Chances are in the event you’ve met anybody that has gone to Iceland, they’ve gone to the Blue Lagoon. It is THE place that every one vacationers have heard of and go to, whether or not it’s on a brief layover or an extended keep. And in the event you learn Blue Lagoon Iceland opinions, most of them are fairly constructive.
After all, it does seem to be a reasonably mystical place with steam rising from its milky blue water in a setting surrounded by volcanic rocks. You could have seen photos of vacationers lined in white silica mud masks stress-free within the naturally heat waters whereas sipping a chilly beverage. It looks as if the perfect place to calm down, unwind and revel in Iceland’s geothermally heated waters.
Other Blue Lagoon opinions will discuss concerning the crowds. The draw back of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland is that it’s so widespread that it may possibly additionally get actually crowded. There are a whole lot of locations on the earth which might be widespread with vacationers that I attempt to keep away from just like the plague as a result of I’m not a fan of crowds. Times Square in New York City is one among them.
Now that I’ve visited the Blue Lagoon in Iceland twice, as soon as in June throughout prime vacationer season and as soon as in November when it was just a little quieter, I’ve some ideas that I wish to share. I’ll admit that I preferred it even much less the second time round, each as a result of it misplaced that new expertise shine and since it was chilly and windy with freezing rain that precipitated my hair to show into icicles.
Is the Blue Lagoon Worth It?
The backside line is that it’s value experiencing the Blue Lagoon at the very least as soon as, in any other case, you may expertise a little bit of FOMO. So if you’re visiting for the primary time, or with somebody that has by no means been to the Blue Lagoon, go forward and ebook a go to. But maintain studying so that you’ve got the fitting expectations.
Getting to the Blue Lagoon
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The Blue Lagoon is situated about half-hour from Keflavik International Airport. Since Iceland Air gives a free stopover program, many guests will merely take a bus from the airport to the Blue Lagoon, spend a while, and return to the airport.
Also, since most flights from the United States arrive very early within the morning (round 6-7 am) and except you ebook a lodge or Airbnb for the evening earlier than to make sure an early check-in, you could have a whole lot of time to kill earlier than you may check-in. This isn’t as a lot of an issue with resorts the place you may drop your baggage and discover town, however it’s a greater drawback for trip leases (though there are storage lockers on the bus station.) For this motive, many individuals select to go to the Blue Lagoon on their arrival day on the best way from the airport.
Getting to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik will be costly in the event you take a cab. The most suitable option can be to lease a automobile to your travels and drive your self to the Blue Lagoon. However, if you’re staying in Reykjavik with out renting a automobile, you may organize bus transfers both to and from Reykjavik or from the airport to the Blue Lagoon after which on to Reykjavik.
Of course, now that the Blue Lagoon has two resorts (the Silica Hotel and the delicate Retreat Hotel), you can too select to remain on property and take a full day to expertise the wonders of the Blue Lagoon.
What makes the Blue Lagoon Special?
Visitors have been captivated by the milky blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, contrasted with the dramatic panorama of a black lava discipline. While there are numerous pure sizzling springs in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is definitely man-made.
I all the time shock folks by telling them that the nice and cozy water truly comes from the runoff of the geothermal energy plant close by. The coloration is from the combination of silica, salt, and algae within the water. So a part of what makes the Blue Lagoon particular is the colour of the water, however largely it’s the in depth advertising and marketing that has made the Blue Lagoon so widespread.
There are actually loads of different sizzling springs or public swimming pools in Iceland together with the Sky Lagoon exterior Reykjavik.
Blue Lagoon Iceland Reviews
Both occasions that I went, we had pre-booked our reservations, which is required as a result of it does promote out, and signed up for the Premium package deal. A cheaper Comfort Package can be out there.
This package deal consists of entrance to the lagoon, use of a towel and bathrobe, a silica mud masks and two extra masks of your alternative, one drink of your alternative on the Blue Lagoon swim up bar, and one glass of glowing wine on the Lava restaurant for a hefty $76 per grownup (youngsters underneath 13 had been free.)
Arriving on the Blue Lagoon
When you arrive, you queue up within the acceptable line relying in your package deal. On our first go to, we didn’t arrive on the high of the hour, so it wasn’t very clear which line we ought to be in, however we had been rapidly sorted out and given our robes, towels, and wristbands and directed to the female and male locker rooms.
The wristbands are important as they function your locker key, cost technique, and exit technique — once they work, however extra on that later.
On our first go to, we had been scheduled for a 2 pm lunch reservation at Lava and since we didn’t know if it could be acceptable to eat in our robes (the reply is sure, it’s positive, however most individuals are in road garments), we stowed our stuff and went to lunch.
By this time I used to be just a little harassed from looking for two lockers collectively for my daughter and I after which having my locker malfunction with every part locked inside. I made a decision to kind out my wristband subject after lunch so we wouldn’t be late for our reservation.
On our second go to, we arrived instantly from the airport as quickly because the Blue Lagoon opened, and getting checked in and into the locker room was a a lot smoother course of. However, I’d nonetheless recommend getting there both proper earlier than opening or earlier than your scheduled reservation to attempt to keep away from arriving similtaneously the massive tour busses full of tourists.
Lunch at Lava Restaurant
There are actually 4 eating choices on the Blue Lagoon: Lava Restaurant, the Michelin-recommended Moss Restaurant, the Spa Restaurant, and the extra informal Cafe.
The lunch at Lava was the spotlight of our first go to. We began off with the glass of glowing Cava wine that was included in our package deal. The restaurant did supply a really good youngsters’s menu, however all of us determined to order off the usual menu anyway.
My husband began with the langoustine soup with seaweed and white chocolate, which tasted like lobster bisque with a touch of chocolate sweetness. He then continued with the rack of lamb, whereas Hannah tried the fish of the day and I sampled the meat ribs. All of our meals had been scrumptious and among the many finest that we had in Iceland.
The two-story setting with glass partitions overlooking the volcanic rock with glimpses of the lagoon was a chic and trendy design. As you may count on, it was a really costly lunch — as all meals will be expensive in Iceland, particularly fancy ones at a highly-touristic attraction.
As a lot as we loved our lunch at Lava, we had been additionally desperate to get out into the lagoon.
What to Expect When Visiting the Blue Lagoon Iceland
Before we may get into the Lagoon, I first needed to get into my locker. Now the best way it ought to work is that you simply put your belongings into the locker shut the door after which have a couple of seconds to scan your wristband in entrance of the closest scanner. I will need to have missed my few-second window as a result of my locker locked and wouldn’t reopen (which shouldn’t occur.)
To get into the locker and to my much-needed swimsuit, I went again out to the entrance desk and waited in line to pose my query. They instructed me to seek out an attendant within the locker room so I returned. Unfortunately, I couldn’t discover anybody so I went again out to the desk they usually referred to as somebody.
By the time I acquired again to my locker, somebody was there to assist me out, my belongings had been retrieved and subsequent, we had to determine the easiest way to undress, bathe, and put our swimsuits on (you’re purported to bathe bare earlier than coming into the pool.)
On my second go to to the Blue Lagoon, I understood the method a bit higher and issues within the locker room went rather more easily. When the locker room is overcrowded, it may possibly really feel a bit chaotic and complicated, which is one more reason to attempt to keep away from arriving similtaneously tour busses.
After we undressed and wrapped ourselves in our equipped towels and robes, we then went all the way down to the showers. After discovering a free bathe stall, we rinsed off, dried off, and went again to unlock our lockers and placed on our swimsuits. By the time we lastly made it exterior, Glenn was beginning to marvel what occurred to us.
It was overcast on the day we visited in June and the temperatures had been most likely solely within the excessive 40s or low 50s, so we rapidly scampered into the lagoon to heat up. I used to be shocked that the water temperature wasn’t just a little hotter. When I visited in November, it was even colder and I used to be very completely happy for the equipped towel.
I anticipated temperatures similar to a sizzling tub, however discovered it extra like a extremely heated pool. We moved round, crouching or kneeling within the lagoon to maintain our our bodies within the water, in search of heat spots. As we had been leaving the lagoon acquired extra crowded however throughout most of our go to, we may transfer about fairly freely with out working into anybody — actually no worse than swimming at a pool membership in the summertime.
On the second go to, it was raining and even colder, so I stayed crouched down within the water to remain heat. Of course on each visits I attempted to keep away from getting my hair moist within the milky blue water as a result of the silica and minerals within the water will severely dry out your hair.
We noticed many individuals coated within the white silica mud masks that the Blue Lagoon is legendary for and we headed over to the Mask Bar to obtain our included samples and provides them a strive. We ladled out the mud and unfold it over our our bodies, the place it dried and hardened for about 5-10 minutes earlier than we washed it off. It did go away my pores and skin comfortable and easy.
Afterward, we had been in a position to “swim” as much as the lagoon bar to assert our free drinks (smoothie, sodas, beer, or wine) utilizing our wristbands. I wouldn’t suggest having too lots of these whereas within the heat water.
Along the sting of the Blue Lagoon, you can too discover sauna and steam rooms, in addition to a man-made waterfall for pounding out stiff shoulders. Since I really like steam rooms, I used to be actually bummed after I went to make use of it and it wasn’t heating up correctly.
While visiting the Blue Lagoon, there are add-on providers you could ebook together with in-water therapeutic massage and float remedy. For a real splurge you can too ebook the Retreat Spa, which incorporates 5 hours within the Retreat Lagoon, Retreat Spa, non-public altering room, skincare facilities, a drink, and different upgrades and facilities.
Why I didn’t love the Blue Lagoon
First of all, let me say that I didn’t dislike my time on the Blue Lagoon — I simply didn’t get pleasure from it as a lot as I anticipated to. I even went again a second time to offer it one other strive!
I wouldn’t inform folks to not go, however I’d warning that if in case you have restricted time to spend in Reykjavik or Iceland, I’d recommend that your time (and cash) will be higher spent elsewhere. There are many different public swimming pools or spas all through the nation that may present an identical expertise, though none fairly so distinctive because the milky blue waters of the Blue Lagoon.
Here is what I didn’t like concerning the Blue Lagoon:
- Lines — regardless of marked queues at check-in, the method was nonetheless a bit disorganized with clerks redirecting you to totally different strains
- Wristbands — I used to be the one one which had an issue utilizing my wristband with my locker, however all of us saved dropping our wristbands as they simply slip open. We additionally all had hassle getting them to scan to be able to exit the Blue Lagoon — and we weren’t the one ones with this hassle. It created fairly a backup and added to the general frustration.
- Locker rooms — there have been only a few bogs inside the locker room contemplating the variety of lockers and friends. Waiting for one wasted extra of the restricted time we needed to spend on the lagoon. After making an attempt to squeeze our method over to our lockers to vary after showering, we moved over to the vanities to complete preparing. I had our two units of flip-flops that had been offered (to maintain) with our package deal sitting proper subsequent to my backpack at my toes. While I used to be brushing my hair, a lady walked up, took one among my units of flip-flops from literal inches from my toes, and walked away with them. I stood there with my mouth open like “what just happened?”
- Showers — I’m by no means a fan of public showers so that is extra my subject than the Blue Lagoon’s however the problem of getting to bathe twice exacerbated the state of affairs of looking for an open bathe, conserving your towel dry, juggling your shampoo/conditioner, and making an attempt to take care of some semblance of privateness in a crowded locker room.
- Bus teams — busses make common journeys from the airport and Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon dropping off a great deal of vacationers. Many of those are usually not the standard Iceland vacationer, however slightly tour teams spending a layover on the Blue Lagoon. Dealing with busloads of vacationers isn’t enjoyable.
- Unclear directions — once we checked in we got our wristbands, towels, and robes and despatched on our method with little or no instruction. We wanted to determine how the lockers/wristband labored utilizing the few indicators across the locker room. Same take care of the showers. I additionally would have liked in the event that they offered a handout once we checked in with these primary directions, together with a map of the property and providers. Then I’d have identified concerning the steam and sauna rooms to hunt them out sooner — to not point out the small leisure space on the second flooring!
Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon
If you intend on visiting the Blue Lagoon, you should definitely observe the following pointers:
- Make positive you prebook your reservation on the Blue Lagoon and if you’re visiting throughout the busy season, it’s possible you’ll must ebook this as much as a month or extra upfront to get your most popular time slot.
- Keep in thoughts that early within the day might be crowded with these coming instantly from the airport.
- If you don’t buy a Premium Package, it’s possible you’ll wish to carry your individual cowl up or additional towel.
- Bring flip-flops/sandals as these are not included within the premium package deal.
- Put your hair as much as maintain it out of the water because the water will dry it out severely. You may use a bathe cap in the event you actually wish to shield your hair.
- Don’t overlook your bathing go well with!
- If you’re coming instantly from the airport, put your bathing go well with, shampoo, conditioner, cleaning soap, flip flops and a recent change of garments in your carry-on bag or private merchandise in order that it’s simple to carry into the Blue Lagoon and slot in your locker.
- Plan to spend a minimal of two to a few hours on the Blue Lagoon to permit time to vary. You will wish to allot extra time if you’re consuming on the Blue Lagoon or if you wish to get pleasure from any of the upgrades corresponding to an in-water therapeutic massage.
- Bring a water-proof digicam corresponding to a GoPro or a water-proof cellphone (or cellphone case) to seize photos. Just remember the fact that between the water and the steam, it’s truly fairly laborious to get nice pictures (and you’ll see right here, climate additionally performs fairly a task.)
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