The Blue Lagoon: A Vacation for Your Skin
As far as I’m concerned, the Blue Lagoon completely lives up to its reputation. Soaking in the dreamy light blue water surrounded by a superb landscape is an experience like no other. Plus you are getting a luxurious skin-cleansing experience, and all the while sipping on an ice-cold smoothie. What more can you ask? This is an absolute must-see, must-do on any visit to Iceland.
The silica mud deposited into the water is what gives this geothermal hot spring its ethereal blue color. The mud is also offered as a face mask, which you can obtain at the Silica Bar in the lagoon—and it’s no problem going back for seconds; you can use as much as you want during your visit. So go ahead and lather it on, to your face as well as your body. The steam, the minerals, and the silica mask really bring everything to the surface. It’s a total and totally refreshing detox for your skin. You can then finish off with the algae mask, a natural moisturizer. The whole experience left my skin feeling super clear, without stripping the moisture away; I loved it so much I purchased tubes of both the silica mask and the algae mask on my way out.
The surroundings and the design of the lagoon add another whole dimension to the experience. You’ll find yourself nestled within a landscape of lava mountains, with the huge open sky above. And all the facilities, from the soaking pools to the cave steaming room to the waterfalls, are so thoughtfully designed, in clean lines that harmonize with the landscape. It makes it that much more fun to explore and experience. This place is truly an escape in every way: Cleanse your skin, soothe your muscles, clear your mind.
In recent years, the number of visitors to Blue Lagoon has skyrocketed. To accommodate the crowds and to ensure a pleasurable experience, all guests now have to book their tickets in advance—and tickets do sell out, so get them early! We were only able to get tickets for the 8 pm time slot. I was a little bummed at first since the lagoon closes at 9 pm, but we got there 2 hours early and they let us in anyway without any trouble. With changing and showering included, I felt that 3 hours was just barely enough, so allow yourself plenty of time for your visit.
We left the lagoon feeling very relaxed and ready for a wonderful nap. It was exactly what we needed to recover from our glacier hike the day before. For all the outdoor adventure Iceland has to offer, the Blue Lagoon felt like it provided a much-needed balance for my body.
Located just 20 minutes from the airport, the Blue Lagoon is also extremely easy to visit if you’re only in Iceland for a stopover. With your ticket purchase, you can schedule a bus pick-up in Reykjavík or at Keflavík airport. Just leave your bags at the luggage storage, which you’ll find at the entrance, and get soakin’!
There are many other lagoons in Iceland that are nice and unique in their own ways, and much more affordable, but if you can only make it to one, it should definitely be the Blue Lagoon.
Here are a few tips for when you’re at the Blue Lagoon:
1. If you’re wearing contacts, be careful not to get water in your eyes.
2. Don’t wear any jewelry into the lagoon; the minerals might leave it tarnished.
3. Put conditioner on your hair before getting into the water.
4. Shower naked before you put on your bathing suit. It’s required in order to help maintain the hygiene of the spa.
5. At the time of our visit we chose the Standard Pack, which includes admission and mud mask for 6100 ISK (Icelandic Krona) per person. Starting in March 2018, the Standard Pack will also include a towel and a drink of choice for 6990 ISK.
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