Planning a Visit to the Blue Lagoon:
Before making the trip to Iceland, I asked myself repeatedly if visiting the Blue Lagoon was worth it. Although the Blue Lagoon is one of the most tourist-filled places in Iceland, I wanted to experience the hype myself. Pre-booking is required so make sure you book your ticket in advance. I recommend doing it at least one week in ahead. For me, the hardest part of heading here was actually choosing what ticket to purchase. Prices range from 6100 ISK to 53000 ISK ($58 to $499). Also keep in mind the age limit for kids to enter is 2 years old. Admission is also free for kids 2 to 13 with an accompanying adult. ****ISK=Icelandic Krona****
Why You Should Book Right Now:
When I say “Book Right Now” I really mean book right now. Here’s the link. This place books up so quickly, you can lose the day you want in the process of deciding the best time slot to arrive. Take it from me, I have personal experience.
What Gave Me Second Thoughts:
Iceland is generally an expensive place to visit, so adding the Blue Lagoon to your itinerary wouldn’t put that much of a dent in your budget. Once you get there prices will definitely make you have second thoughts about ever going back, but if you plan the right way, you can have a good time without breaking the bank. For me that meant bringing my own slippers and towel as well as not eating at the cafe or restaurants on the property. For a moment I even considered trying a Skyr smoothie until I saw the $9 price tag. Take my advice and bring your own food and drink.
What to Expect:
From the weightless feeling you get in the water to the beautiful blue colors of the water under the Icelandic sky. There’s so many things to love about this place. Although you won’t find any locals here, the experience is still worth it. You can take advantage of on-site amenities like the sauna and steam rooms, the relaxing man-made waterfall and even silica mud masks. If you’re willing to splurge on a few more things like a massage, you can even get an in-water massage for under $100 for 30 minutes. Just remember the elements of the lagoon itself tends to dry people out so you’ll need to stay hydrated. Plan to bring a water bottle to fill up as needed.
Final Thoughts!
The blue lagoon was definitely an experience to remember, but be sure to do some research before booking a visit. Start by choosing the package that works best for you. I chose the Standard ($58) which came with:
- Entrance to Blue Lagoon
- Silica Mud Mask
This package based on my budget and worked out perfectly for me because I ended up bringing my own towel and flip flops. If you’re willing to splurge you can try the Premium ($96) package which is the most popular, this will get you:
- Entrance to Blue Lagoon
- Silica Mud Mask
- Use of Bathrobe
- Use of Towel
- Slippers
- 1st drink of your choice
- Algae Mask
- Table reservation at LAVA Restaurant
- Sparkling wine at LAVA Restaurant
The best advice I can give is to consider all of the experiences you’ll have in Iceland. Are you staying for a short period of time? Have you already spent a significant amount of money on excursions? If you’re looking to experience Iceland as a local, there are other hot springs or local pools you can visit in Reykjavik and around the country, that will make you feel closer to the people. If you’re willing to splurge and looking for a luxury spa experience this is great place to start. Remember to also consider the cost of transportation to and from the lagoon when planning your experience. Here is a link to the bus schedule.
Whatever decision you make, you’ve decided to come to one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by this geothermal spa surrounded by volcanic rocks. Look forward to hearing your stories.
Happy Travels.
Walking to the entrance being greeted by moss and volcanic rocks!
Share on Pinterest:
Awesome. I was on Malta’s (Comino) Blue Lagoon. Also i’m planing to visit Island, so i will take this in consideration depending on budget.
Thank you for the travel tips! I have a daughter who really wants to visit Iceland, I’ll pass this on to her!
She will love her experience in Iceland. Tell her do as much research as possible.
I agree with you that the entry is expensive but not in relation to the general prices in Iceland. We brought our own food too and we were happy when we saw the super expensive sandwiches in the cafe. But overall, I loved the experience, probably as we visited early morning after a night flight, this was an amazing welcome experience to Iceland. We had fun with the masks too 🙂
Glad you enjoyed your time there. It would have definitely worked for me after a flight.
I agree with you, it was touristy but worth it! We did the package up from the basic which was towel, drink, and 2 different masks. We really enjoyed our time there especially since we spent the first part of the day horseback riding!
Nice. The blue lagoon would definitely be relaxing after horseback riding.
Looks really interesting! The price tag would have made me hesitate but seeing your review makes me want to splurge on this experience. Amazing how the water is that beautiful blue color!
Sounds like an awesome experience! I would definitely love to splurge so I’d need to save up plenty of money lol. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely beautiful!! Iceland is on my bucket list, actually. Thanks for sharing all the info. The photos are fab!
Glad you liked them. You have to use a waterproof camera like a GoPro in the water, but they do have plastic you can get there for a small fee.
Very cool, in the end seems it’s worth it. Would love to go there. 🙂
Thans for the tips.
Glad my tips were useful to you. It’s definitely worth it depending on what you’re looking to experience. I feel like I’ve experienced it once, not sure I would try it again unless I was heading there with a lot of money so I get the massage.
Im going to iceland this summer and i am so excited! I honestly know almost nothing about it and I will be on a cruise, so I don’t think id get a chance to visit this place.
You will have a good time no matter what. Besides Iceland’s one of those places you can visit just once.
Great article! I love all the little tidbits you give, its definitely good to know!
Great review. I wouldn’t have known to book tickets ahead of time.
I have heard mixed reviews. Booking way in advance I get because of the popularity.
This looks amazing. I think I will add this to my list of places to visit, just for the relaxation properties alone. Thanks for the heads up on the prices though, I now know to come prepared.
Glad my post was useful. It is definitely important to be prepared. I loved my experience there, but I’m not sure I would go back, I’d like to head to one of the natural hot springs instead.
I compltely agree. I have been to Iceland twice and made a visit to the blue lagoon both times. Yes it’s touristy but who cares, it is such good fun!
Glad you enjoyed your time there. I’d like to head back to Iceland, not sure about the Blue Lagoon though.
It helps to know about these things before planning a trip. Thanks for supplying us with this information. I would love to go to Iceland, but it’s never been #1 on my list. I would still consider visiting, but not without adequate preparation.
I planned for almost a year so I understand. A trip to Iceland is nothing to take lightly.
I’ve been having this question in mind for quite some time now. There have been quite a lot of bloggers writing about Blue Lagoon, but me being someone who doesn’t prefer too touristy places, I was doubtful if its really worth all the hype. The premium package does sound impressive!
I won’t lie it is a bit overrated. But if you’re looking for a nice spa day I do recommend this place.
Nice even handed assessment of this place. It’s always tough to decide whether or not to visit a “tourist trap” some of them are worth it, and others are just money sucks. I appreciated that you were honest about the overpriced foods and need to budget while still encouraging us to visit.
Glad it was useful. I enjoyed my time there, but I would definitely think twice before going again. I think trying a natural lagoon next time would be great.
I’ll definitely love to see the Blue Lagoon when I eventually visit Iceland. Great things I’d have to keep in mind. Thanks!
Thanks for writing this. I was looking on the internet for a more in dept opinion. And you did that for me. Thus place is beautiful and its something you would want to do to show your friends and family. But like you said. Think budgetfriendly wise because breaking the bank on 1 place isnt very smart.
Glad my post was useful. Iceland is a beautiful place, but you have to do a lot of planning before heading there.
Thanks for this review! So glad you went beyond just the experience of being in the lagoon and provided a glimpse into all the other activities and costs 🙂
Definitely worth the visit! Plunging and soaking into that steaming water is what we really need right now. We would love to visit Iceland, but it’s quite a difficult thing for us to do here coming from the Philippines.
I understand. Coming from North America the flights are cheaper. Hope you do get the experience in the future.
this is truly a natures wonder. In a place so cold such a pool is a real experience I guess.. Iceland has always been on our list and after reading this post I so want to go there..
You make a really good point. Iceland’s expensive so you know that going into it that you have to save a lot more. Obviously we can’t go somewhere and do everything but you wouldn’t want to go to Iceland and miss the Blue Lagoon! I like your recommendations of bringing your own towel and snacks etc and have more money for other things like a mask. Cannot wait to go one day! Great post.
Are there any other lagoons that one can visit that aren’t this hyped? I’m sure there have to be. But I understand how this could be in someone’s bucket list!
I was there maybe 7 years ago and I have heard it has become insanely over crowded after that. I don’t remember any issues getting last minute tickets then. I think it is fun to visit but after you have seen it one time, I don’t need to go back. I was there on February and it was snowing a little. It was beautiful.
Thanks for this post .. We visited blue Iceland recently and made a call to skip it bcz of its cost and also bcz there were so many free hot spring ., wish would have read this post before . Thanks for sharing
Great tip about booking in advance! When I visited in 2011, it wasn’t as packed and we stayed with locals who were good to book in advance for us but I remember wanting to do a massage and not being able to do one because all the spots were full!
[…] The Blue Lagoon was a choice I went back and forth with in my mind for some time. If you’re willing to splurge on one thing throughout your trip, I would say this should be it. I chose the cheapest package of $58 because I brought my own slippers and towel, but the choice if yours. Check out my review of The Blue Lagoon here. […]