Blue Lagoon
About
What It Is
The Blue Lagoon (Icelandic: Bláa lónið) is a geothermal spa situated in a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, approximately 5 km from the town of Grindavík and 20 km from Keflavík International Airport [1]. The facility is man-made: it receives warm mineral-rich water that is a byproduct of the adjacent Svartsengi geothermal power station, where superheated water drives turbines before passing through a heat exchanger and flowing into the lagoon [1]. The water renews completely every two days, maintains an average pH of 7.5, and carries a salt content of 2.5% [1]. It ranks among the most visited tourist attractions in Iceland, drawing roughly 1.3 million visitors in 2017 [1].
Activities & Experiences
Visitors can swim and float in the lagoon, where water temperatures average 37–39 °C (99–102 °F) year-round [1][2]. The high silica content produces soft white mud on the lagoon floor, which bathers apply to their skin; silica mud masks are included in entry packages [1][2]. Guests can also explore caves, pass under a waterfall, and use steam baths within the complex [2]. A bar inside the lagoon serves drinks, including a signature slushy called a Krap, purchasable via the chip-enabled wristband issued at reception [2].
The Lava Restaurant and a cafeteria are available on site for dining, though the restaurant books up early and advance reservations are recommended, particularly around lunch and dinner [2]. Blue Lagoon branded skin-care products are sold in a gift shop at the facility, at a downtown location, and in the duty-free section of Keflavík Airport [2].
Practical Access
By car, the lagoon is roughly 20 minutes from Keflavík International Airport and 45 minutes from central Reykjavík via Reykjanesbraut, turning onto road 43 toward Grindavík; free parking is available on site [2]. Bus services run from the BSI terminal in Reykjavík and from Keflavík Airport, with some options bundling transport and entry; multiple tour operators also offer all-inclusive packages [2]. Opening hours vary by season: 08:00–22:00 from 1 January to 24 May, 07:00–23:00 from 25 May to 28 June, 07:00–00:00 from 29 June to 19 August, 08:00–22:00 from 20 August to 1 October, and 08:00–21:00 from 2 October to 31 December (as of April 2023) [2].
Entry is sold in tiered packages. The Comfort package starts at 9,990 ISK per person for off-peak time slots and includes lagoon access, a silica mud mask, a towel, and one drink (as of April 2023) [2]. A Premium package adds a second mask, slippers, a bathrobe, a Lava Restaurant table reservation, and sparkling wine [2]. The Retreat Spa option begins at 89,000 ISK and provides four hours of exclusive access to the Retreat Spa and the lagoon, private changing rooms, the full Blue Lagoon ritual, skin-care amenities, and a drink [2]. The facility is wheelchair accessible via a ramp extending into the water, and a shower chair and private changing room are available for guests with special needs [1].
Restrictions
All guests must shower fully without clothing before entering the water; communal showers are separated by gender [1][2]. Guests must be dry before returning to the locker area after re-entering from the water [2]. Children under two years of age are not permitted in the lagoon; children aged eight and under may only enter with arm floaters, which are provided free of charge [1]. Food brought from outside the facility is not allowed inside [2]. Travellers should monitor volcanic and seismic conditions before visiting, as the lagoon has closed multiple times due to eruptions and seismic activity in the surrounding area; current advisories are available at https://safetravel.is/ (as of April 2025) [2].
What Makes It Distinctive
The Blue Lagoon's milky blue colour, produced by suspended silica particles, is visually unlike most geothermal pools, and the mineral-rich water has been clinically studied and found to benefit the skin condition psoriasis, with a dedicated clinic opened on site in 1994 [1]. The lagoon operates year-round in an open-air lava field setting, making it one of the few places where visitors can bathe outdoors in warm water during Icelandic winter conditions [2]. Its position almost midway between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík makes it a practical stop for travellers arriving or departing Iceland, a logistical convenience that few comparable attractions can offer [2].
Sources
- Open year-round
- Typical duration: 4h
Access & fees
- from 89,000 isk (retreat spa)
- from 9,990 isk (comfort)
Things to do
- book an in-water massage
- dining at lava restaurant
- enjoy drinks at the in-water bar
- silica mud mask application
- soak in the geothermal lagoon
- steam bath use
- swim and unwind in the warm mineral-rich waters
- swimming and floating
- visit the retreat spa (premium experience)
Before you go
- lava restaurant books up early
- monitor volcanic activity before visiting
Amenities
- free arm floaters for children
- free parking on site
- gift shop and skincare products
- on-site psoriasis clinic
- rfid wristband payment
- towels included
- wheelchair accessible
- wheelchair ramp into water
Best time to visit
- longest hours mid-summer
- year-round bathing possible
Features
- 37–39 °c water temperature
- geothermal spa
- man-made geothermal lagoon
- silica mud on lagoon floor
- silica-rich milky-blue water
- water renews every 2 days
Nearby
- grindavík town
- keflavík international airport
- northern lights inn hotel
- svartsengi geothermal power station
Good to know
- bus access available
- check safetravel.is before visiting
- children under 2 not admitted
- distance from airport
- lava restaurant reservations
- mandatory pre-entry shower
- no outside food permitted
- phone: +354 420 8800
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