Iceland’s Blue Lagoon Review: Instagram vs. Reality

An honest Blue Lagoon review to help you have the best spa day ever

More than 1 million people visit Iceland’s Blue Lagoon every year. So it must be awesome, right?

It is. But maybe not in the exact way you expect. The world’s most famous geothermal spa looks amazing in photos—its vibrant blue waters surrounded by black lava rocks, hot steam rising. Who doesn’t want to star in their own otherworldly movie?

I first visited the Blue Lagoon in 2008, long before I started travelling the world reviewing spas and public baths. It was a very memorable, carefree experience, goofing off with my friends in the milky pools, slathering our faces with DIY mud masks scooped from under our feet. When I returned solo in spring 2025, I knew things would be different. (See: 1 million annual visitors.) Guys, it was really different, and not much like the pretty pictures on Instagram. I still loved it, but whether or not the Blue Lagoon is worth it for you will likely depend on your expectations and I think there’s lots you should know before you go. So read on for my detailed Blue Lagoon review or just head to the info about hours, prices. Etc.

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What is the Blue Lagoon? Not what you think!

First up, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is not to be confused with the tropical South Pacific lagoon from the 1980 Brook Shields movie Blue Lagoon.

Blue Lagoon is a man-made, private spa attraction located near Iceland’s Keflavik international airport, about an hour from Reykjavik. It’s composed of very large pools of uniquely coloured blue water, a by-product of the nearby geothermal power station. Yes, it’s waste water! That shouldn’t freak you out, it’s very clean. But know this isn’t a natural hot spring. It was created unintentionally but ended up being a beautiful accident.

Engineers had expected the water to seep through the surrounding lava but instead it formed pools. And if you know Icelanders you know they love a hot pool! In the 1980s, locals would come to bathe but eventually it was privatized. In 1999, the Blue Lagoon spa as we know it opened, and immediately attracted global attention.

The blue colour is due to high silica content, and there is also a lot of salt and algae. I didn’t come for wellness treatments and am not a doctor so can’t speak to any medical benefits. I came because it looks neat and water circuits make me happy. How happy this time?

First Impressions visiting the Blue Lagoon

What they don’t show you on Instagram: on the drive to the Blue Lagoon you’ll pass Iceland’s iconic black lava fields, and eventually arrive in a very industrial looking area – there’s a power plant there, after all. The first views of the blue waters, just outside the entrance, are very cool, even if you have to skip past this entrance quickly because it’s raining, as I did.

The first thing I see inside are rows of stanchions – those cattle-controlling like ropes you see at airports and amusement parks to handle long lines. I picked the first timeslot of the morning and thus had no wait time. I would not want to arrive when those queues are filled. The staff are very efficient, but there’s no spa like serenity here, no run-down of the facilities or rules even; it’s “quick, quick here’s your wristband” and pointing to the signs to your change room upstairs. I could hear the sounds of construction here (more on that later).

What about the Blue Lagoon change room rules?

If you’ve read my reviews of other Icelandic spas, you know the local culture requires you to shower—naked—before entering any pool. It makes total sense. They do not use chemicals, or as many harsh chemicals, and to keep the pools clean they need you to scrub your private parts for real, not just splish splash water over your swimsuit. To please visitors who are squeamish about communal showers, they now have semi-private stalls. So you don’t need to be naked in front of other people if you don’t want to. But you still need to shower naked.

I notice there are a lot of change rooms. Like, I don’t know how many because it went on past my field of view. They filled up fast, too. Lots of staff keeping things clean but, again, doesn’t not feel like a “spa” as it’s very busy and noisy.

Fine, let’s get to the pools!

The Blue Lagoon really is stunning. The first view is through huge floor-to-ceiling glass, and I couldn’t wait to get outside.

The first big difference I noticed from the 2008 visit is that the bottom is so smooth, no longer a rocky, muddy bottom more like a swimming pool. Accessibility win, for sure. So where do I get my mud? Ah, there’s a Mask Bar where you get a scoop of Silica Mud Mask in your hand. (Included with all admissions; you can also upgrade or pay for other masks/scrubs).

I did as one does and slathered the white mask on my face. Honestly, I think the mask made me look like a Juggalo. Better that than the women with a large glob of white paste hanging off her nose that remind me of [redacted].

This is a good time to mention that the Blue Lagoon depth is about 4.7 feet and I’m only 5’4” so I was carrying my phone above my head. I should obviously have brought a waterproof case (you can buy one there, but it costs $42 CDN) but instead had to make do with the flimsy plastic bag meant for your swimsuit. I found a spot to set it down while I applied my mask and quickly decided I’d take some photos and put it back in my locker before I lost it in the milky blue waters forever.

Oh yes, it was also incredibly windy. This is Iceland after all and it’s often incredibly windy. Why did I wear large earrings for photos? They slapped my face wildly. I envied the group of women who came in matching, customized headbands. Much cuter. Less slappy.

I leaned myself against a walkway and observed the other guests. Plenty of duos, one of which was always charged with taking a lot of photos. Quite a few families with children in their floaties. (Definitely more kids than I was expecting.) But mostly groups, mostly Americans, many doing like me and popping in here before a flight home. I thought the Blue Lagoon would be a blissful way to relax before getting on a plane. But gliding on my tip toes with the wind whipping around wasn’t working. So I headed for shelter.

What facilities are included at the Blue Lagoon?

In addition to the very large Blue Lagoon pool itself, and a cold waterfall, there is a sauna and a “steam cave.” These are both pretty small for such a huge facilities that if my math is correct can sometimes see 4,000 guests in a day!

Still, only did I love sweating it out in here, I struck up conversions and learned there is a bar in the lagoon, and a drink is included. So off I went, slowly wandering through the mist in search of a mocktail. I took several wrong turns (the pool is really big), but eventually found myself with a healthy smoothie in hand.

It’s a bit funny, watching throngs of people—by now there were throngs— walking through the Blue Lagoon holding up drinks. More like a resort pool than, again, my vision of a spa. I noticed a long queue had formed at the Mask Bar too. I’d been here about 90 minutes by now (they have a very convenient large digital clock so you don’t miss your plane) and was already feeling it was time to go. I floated on my back for a while—already knowing this would cause havoc on my hair—and then called it a day, earlier than expected.

Blue Lagoon Reality Check.

This place is iconic and popular for a reason. It’s unique in the world. If you’ve not been to any other pools in Iceland, or Nordic Spas in general, it could possibly change your life, opening your eyes to these wonderful experiences. It’s also pretty fun, and I think a great activity for groups of friends or couples.

As a solo traveler at the Blue Lagoon, I was especially thankful for the helpful “ambassadors” who hang around the pool offering to take your photo. There were quite a few of us, although I would say single people are in the minority here overall.

What the Blue Lagoon is not is a relaxing, blissful, chill, spa experience. Unless… you have $650 USD. Because they built a whole other facility called Retreat, separate but attached, which has all the things the regular Blue Lagoon does not – privacy, panoramic relaxation areas, modern design ritual rooms for sauna, rainshowers, exfoliation, etc) in a phone-free, kid-free environment. I doubt I’ll ever write a Retreat at Blue Lagoon review because they’ve priced it for couples. Like, per change room not per person. So even if it was in my budget, I would still find that offensive as a solo traveller.

Some nice upgrades are coming to the Blue Lagoon. The construction sounds I heard are in part to expand their indoor spaces, like a bigger sauna with views (no doubt inspired by the Sky Lagoon). And I am sure I will return to experience that, because there is only one Blue Lagoon and how can you be this close and not go? But, again, I don’t think this is a great solo activity and would bring a pal.

TLDR: The Blue Lagoon is a must-visit in Iceland but treat it like a tourist spot amusement, a Disney version of a hot spring, not a natural Icelandic experience or romantic spa day.

Know Before You Go:

Where: The Blue Lagoon is located at Norðurljósavegur 9 240, Grindavík. If you don’t have a car you can take a shuttle bus from Destination Blue Lagoon, directly to/from the airport and/or downtown Reykjavik.

When: Open from 8am to 10pm August to May and 7am to midnight in the summer months of June, July and August.

Who: Children under 13 are free. Which means you’re gonna see plenty of kids. Minimum age is two.

What to Bring: A swimsuit is mandatory. A waterproof phone case if you want to take photos highly recommended. No swimsuit? They have rentals for 800ISK/$9CDN. Don’t bother with flip-flops nobody wears them. Basic shampoo and conditioner is provided and they recommend lathering your hair with the conditioner before entering the pool to protect from damage from the silica.

How Much: It’s not cheap. There are three price tiers, and dynamic pricing based on date and even timeslot in the day. (The price kept going up as I was considering when to go.) I was happy with the basic Comfort ($129CDN to $163 CDN), which includes your entrance, unlimited towels, locker, one scoop from the Mask Bar, drink of choice. The Premium upgrade ($$163CDN – $200CDN) includes a robe but you really do not need a robe—you’ll wear it from the change room the door of the pools and that’s it. You also get to try 2 more masks, and an extra drink. The most expensive is Signature, ($200 CDN – $236 CDN) which includes all of Premium plus sample products to take home.

I hope this Blue Lagoon review was helpful. Ready to spa? Check out my Dos and Donts for Day Spa Etiquette.