No doubt that you know at least one person who has been to Iceland in the past 5 years. They’ve posted photos of themselves hiking throughout the pristine landscape, petting the Icelandic horses, and gaping at the waterfalls. But the most iconic Icelandic attraction is the Blue Lagoon.
The best (and really only way) to visit Blue Lagoon is to experience the spa itself. Whether you go at the beginning or the end of your trip, you have to check it out!
American Living in Germany: Know Before You Go
First things first: Blue Lagoon is not a nude spa! You will need a bathing suit in order to enjoy the facilities.
You also don’t have to stay at the Blue Lagoon hotels in order to visit the spa. In fact, most of the spa packages are for a day visit only. But there is no Blue Lagoon tour – you have to purchase tickets to the spa in order to visit.
Pro tip: If you need to go back to the States, consider a layover (or stopover) specials with Icelandair!
Keep in mind that everything is expensive. As of 2020, the exchange rate is approximately 1 Euro to 160 Icelandic Krona. But a medium pepperoni pizza in Reykjavik can cost around 2,400 Krona (nearly 15,00 Euro).
If you plan on exploring Iceland, I highly recommend renting a car. It will give you more options for a flexible itinerary!
And, as always, bring your tourist passport. It’s not the same as your SOFA passport, and you must have your passport when you leave Germany.
Don’t know what a SOFA passport is? Be sure to review my PCS to Germany: arrival guide!
About The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a man-made geothermal spa in the middle of a lava field. Its naturally cloudy blue hue comes from the abundance of silica.
You can enjoy a few hours just relaxing in the water and sauna, or spend a night in their hotel and dine at one of their restaurants for the full experience. And if you’re worried about cold weather in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon stays around 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 Celcius) all year round.
The Blue Lagoon is a 30-minute drive from Reykjavík, but just a 15-minute drive from Keflavík Airport. You can easily grab a bus or car service from the airport to the Blue Lagoon, or even rent a car yourself.
Still planning your Iceland trip? You have to visit my 4 favorite waterfalls!
Many travel agencies offer the Blue Lagoon tour as part of their package, i.e. they will drop you off at the spa after all other destination stops. Most people visit Blue Lagoon either right after landing in Iceland, or right before they leave.
If you go after landing, you won’t feel rushed once you arrive at the spa. You may, however, feel extremely exhausted after your visit.
If you go at the end of your holiday, you will want to make a reservation for early in the morning when it’s less crowded. The spa can store your luggage, and you will want 3 to 4 hours to relax, eat, and redress at a leisurely pace.
Good to Know Before Visiting the Blue Lagoon
Plan ahead of time for a relaxing experience!
Make a reservation weeks (or months) in advance
To guarantee you can visit the Blue Lagoon on the day and at the time of your choosing, you have to make a reservation. This also prevents over-crowding at the Blue Lagoon to maintain a relaxing, enjoyable environment.
Included versus additional services
Two packages – Comfort and Premium – include entrance to the Blue Lagoon, one silica mud mask, one towel, and your first drink of choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).
The Premium package also includes a second mask of your choice, slippers, use of a bathrobe, and a table reservation at the Lava Restaurant with sparkling wine.
If you enjoy spas, you should check out Therme Erding in Bucharest!
Bathing suit required, bathrobe optional
A towel is included in both the Comfort and Premium ticket prices, but only the Premium ticket includes a bathrobe and slippers. But if you choose the Comfort ticket, you can still rent a bathrobe and purchase slippers.
Dining options
If you are staying for just a few hours, the Spa Restaurant or Café will be your best options. They both have an all day menu – the Café serves smaller snacks and beverages, whereas the Spa Restaurant has more variety.
Lava Restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and if you book the Premium package, it includes a reservation (but not the cost of your meal). Moss Restaurant offers a seasonal dinner menu that highlights ingredients sourced from Icelandic farmers.
While the Café and Spa Restaurant may be more casual than Lava and Moss, remember that you will still pay Icelandic prices for your meals!
Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Lagoon Iceland
Check out these common questions so that you can plan the perfect Icelandic vacation! Don’t see an answer to your question? Ask me in the comments!
Day visit prices may include the Blue Lagoon or the retreat spa (or both). As of 2020, they offer comfort, premium, and luxury day packages that range from $42 to $346. And if you want to spend more than a day at Blue Lagoon, you can stay at the Silica Hotel or Retreat Hotel.
Depends on where you’re staying. First and foremost, you have to rent a car in Iceland – everything is expensive (including transportation), and you will most likely be traveling long distances to get from one place to another.
We drove from our hotel, which was very close, but you might consider visiting Blue Lagoon on your last day before heading to the airport. There’s a shuttle service that takes you to and from Reykjavik and Keflavik airport, with a little pit stop at Blue Lagoon!
If you want to catch the Northern Lights, I highly recommend visiting between September and March when the clouds are clear! (No guarantee though.) December through February will be the coldest, but the weather is nice during the spring and fall.
Visit Blue Lagoon
Your vacation is a break from normal routine. Treat yourself to a spa day at Blue Lagoon in Iceland!
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