your guide to the blue lagoon in Grindavík, Iceland

If the heavenly aquamarine waters of the Blue Lagoon in Grindavík, Iceland are on your bucket list, you aren’t alone. In fact, out of the over 2 million people that visit Iceland per year, 1.3 million also visit the Blue Lagoon! This means that if you’re considering visiting Iceland in the years to come, you should probably add the Blue Lagoon to your itinerary (and bookmark this article as a guide for when you’re ready to book!). Below outlines everything you need to know about the Blue Lagoon to plan a fantastic visit for you and your family/friends!

What Is the Blue Lagoon in Iceland?

The Blue Lagoon is a man-made geothermal spa located in southwestern Iceland (specifically Grindavík, Iceland). It spans 8,700 square meters and is filled with over 9 million liters of milky, aqua-colored geothermal seawater that stays anywhere between 98-104°F year round. The warm temperatures are the effect of runoff water from the geothermal power plant adjacent to the spa, leaving visitors in a calm and relaxed state. 

Though the Blue Lagoon is not a natural phenomenon, it is still considered one of the world’s wonders. It’s known for its silica and sulfur-rich waters and white silica mud, which are said to have healing effects on the skin. Scientists have even studied if the water has curative powers, and people travel from near and far to come and find out for themselves! Many visitors even leave with a bag full of the Blue Lagoon’s skin care products, which can be found here (and purchased from wherever you are, no trip necessary).

Blue Lagoon in Grindavík, Iceland Map 

To help you better visualize and prepare for your trip to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, the location is clearly marked on the map below! This can be especially helpful if you’re trying to see how far the Blue Lagoon is from any other areas you’d like to hit. 

Planning Your Trip to the Blue Lagoon 

When beginning the planning process for your Blue Lagoon visit, there are a few bits of information you need to ensure that you understand and research before choosing the perfect date, time, and transportation method. Fortunately for you, after visiting the Blue Lagoon in January, I’ve composed a short summary of everything you need to know when planning your trip! This includes:

The Best Time of Day to Visit the Blue Lagoon 

While you may find from a quick Internet search that the Blue Lagoon is open from 8:00 am- 8:00 pm Monday thru Sunday, this actually isn’t true year round. In fact, the Blue Lagoon changes its hours throughout the season. For example, in 2023 the Blue Lagoon’s hours are:

Despite the changing hours throughout the year, there’s no doubt that the best time of day to visit the Blue Lagoon if you want to beat the crowds is early in the morning, or late at night. Since many people take tours during the earlier part of the day, most people just want to go back to their hotel rooms or Airbnbs for rest instead of going to the Blue Lagoon to end the day. Some even go to the Blue Lagoon spa! If you do book an evening slot for your Blue Lagoon visit, it’s important that you keep in mind that they ask all guests to exit the water approximately 30 minutes before it closes for the evening. Make sure to factor that time into your visit! 

If you’re looking for which day of the week is the least crowded, visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday!

The Best Time of Year to Visit the Blue Lagoon 

This can be taken two ways; I consider the “best time of year” to visit the Blue Lagoon as the 1.) time of year where the lowest number of visitors come and 2.) the time of year where the Blue Lagoon is most beautiful/enjoyable. These have two different answers.

The best time of year to visit if your main goal is to beat the crowds is from November to March (this doesn’t include the holiday season). This is because summer is the peak season for Iceland tourism. However, if you do decide to visit Iceland and stop by the Blue Lagoon in the winter, it’s important to remember that there is less daylight during those months in Iceland. In fact, when I visited Iceland in early January of 2018 we only had about 4-4.5 hours of daylight per day, so if you visit around this time you may want to schedule your lagoon visit at a time where you’ll be able to see better. If you do visit the lagoon when it’s dark though, they do have lights! We visited when it was pretty dark during the day and the water was such a creamy, iridescent blue that it looked like it was glowing in the dark. 

The best time of year to visit if you want to see the Blue Lagoon during the most beautiful time of year is definitely July-August, when it's summertime, the temperature is a little warmer, and it’s light out for longer.

Transportation to and From the Blue Lagoon (Bus, Train, OR Plane) 

From the Airport: Two words- bus transfers! If you’re coming from the Keflavik Airport, which is a simple 20 minute drive to the Blue Lagoon, you can schedule a bus ride with the lagoon’s bus company. I would recommend scheduling this in advance so that you can plan how much time in between arriving at the airport and getting on a bus to the lagoon. This is the only bus company that drives travelers to and from the lagoon, and it has departures every hour. If you’re looking to book this now, you can visit the Destination Blue Lagoon site. This fee includes your transfer to and from the spa, as well as your admission into the lagoon (plan everything at once- yay!). 

You can also take a taxi, but this will be anywhere from $70-$120.

You may also be wondering- what do I do with my luggage? When my friends and I visited the Blue Lagoon, we were picked up by a bus company in Reykjavik and then brought to the lagoon, and we had our luggage to go to the airport directly after. Right when we got to the lagoon we paid about $6 to store our luggage in a special building where they tag everyone’s belongings and hold them while tourists visit. So many people visit on their way to and from their airport that they need a safe, special spot to put luggage so you should have no problem finding a place to keep it! 

From Your Airbnb/Hotel: There are multiple different buses you can take from wherever you’re staying (especially if it’s in Reykjavik) to the Blue Lagoon. When I went to the Blue Lagoon, my friends and I booked through this bus company and we waited at one of the many bus stops that dot the city. Tickets can cost anywhere from $30-$60 depending on the time of year you’re going, but I would advise shopping around and looking at a few different bus companies to compare the prices and how close their bus stops are to you!

You can also book your Blue Lagoon tickets with transfers to and from Rejkavik by clicking here, which is super helpful.

The Price of Visiting the Blue Lagoon 

There are 3 different packages at the Blue Lagoon: comfort, premium, and luxury. The details of each are outlined below:

To book your day visit to the Blue Lagoon, click here.

Hotels to Stay in Near the Blue Lagoon in Grindavík, Iceland

There are hotels both onsite and in the area for you to stay at if you’re looking to stay near the Blue Lagoon, so you have plenty of options! 

Onsite Hotels:

Offsite Hotels: 

Alternatives to Blue Lagoon Iceland 

Iceland is known for its beautiful natural attractions, and the Blue Lagoon is one of them. While it may be a popular tourist destination, there are plenty of other thermal pools in Iceland worth exploring. Here are some alternatives to explore:

SHOULD YOU VISIT THE BLUE LAGOON PREGNANT?

Pregnant women are welcome to enjoy the Blue Lagoon! However, it is important to note that pregnant women should not stay in the lagoon for longer than 20 minutes at a time due to its high temperatures. If you are pregnant and want to visit the Blue Lagoon, it is advised to talk to your doctor beforehand to ensure it is safe for you. The only possible reason you may be advised not to stay in for too long is because temperatures are around 98-104°F.

Plan Your Perfect Trip to the Blue Lagoon

Now that you've learned all about how to get there, when to get there, and where to stay, you're finally ready to plan a trip to Iceland and visit the Blue Lagoon!