May 18, 20207 min read

Top 10 Tips for Preparing for the Blue Lagoon

Updated: Jul 28, 2020

So you are thinking about going to the Blue Lagoon? If you have any doubts, don’t. Just go! You will not regret it as it is a unique way to experience Iceland while getting in some needed relaxation. Yeah, it is a splurge, but we all deserve it!

I realized that as I was planning for the #BlueLagoon, there was a lot of information that I did not know. I had tons of questions such as: What is the best time to arrive? What is the best package to book? Is it safe to use my camera? How does the shower situation work? Am I going to freeze? I read blogs, spoke with friends who went there and looked on Instagram. It just felt like a lot that I needed to know was not centralized in one place. As a result, I am creating this blog post so that you do not feel as overwhelmed as I did when prepping for this excursion.

Keep reading this blog post as I will answer some of the most common questions:

How do people prepare for the Blue Lagoon?
What should I bring to the Blue Lagoon?
How long do you need at the Blue Lagoon?
How to Ensure a Great Experience for the Blue Lagoon?
How do I buy Blue lagoon tickets? Are there Blue lagoon discounts?
Should I go to Blue Lagoon at night?

Let's get to the Top 10 Tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon!

1. Did you know?

Apparently, the Blue Lagoon is manmade! That might explain why this just seems too good to be true to be real. While the lava around it is naturally occuring, the water is coming from the power plant next door.
The water is actually milky white! However, because it looks blue as a result of the sun’s reflection, that is how it got its name.

2. Why should you visit?

It is AMAZING for your skin! As a person who has skin conditions, my skin felt and looked like new after my trip to the lagoon. The water is filled with lots of minerals, algae, and silica that does wonders.
Treat yoself: It is a splurge in money, but it is so worth it! This was perhaps one of the most relaxing experiences that I have ever had on a vacation. The whole experience is a #boujeerelaxation.
The water temperature: Although outside may be 30°F-40°F, the water stays consistently around 98-102°F all year. So soothing!

3. How does booking work? How many coins is this costing me? How do I buy Blue lagoon tickets? Are there Blue lagoon discounts?

You need to book online in advance. You book for a specific time on the hour. There is actually a chance of it being sold out, so don’t sleep on booking ahead of time. There are several packages to choose from:

TIP: I highly recommend spending the extra $20-30 to book the “Premium Package.” This will allow you to get (in addition to what is included in the most basic package): 1) bath-robe to rent on entry 2) flip-flops you can keep 3) a second face mask of choice 4) a table reservation at the Lava Restaurant and 5) 1 glass of sparkling wine if dining at the Lava restaurant. You also get to enter through a different line, which at the time we went, was shorter!

4. How do I get to the Blue Lagoon?

If you are not renting a car, your only real way of getting there is by bus. The Blue Lagoon is located only 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport, but 50 minutes from Reykjavík. As a result, many people recommend going when you first land in Iceland or the day you are departing Iceland. You will need to arrange a bus. On the Blue Lagoon website, it gives you an option to arrange transportation with Grayline.

TIP: If you want to truly enjoy the Blue Lagoon for all its worth and not feel limited with time, I would actually carve out a day for the experience. Yes, it will take longer for you to get there, but regardless, you need to take a bus.

5. What happens when you arrive?

When you arrive to check-in, there are separate lines for the basic Comfort package, Premium package, and retreat spa. When we visited, the line we entered was significantly shorter than the line for the Comfort customers.
When we were checked in, we were handed bathrobes, flip flops, and an electronic rubber wristband that is used for everything from purchases to using the lockers.
You will be directed to the locker room where you will store all of your stuff. If you do come with suitcases, I hear that there is a place to store them for a fee.
The locker room is where you will be able to take a required shower before entering the Blue Lagoon. Everyone must take a shower before entering a swimming area! However, I repeat, you do not have to get naked in front of people. There are private showers! (Making disclaimer because I was told there are only public showers)

TIP: Wear your bathing suit underneath your clothes to the Blue Lagoon so you do not have to worry about getting your bathing suit on in a public locker room, although there are a couple of changing rooms.

6. How long do you need at the Blue Lagoon? Should I go to Blue Lagoon at night?

I think that this is a matter of personal preference. Most people recommend about 4 hours. However, we spent about 6 hours at a very leisurely pace. You need to take into account the time it will take to check-in, settle in, and shower. In terms of time of day, if you want to avoid crowds, I would imagine that the early morning is the best time because by the evening, the lines to enter are super long! Be sure to check the website for hours. Typically, the Blue Lagoon opens around 8 AM and closes between 9 PM and 11 PM, depending on the time of year.

TIP: I just wanted to share with you our schedule while we were there:

Arrived 2pm
2-2:30pm: Check-In, settle in locker room, take a shower
2:30-3:00pm: Took lots of pictures
3pm: Reservation at Lava Restaurant
3-4:15pm: Ate Lunch at Lava Restaurant
4:15-4:30pm: Relaxed in common area for food to digest haha
4:30-7:15pm: Enjoy the Blue Lagoon
7:15pm-7:40pm: Got ready to leave (shower, pack-up, buy an extra smoothie, stopped at the shop)
7:45pm: Headed to the bus
8:00pm: Departed the Blue Lagoon

TIP: If you want better quality pictures at the Blue Lagoon, its better to go during the day time. Someone on my Instagram commented they wished they went during the day time like me once they saw this picture below!

7. What should I bring to the Blue Lagoon?

This is a great question! Trust me, I had the same wondering. In my backpack, I had the following:

Deodorant
Hair tie
Extra underwear
Bathing suit (underneath my clothes)
Change of clothes
Extra plastic bags to put wet clothes (although they had bags there)
Selfie stick (but too nervous to use in the water)

I wish I had:

Water-proof phone case (I wrapped my phone in an extra bag)
A bottle of water

If you do not get the comfort package, make sure you have

Flip-flops
A robe or cover up for when you get in and out the Blue Lagoon

TIP: Bring a towel just in case. I say this because I noticed that after a certain time, they stopped giving out towels. I was able to get a towel at the time I checked in though, which was 2pm.

8. How do people prepare for the Blue Lagoon? Do I need my wallet? my purse or bag?

I was wondering about this as I was concerned about having to leave my valuables on a hook. NOPE! NOT THE CASE! You can literally lock up everything in the locker. The great part about the wrist-band you get is that you can tap it for any purchases. The color of the wrist-band depends on what package you get. On your way out, they scan it for you to pay any charges on it. I had a small purse to put my phone in, but eventually locked it away as I was too nervous for it to fall. A waterproof case is crucial here!

9. About that Lava Restaurant? -- Is it worth it? How is it?

Any person who I talked to about the Blue Lagoon mentioned loving the Lava Restaurant, claiming it was some of the best food they had. Of course, I had to try it. It was worth every penny! This was one of our last meals in Iceland, and it was a perfect way to celebrate the conclusion of an amazing trip overall. The #LavaRestaurant was perhaps the most #boujee experience of it all! What is better than wearing your bathrobe as you sit in a fancy restaurant? I LOVED the bread! You can ask for more servings, as we literally got 3-4 servings. I also loved both my fiance and I’s entree and dessert. The appetizers, I could pass.

TIPS:

When you get the Premium package, you are able to make a table reservation at the Lava Restaurant AND get a free glass for sparkling wine! DO IT! Cheers to that!
I recommend making your reservation for lunch. That way you can take advantage of the lunch set menu, where you have the option of getting 2 courses (apps and entree) for $48 or three courses for $58. Of course, we went for three courses. It is cheaper to do the set menu than a la carte. There is a dinner option of a tasting menu for $75 (which clearly is significantly more!)

10. What do I need to know about the Blue Lagoon Experience? How to Ensure a Great Experience for the Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon is essentially one large #geothermal pool with many nooks and crannies. Take some time to walk around and explore as there are many hidden spots. In some spots, the water is a lot hotter than others. You can find tucked-away spots if you are looking for privacy from people.

The spa masks were a big highlight! They truly work wonders! With the premium package, you get two masks. The second mask is determined by your skin type. I loved it so much that I bought some to take home at the shop.

For any package, the first drink is free, which they scan. I decided to get their famous Skyr smoothies. Great choice - simply tasty & refreshing!

TIP: Allow for extra time since there will be lines by the spa masks and walk-up bar. They can be hard to find with all the mist so you can ask someone you see with a face mask or drink if you do not find someone who works there.