Escape to the Blue Lagoon
Many of us are heading into nearly 60 days or more of quarantine, and while I am going a little stir crazy, I found that revisiting some old travel memories is helping ease the monotony. Let me transport you out of your living room and into the warm aqua tinted waters of the Blue Lagoon Iceland.
Less than an hour outside of Reykjavik, hidden across a striking landscape of mountains and rocks, lies the mythical and magical Blue Lagoon. To be honest, my entire motivation for a quick weekend trip to Iceland was centered around visiting the Blue Lagoon, and it did not disappoint. First, visiting the Blue Lagoon must be planned and booked in advance! I found the website comprehensive and straightforward to navigate. Entry is based on timed tickets, and you can also book roundtrip transportation (which I highly recommend if you are planning on enjoying the lagoon bar). Find everything you need to book here.
Let me start from the beginning and help you plan your day trip. Saturday morning, we woke up at 7:30 a.m. to catch a bus from Stop 1 (city center) to the main bus depot. I found all the buses during our trip to be very prompt, so there is no time to doddle. At the main bus depot, we transferred to the “Blue Lagoon Experience Bus.” There were several different buses for excursions at the bus terminal, but plenty of friendly staff around to point us in the right direction. The ride out to the lagoon was dark and quiet as the winter hours don’t see sunrise until nearly nine in the morning. Pale pink hues began to overtake the sky signaling dawn as signs for “Blue Lagoon” began to appear on the motorway.
The volcanic landscape covered in a dusting of snow looked like a film set for the moon. Rocks and boulders covered fields and hillsides with large snow-capped mountains towering in the distance. As the sky began to brighten, we turned off the motorway and billowing steam clouds could be seen rising from the earth. Excitement rippled throughout the bus as once sleepy passengers began to wake with anticipation for the day ahead. The bus pulled into a circular drive with a single large rock facade, “Blue Lagoon Iceland.” Nothing else was in view, and it was hard to tell where exactly we had arrived.
After stepping off the bus, a line immediately formed for photo ops in front of the sign. Skip that part for now and take photos on the way out when there are less people around. A paved path lined with black lava stones about seven feet high on both sides appeared to be the only natural route to follow. We began walking around the twists and turns still not quite sure what to expect at the end. After a few minutes, the path ended at a set of large glass double doors with clearly marked queue lines leading up to a check-in counter. There is a lane for general entry and a second lane for VIP. A general entry ticket is $47, and a premium ticket is $66. The premium ticket includes: two mud masks, slippers, bathrobe, and a free welcome beverage. You can find the amenities for each ticket package here. I purchased the premium entry pass, and we were able to skip the general queue, shaving about 15 minutes off the wait to enter the lagoon. The check-in desk provided a robe, slippers, and an electronic bracelet that acted as our locker key and credit card during the visit.
Once we passed through reception, the area splits off into Men’s and Women’s locker rooms. The locker rooms were massive, and it was easy to find an open locker to store my personal belongings. Once I was changed and stored my valuables, I followed the signs to the lagoon entry. Like many public bathing areas, you must shower before entering the lagoon and conditioning your hair is recommended. I decided to be a rebel and not condition my hair thinking it would not get wet. Well, my hair did get wet and let me tell you it was like running a brush through a pile of hay for three days after the trip. DO NOT SKIP THE CONDITIONER.
Upon leaving the locker room, I entered a large atrium with a seating area, snack bar, and two entry options into the lagoon. There is an indoor entry ramp where you can walk into the water and follow a small path outside. Or, an outside entrance with ramps leading directly into the water. No matter the entry path you choose, there are racks inside and outside to hang up robes and towels. I also brought a small bag for my phone, sunglasses and chapstick that I hung behind my robe to keep it hidden. I did not have any trouble with my valuables on the robe rack outside, but keep in mind anything in the public area is stored at your own risk.
I was feeling bold and decided to brave the 30-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. My teeth chattered, and I felt silly standing in a bathing suit surrounded by snow and early morning frost. The second my slippers were off my feet tingled and burned on the frozen wooden platform. I wasted no time making a mad dash to the entry ramp to save my scantily clad body. My cares and the cold melted away the moment my feet touched the azure blue water with a temperature of 102-degrees. My impression before arriving was the lagoon would be small, and we would be shoulder to shoulder with visitors. However, the lagoon is massive with several bridges, coves and hidden corners spread out across 8,700 square meters of land. The lagoon sprawled out ahead of me like an aquatic maze, flanked by black volcanic rocks. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.
In the central lagoon area, I saw a small hut with a group of people huddled and decided to investigate. As I began inching closer faces caked in masks of green, white, brown, and black began to float around me. I had stumbled upon the mask hut. Guests receive a complimentary mud mask with a regular entrance ticket and a second complementary mask with a premium package. There is also a swim-up refreshment bar that serves wine, beer, water, and juice. If you walk straight down the ramp into the center pool, you will find the in the second major cove on your right. It can be a bit difficult to navigate the lagoon because of the steam but follow the sounds of merriment as the bar cove is extremely lively. There is a three-drink limit in the lagoon, so if you are planning to spend an entire day space out your drinks accordingly.
The Blue Lagoon is also home to a retreat spa, restaurant, and hotel. Hubs and I decided to splurge and have lunch at Lava Restaurant. I highly recommend breaking up the day with this delight. There is no need to worry about the dress code as nearly all the patrons were in robes and slippers. The restaurant is built into the side of a volcano surrounded by floor to ceiling windows looking out on to the lagoon. While the view was the first thing to take our breath away, the food was the second. The menu consists of traditional Icelandic dishes with the option of a set menu or à la carte. I ordered the lamb fillet and shoulder of lamb and hubs had cod. The premium ticket secures a Lava reservation time and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. If you are a Pinot Noir fan, order the Jean-Claude Boisset, Les Ursulines, 2018. If you do not wish to indulge at the restaurant there is a cafeteria area with salads and sandwiches in the main atrium.
After lunch, we decided to take one last dip in the lagoon before cleaning up and heading to the bus for our 3:30 departure. Overall, we spent six-hours at the lagoon, and honestly, we could have stayed longer. We arrived back in Reykjavik near 5:00 pm, which gave enough time for a shower and nap before heading out to dinner.
You will fall in love with the beauty and majesty of the Blue Lagoon.
Who else is ready for a vacation?
*Travel tips:
1) Book an early morning ticket, and you practically have the lagoon to yourself. We sipped champagne and watched the sunrise over the lagoon which made for incredible photos. The lagoon became increasingly busy by 1:00 pm.
2) If we were to do a weekend trip to Iceland again, I would book the hotel at the Blue Lagoon and skip Reykjavik. We had a great time in the city, but for a quick getaway, the lagoon only would have been a relaxing reprieve and perhaps saved us a little money as the city is very expensive.