10 Tips for Visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon

I’m willing to bet that if you’re headed to the land of fire and ice, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is on your list of “Must See” destinations. If it’s not it should be. It’s a huge, geothermal spa full of rich minerals that are incredible for softening your skin. The milky white water is warm year round (between 99-102 degrees F) and it’s insanely relaxing. Although the lagoon is actually man made, it is surround by natural jet black lava fields and bright green moss that make for incredible pictures. There are a few things to know before going that will help make the most of your visit. Here are 10 tips I have after spending a relaxing day floating around the lagoon!

Buy Tickets Ahead of Time

Blue Lagoon requires that you prebook your ticket in advance.  When booking, you pick a one hour time slot that you plan to arrive in and one of 3 ticket options. The Comfort Package is the least expensive (EUR 54) and is a basic package with entrance into the lagoon, access to the silica mud for a face mask, a towel, and 1 free drink.  The Premium Package (EUR 77) gives you all that plus an algae mask, flip flops and the use of a robe. A reservation at the onsite restaurant, LAVA is also included. To really go all out, get the Retreat Spa Package (starting at EU 228)  that features a private area of the Blue Lagoon and amazing looking massages and beauty treatments.

Get there as Early as Possible

If you can get there when it opens, do it. I can’t recommend that enough. It becomes incredibly crowded as the day goes on. My plane landed at 5am and we went directly to the lagoon, which is actually on the way to Reykjavik. We were actually there TOO early, so we wandered into Hotel Silica and stumbled on an incredible breakfast buffet. It was actually one of the best meals we ate on the trip. If you have time check it out!

Don’t Worry About the Shower

Let’s talk about nudity. Another rule at the Blue Lagoon is you must shower before getting in. I read in a few places that there was no privacy, and to be prepared to have to be nude in front of all the other women. In many countries it’s totally normal to be naked in spas and locker rooms, but as an American this made me a bit nervous.  Luckily for me, there were actually plenty of showers with curtains.

Take Advantage of the Silica Mud

One of the best parts of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is the silica mud mask!  The silica deep cleanses, strengths your skin and minimizes your pores. There are swim-up stations inside the actual lagoon where you can use as much as you like. Slather it all over your face, neck and shoulders, leave it on for about 5-10 minutes and rinse. Do it more than once! Take advantage of it being free to use  in the lagoon, because if you want to take home a bottle it will run about $100 in the gift shop. If you went for the Premium Package, this is where the algae mask is as well.

Embarrassing story alert! I read somewhere that it was totally normal for people to bring little containers in the lagoon to take some mud mask home. Naturally prepared as I am, I brought in my little tupperware and started scooping in some mud mask. I can tell you, no this is not the norm. I didn’t get in trouble but I got lots of dirty looks and had to swim around with my little container. *Face palm*

Get Your Hair Wet, In Moderation

I was so scared of the fabled “Blue Lagoon Hair” that everyone seemed to warn about.  As wonderful as silica is for your skin, it makes hair dry and brittle. “Keep your hair dry or it will break off!” and ‘Wear a shower cap!” were tips I read over and over. Personally, I had no intention of taking photos in a beautiful lagoon with a shower cap on my head. NOPE.  Even with it tied up your hair will eventually get splashed, so just get it wet and have fun! Make sure to take advantage of the conditioner in the shower and wear it into the water like a hair mask. Wash it out completely afterwards with a clarifying shampoo. It may take  2-3 shampoo before getting back to normal. It’s worth it, promise.

Bring a Water Proof Phone Case

Obviously you are going to want to take lots of pictures! It’s really not feasible to hold your phone above water the whole time, so unless you have a waterproof camera, pick up a waterproof case to bring along. This is the exact case I used and it was awesome. The pictures came out crystal clear and my phone was bone dry. It actually came in handy later in the trip when we visited Seljalandsfoss (the waterfall you can walk behind) and Glacier Lagoon too!

Bring Your Sunnies

I mentioned earlier that the water in Iceland’s Blue lagoon is actually a milky white. The sun reflecting on the water is what makes it that memorable shade of turquoise blue. That magic sun can make for lots of squinting though, so bring an inexpensive pair of sunglasses into the lagoon.

Take Your Jewelry Off & Rinse Your Swim Suit

Jewelry doesn’t like the silica and mineral in the water, they can build up and be hard to remove. Either leave your jewelry in the lockers, or talk to the staff about storing more expensive pieces in their safe.

Those same minerals can build up on your swim suit, so be sure to rinse it throughly before tossing it back in a suitcase. I didn’t rinse mine, and since I didn’t use it again for awhile I didn’t wash it right away either. After a week or two of being full of minerals, I couldn’t fully get them out and was left with a stiff fabric.

Don’t Rush!

Once you get in that warm, relaxing water you won’t want to get out. Allot yourself about 4 hours to get changed, soak in the lagoon, and explore.  I could have floated around all day!

Don’t Skip It because It’s Touristy

Yes, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is one of  the county’s biggest tourist attractions. People may tell you to skip it because of that, and the fact it’s man made. Don’t listen to them! Would you skip seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Colosseum in Rome? I bet not. The Blue Lagoon is a one of a kind experience not to be missed. I would go again in a heartbeat.

Related Posts:

1. The Travel Mistakes I Made in Iceland (That Cost me BIGTIME) 
2. Everything You Need to Know About Travel Insurance
3. My Favorite Carry On Travel Snacks

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