty it is.

In terms of price, the Blue Lagoon is the most expensive spa in Iceland by far.

Is the Blue Lagoon Worth it?

Despite what I’ve said above, I do not regret visiting the Blue Lagoon at all. Admittedly, I am one to suffer from major FOMO, so I am glad I finally got to visit and see what all the fuss is about.

One of the main draws of the Blue Lagoon is simply the fact that it’s famous, so if it’s in your budget and you have the free time, I’d say it’s worth a visit, even if just to tick it off the ol’ bucket list for good.

Plus, it’s so close to the airport, so it’s the mostly easily accessibly spa for anyone to knock out either at the beginning or end of their Iceland trip.

Now, if you’re not one to follow crowds and are more discerning with your budget, then I’d say maybe skip the Blue Lagoon and try one of the other geothermal spas mentioned below.

Given the chance, I probably wouldn’t choose to go to the Blue Lagoon again since I’d gladly choose one of the other Icelandic spas instead. There are plenty with better views and prices.

If I ever felt like splurging, I would be interested in trying the full-day Retreat Spa at the Blue Lagoon, as the experience does seem very enticing.

Blue Lagoon Alternatives

The Sky Lagoon

The Sky Lagoon is my hands-down favorite spa in Iceland. For me personally, it ticks all the boxes of aesthetic beauty, amenities, views, and facilities.

It’s most famous for its infinity hot pool that overlooks the ocean which offers spectacular sunset views.

It’s just 10 minutes from downtown Reykjavik making it very accessible to most travelers. These days it costs almost as much as the Blue Lagoon to visit, but offers way more bang for your buck.

Read More: An honest review of the Sky Lagoon in Iceland

Fontana Spa

Fontana Spa is a local favorite, located just 50 minutes from Reykjavik in Laugarvatn village.

This spa is most famous for its location alongside the scenic Laugarvatn Lake, with views of active volcanos and snowy mountains surrounding it from all sides. And with entry tickets costing just 4990 Icelandic Kronas (about $35 USD), a visit to Fontana is less than half the price of the Blue Lagoon.

See More: A Guide to Laugarvatn on the Golden Circle

Reykjadalur Geothermal River

If you are trying to save money in Iceland, then check out Reykjadalur River.

This geothermal river is about a 40 minute drive from Reykjavik. It requires an easy to moderate 40 minute hike to reach, but the reward is a naturally heated river that is immersed in the most pristine, unspoiled natural scenery.

I love how undeveloped and natural it feels here, and gauging by the groups of Icelandic people that frequent the area, so do the locals.

Out here you are one with nature, and you may just see a sheep or two pass by as you bathe. And the best part is that it’s totally free to visit.

Blue Lagoon FAQ

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