Blue Lagoon

Stepping out of a changing room into a lava field in January, with the wind at minus five and steam blowing sideways, you'll question your life choices for about ten seconds. Then you're in the water, it's warm, and the only cold thing left is your hair.

The Blue Lagoon (Bláa lónið) is a geothermal spa on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, about 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport and around 45–50 minutes from Reykjavík. The water comes from the neighbouring Svartsengi geothermal power plant: seawater that has been heated deep underground, full of silica and minerals. The silica is what gives it that milky blue colour.

Tours that visit Blue Lagoon

top pick

Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon Small Group Tour with Admission Ticket

11 hours · From Reykjavík

4.9(2,869)

From 31.900 ISK

Volcano Eruption Site & Blue Lagoon Admission Tour

9 hours · From Reykjavík

4.7(185)

From 32.990 ISK

Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Small Group Tour with Admission

15 hours · From Reykjavík

4.9(78)

From 41.990 ISK

Keflavik Airport to Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik

4 hours · From Keflavík

4.8(60)

From 52.797 ISK

popular

Private Reykjanes & Blue Lagoon Tour in Multiple Languages: From Reykjavik / Keflavik

7 hours · From Reykjavík

4.9(937)

From 180.000 ISK

popular

Private Reykjanes & Blue Lagoon Tour in Multiple Languages: From Reykjavik / Keflavik

7 hours · From Reykjavík

4.9(937)

From 180.000 ISK

What to expect at the Blue Lagoon

It's the most famous bath in Iceland and it's run like it. You book a time slot, you shower (properly, it's Icelandic rules), and you get a wristband that runs a tab for drinks at the in-water bar. The water is kept warm, about 37–40°C, with hotter and cooler corners if you move around. A silica mud mask is included with standard entry. Packages go up from there, and there's a restaurant, a hotel and a separate spa.

Is it touristy? Yes. Is it worth it? For most people, yes, especially straight off a long flight. If you want something more local, there are plenty of community swimming pools and smaller baths around Iceland, but none of them sit in a lava field quite like this one.

Is the Blue Lagoon open? Volcanic activity nearby

The Blue Lagoon sits right next to the volcanic area north of Grindavík, where a series of eruptions on the Sundhnúkur crater row started in December 2023. Protective barriers have been built around the lagoon and the power plant, and lava reached part of the lagoon's car park in late 2024. The lagoon has closed and been evacuated several times during eruptions, sometimes for days or weeks, and reopened afterwards. The area remains active. Before you go, check bluelagoon.com and safetravel.is, and if you've booked, keep an eye on your email.

Pro tip: book it for your arrival or departure day. The lagoon is between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík, there's luggage storage, and a morning soak after an overnight flight beats sitting in a hotel lobby waiting for check-in. Many airport transfer and tour options on this page combine the two.

How to get to the Blue Lagoon

You must book in advance; you can't just turn up. By car it's a straightforward drive from either Reykjavík or the airport. Without a car, there are bus transfers timed around flights, and many tours combine the Blue Lagoon with the Golden Circle, the Reykjanes Peninsula or a northern lights hunt. Allow two to three hours in the water. In summer, and around Christmas and New Year, slots sell out well ahead.

Plenty of the tours below include Blue Lagoon admission, some as the main event and some tacked onto the end of a longer day. Tours that include the Blue Lagoon are below.