Is Iceland’s Blue Lagoon worth it? An honest Review

Visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is practically a rite of passage if you take a trip here! Its milky blue waters and dreamy, otherworldly vibes have earned it a spot on nearly every travel bucket list. But before my first trip, I stumbled across a recurring theme in reviews, social media posts and travel blogs: it’s overpriced, overrated and it’ll probably wreck your hair.

So, with all these mixed opinions, I was hesitant to book tickets for the Blue Lagoon on my 14 day Ring Road trip. Because, yes, it was expensive, but ultimately, I wanted to see it for myself. Was the Blue Lagoon worth it? Was the Blue Lagoon overrated? Will I feel like I’m marinating in a petri dish? Was I going to come out with a head full of straw?

So, with that said, here’s my no-nonsense guide and review of making the most of your Blue Lagoon visit.

Blue Lagoon Basics: What You Need to Know

Surprise! The Blue Lagoon isn’t a natural wonder — it’s a man-made geothermal spa born from the runoff of the nearby Svartsengi power plant. Glamorous, right? But give credit where it’s due: they turned a happy accident into one of the world’s most iconic spas.

Worry not! The water is safe for soaking. You won’t turn into Blinky the three-eyed fish from the Simpsons (the true face of nuclear waste!)

• Water Temperature: A cozy 37-40°C (98-104°F)
• Main Ingredients: Silica, Algae, and Minerals
• Fun Fact: The water isn’t actually blue; if you cup it with your hands, you’ll see that it’s actually white. Sunlight just works its magic.

The lagoon is kitted out with everything you’d expect from a day spa: lockers, showers, cafes, saunas, and even on-site accommodations.

Want to go to the Blue Lagoon? Reserve your tickets here

Is the Blue Lagoon Worth the Price?

Spas in Iceland can be expensive and the Blue Lagoon is no exception. Prices vary depending on when you visit, what time you visit. The standard package can be as low as $65 (but as high as $120 in peak summer time slots) and includes a towel, locker, one silica mud mask, and a free drink. I spent about two hours soaking, sipping, and smearing mud all over myself.

We visited in July with a mid-morning time slot and it was about $80/pp.

Will the Blue Lagoon Destroy Your Hair?

I’m prone to dry hair and split ends, so I approached the Blue Lagoon with a mild panic. Chlorine, saltwater, and now silica? Goddamn! My hair’s been through enough.

So I was really careful not to get my hair wet if at all possible while visiting the Blue Lagoon. I put it up in a high bun and slathered a little conditioner on it before getting into the water. It was easy enough to avoid getting my hair wet, but you will have to forgo taking any of this Instagram-iconic photos of yourself emerging out of the water with your hair down.

That’s okay by me. I didn’t want to take the chance.

However, even though I wasn’t planning on dunking myself underwater at the Blue Lagoon, I did pack a bottle of clarifying shampoo and deep conditioner to use on my Iceland trip, just in case.

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Quick Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon

• Timing: It’s about 45 minutes from Reykjavik and 20 minutes from the airport. Visiting after a red-eye flight is is a great way to refresh yourself and freshen up after a long flight.
• When to book your time slot: If you want to visit the Blue Lagoon on your arrival day to Iceland, I recommend booking a spot no earlier than three hours after your plane lands. This gives you some wiggle room in case the flight is delayed, passport control takes longer than expected (we breezed through in minutes but this won’t always be the case) or you get jammed up at the rental car lot with long lines. You never know! We had a 7am arrival and booked a 10:30am time slot — it worked out perfectly.
• Showering and changing rooms: You will need to shower before entering the Blue Lagoon but there are booths with shower curtains for private showering. There are also private changing cubbies with doors if you want some privacy.
• Towels: You are given a towel with your entrance fee.
• Can I bring my phone or camera into the Blue Lagoon? Yes you can, no one will stop you. I didn’t bring my real camera into the Blue Lagoon; I took my phone when I first got in to take some photos and then I went back and tossed it back in the locker so I could relax without it.
• Water Temp: It’s warm, not hot. It’s….tepid. I was pretty disappointed in this, I expected it to me more like a hot tub.
• Weather: Iceland’s weather is chaos. Rain, sun, hail—sometimes all at once. Don’t let a little drizzle keep you from soaking.
• If you’re arriving after your trans-atlantic flight: Pack your swimsuit, change of clothes and your toiletries in your carry on, so you have easy access to them. You’re not going to want to dig through your big suitcase to find this shit after a red-eye.
• No matter what time you arrive, you can stay at the Blue Lagoon and soak as long as you want.

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My Experience Visiting the Blue Lagoon

We arrived after our red-eye flight from the USA. I chose to do this on arrival day as a way to freshen up after the flight, since we were arriving at 7am and likely wouldn’t be able to get into our hotel room until 2 or 3pm-ish. We arrived at the Blue Lagoon around 10am and they let us in early, as we had a 10:30am time slot. After your ticket is scanned, you’ll be given a towel and wristband, and directed to the women’s or men’s locker room. This wristband allows you to get your free drink and also serves as your contactless payment method, in case you want to buy any extra drinks or facial treatments while in the lagoon.

There were quite a bit of people here, but it wasn’t unreasonably crowded. Lockers can be locked and accessed with your wristband.

Once you’ve changed and showered (you must shower before getting into the Blue Lagoon — no one wants your grime gunking up the water!), you’re directed to the entrance to the pool. The first thing I noticed was that the water just wasn’t that warm. I was expecting hot tub-like temps and this was tepid, at best. Plus, despite it being early July, temps outside were only in the high 40s, so it was really cold!

People tend to congregate in certain areas of the lagoon, but the Blue Lagoon is actually quite large; there are plenty of areas without any people in them, if you venture out. The water temp also varies throughout the pool, so I was also trying to find a warmer spot.

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With the basic package, you get one silica mask with your admission – just swim up to the mask station to get it.

Even though I use face masks at home all the time, I still got the mask all over myself — I had the worst time slopping it all over my face and it got into my eyes. In other words, not graceful! It stung my eyes so bad, I had to find one of the faucets around the lagoon to rinse it out without removing the rest of the silica from my face — I did want the treatment after all!

Rule: Don’t be sloppy when slathering the silica mask on your face!

Overall, I think we stayed about 2 hours, maybe? I felt like that was plenty of time.

Do I recommend the Blue Lagoon in Iceland?

Even though it wasn’t this mind-blowing experience, I still recommend it to a first-time visitor to Iceland. It’s iconic and it was relaxing — you gotta love the color of the water — you won’t get that at any other spa in Iceland, or perhaps the world?! For me, this is probably a one-and-done thing — I likely won’t go again unless I travel to Iceland again with someone (like my sister) who hasn’t been there before, as I do feel that it’s an experience that any traveler to Iceland should have. Yes, it’s touristy but it’s also pretty fun — lighten up and just go; there is no prize for avoiding tourist attractions (they’re popular for a reason!), and no one cares if you’re trying to prove a point by avoiding them. My final recommendation is to suck it up and do it!