Visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

If you’re travelling to Iceland (or felt inspired by my post titled Top 5 things to do in Iceland) chances are that a visit to the Blue Lagoon will be on your Iceland bucket list. I had always wanted to go there but when it came to booking I became a little sceptical as I kept hearing about it being an ‘overpriced, overcrowded tourist trap’.

Nevertheless I booked my ticket for the Blue Lagoon, because when do I listen to what the critics say! Sure, it’s not that cheap but as someone who tends to save all her splurging for when she’s on holiday, it didn’t bother me too much. And you know what, it wasn’t crowded and I had a lovely time!

Getting there

The Blue Lagoon is actually closer to Keflavik Airport than it is to the centre of Reykjavik, so for some people who may be catching a late flight, this makes for an ideal last day activity. We had already pre-booked our trip as part of a package with the travel agent so we had coach transfers to and from central Reykjavik already sorted.

What to bring

Obviously swimwear is required and you will need a towel to dry off too. You can hire these for a fee, or bring your own. I also took my waterproof camera but as the water is so milky and full of minerals I kept it out of the water then put it safely away in a locker after I was done taking a few photos. You may wish to bring sunglasses with you too if it is a sunny day as the sunlight reflects off of the water.

What to expect

There are separate male and female changing rooms that are decent, clean and spacious. When you arrive you will be given a wristband for your locker to store all of your belongings. The wristband also acts as a credit card so you can buy refreshments whilst having a soak (yes there is a bar in the lagoon!). You are required to shower before entering the lagoon and they also recommend that you cover your hair in conditioner to help stop the clay getting stuck in it. I didn’t cover my hair and instead tied it up, most of it was ok but I was left with a bit of a dry clay feeling around the hairline.

The blue colour comes from the way the silica reflects in the sunlight and the water is a glorious 37-40 degrees celsius and contains silica, algae and minerals – all good for your skin. There are different spa treatments such as facials and massages that you can pay extra for but if you opt for the cheapest ticket price you can still benefit from the silica mud masks which you apply yourself at the various silica bars dotted around the lagoon.

Verdict

I really enjoyed my visit to the Blue Lagoon and if you’re planning on a vacation in Iceland then I would definitely recommend. Of course there are less touristy alternatives but National Geographic wouldn’t name it as one of the 25 wonders of the world for nothing would they?

If you enjoyed this, why not check out my True Blue pinterest board.