Blue Lagoon: An Otherworldly Calmness

Blue Lagoon is famous for a lot of things in Iceland – primarily its popularity with tourists. You might even recognize its image from popular media — a small sea of calm, powder-blue waters, steam hovering in wisps above it, black-and-gray craggy rocks dotting the horizon.

Iceland is known for its pools, spas, and geothermal activities. What happens if you combine these three and wrap the result in a luxurious package? You get Blue Lagoon, one of the most premier spots in the country. Blue Lagoon is around 45 minutes away from Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland.

This geothermal spa is an image of luxury — the kind of luxury where you have to pre-book for days (or even weeks) in advance! The geothermal spa also offers other services such as a hotel room! Like any other resort, it also has its own restaurant and sells its own skincare products.

But is the Blue Lagoon really worth it? Most people seem to agree so. The geo-heated seawater here is rich in various minerals like sulfur and silica and is purported to have significant healing properties (especially for those with psoriasis and other skin diseases). Don’t worry about catching anything here, though, as it’s covered by Iceland’s very strict code of spa hygiene. Also, the waters are completely replaced every 2 days.

The water isn’t very hot — 39 degrees Celsius on average — since it has already passed through a geothermal power plant on its way to the lagoon. Yes, the lagoon is manmade, but the waters themselves originate from a superheated vent near a vein of lava.

The Blue Lagoon is an awesome place to be in if only to enjoy a good bath or spa treatment. If you can, go here in the evenings (the place is open until 12MN during summer, and until 9 or 10 PM at other times). This way, you can feel what it’s like to plunge into the water under the midnight sun, or under the weaving lights of an aurora! It’s an otherworldly and unforgettable experience.

If you are even remotely thinking of going here on your Iceland visit, it’s best to book now. Ticket prices tend to rise steeply the closer you are to your target dates, so it’s best to be early. It’s not for nothing, after all, that this is one of the most frequented spots in all of Iceland!