the Blue Lagoon is a stunning example of Iceland’s geothermal pools

All About the Blue Lagoon

A Blue Oasis in a Lava Field

The milky blue lagoon in the Reykjanes peninsula is quite striking in contrast to the black lava field and fragile green moss surrounding it. The geothermal water is between 37° and 40° C (98-104°F) but can sometimes fluctuate beyond that range.

What many people don’t know is that the lagoon is man-made and was in fact originally an environmental accident. The water is actually wastewater from the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi. When it opened in 1976, it was decided to let the water trickle into the lava field, assuming it would be absorbed by the porous ground. The dissolved minerals in the water instead created a blanket of mud which formed the foundations of the lagoon.

Five years later, in 1981, people started bathing in the small lagoon. There were no facilities there so people would get changed either in their cars or just out in the open. Stories about the healing powers of the water soon spread out, and people suffering from psoriasis in varying degrees swore it helped them with their disease.

In 1992 the Blue Lagoon Company was established. Facilities, where people could undress and shower before entering the lagoon, were built, and it has since become a luxury spa and one of the most visited attractions in Iceland.

Eventually, the power plant was moved, which in turn meant the lagoon itself had to be moved. New facilities were built, a restaurant was added as well as research facilities and a hotel.

The lagoon gets its color from the silica in the water. However, the algae sometimes give it a greenish hue in summer.

Additional silica is kept in barrels around the lagoon for bathers to slather on at will. It is reportedly very good for your skin. We don’t recommend putting it in your hair though and some use conditioner before entering the lagoon to keep their hair from becoming very stiff and difficult to manage.

There are three levels of admission to the Blue Lagoon – Comfort ($53), Premium ($68), or Retreat Spa ($372). Each ticket gives you access to the iconic lagoon, use of a towel, a silica mud mask, and your first beverage. Your Premium ticket steps things up with the use of a robe and slippers, a second mask, and a reservation with one glass of sparkling wine at the Lava Restaurant. If you decide to book the Retreat Spa experience, you are getting full access to the Blue Lagoon and the private Retreat Lagoon with the three-step Blue Lagoon Ritual in the subterranean spaces.

The Blue Lagoon has a public café right when you walk in the door — it’s open to any patron with admission to the lagoon. Premium ticket holders can also make a reservation at the Lava Restaurant overlooking the main lagoon pool. The Retreat Spa-goers have a private swim-up bar and a private in-spa restaurant with views of the lagoon. If you hold a Retreat Spa ticket or are staying at the Retreat Hotel Blue Lagoon, you can also make a reservation at the Michelin-starred Moss Restaurant.

The Blue Lagoon is situated about 30 miles outside Reykjavik (13 miles from the Keflavik Airport). While you can’t take one of the Straeto buses (Reykjavik’s bus service) to the lagoon, renting a car or booking a spot on one of the many charter buses is your best bet. It’s about a 45-50 minute drive from the city.

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