The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

About The Blue Lagoon

The lagoon's water is geothermal seawater, rich in silica and minerals, that comes from the nearby Svartsengi power plant and stays at about 37–40°C all year, whatever the weather outside. The lagoon holds around nine million litres, and the water renews itself roughly every 40 hours. Its blue-white colour comes from the silica suspended in the water, which also gives it a slightly cloudy, mineral-rich feel very different from a swimming pool.

It began, somewhat by accident, in the 1970s when locals started bathing in the runoff water beside the young power plant and found it soothed skin conditions. What started as an informal bathing spot has grown into one of the most visited attractions in Iceland, with a purpose-built lagoon, a research clinic for psoriasis, and several ticket tiers offering different levels of comfort.

The lagoon lies in the middle of a black lava field that is about 800 years old, and the contrast between the dark rock, the moss and the pale blue water is a large part of why people come. Locals have long believed the water helps with certain skin conditions, and that reputation still draws many visitors. In 2012 National Geographic named the Blue Lagoon one of 25 wonders of the world.

The Reykjanes peninsula has seen volcanic activity in recent years, and the Blue Lagoon has occasionally closed temporarily as a precaution during eruptions nearby. It is worth checking the lagoon's own site for current status before a visit, particularly if travelling at short notice.

Quick facts

From power plant runoff to spa

The Blue Lagoon exists because of the neighbouring Svartsengi geothermal power plant, which pumps mineral-rich seawater from deep underground to generate electricity and hot water. The used water was originally just drained into the surrounding lava field, but people began bathing in the pools that formed, and word spread about its effect on skin. What began as an unplanned bathing spot became a formal lagoon in the 1980s and has been expanded and rebuilt several times since.

How to get to The Blue Lagoon

Because of its location between the airport and the capital, many visitors combine the Blue Lagoon with an arriving or departing flight, but always keep a buffer of a few hours in case of delays.

What a visit to the Blue Lagoon includes

Every ticket covers entry to the lagoon for as long as you like within opening hours. The extras depend on the package you book.

The premium packages, the restaurant and the hotels at the lagoon are the luxury end of the experience. You do not need them for a good visit: the water is the same for everyone.

Exploring the Reykjanes peninsula around the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon sits on the Reykjanes peninsula, an area of wide lava fields, craters and geothermal ground. It is easy to add a few stops before or after your soak.

South-east of the lagoon is <a href="/locations/krysuvik-geothermal-area/">Krýsuvík</a>, with steaming, colourful hot spring ground, and the sea cliffs of Krýsuvíkurbjarg, where tens of thousands of seabirds nest in summer. The peninsula is good bird country in general, with cormorants and fulmars along the coast.

<a href="/locations/kleifarvatn-lake/">Kleifarvatn</a> is the largest lake on the peninsula, dark and quiet between bare hills. The smaller lake Djúpavatn is known among anglers, but you need a fishing permit before you cast a line.

On the north side of the peninsula are the towns of Keflavík and Njarðvík, the former base area of Ásbrú and the small village of Hafnir, with the open heath of Miðnesheiði around the airport. On the south-west tip you find <a href="/locations/gunnuhver/">Gunnuhver</a> and the cliffs at Reykjanestá.

Because of the eruptions near Grindavík since 2023, some roads and sights on the peninsula can be closed at short notice. Check umferdin.is and safetravel.is on the day.

Best time to visit The Blue Lagoon

The lagoon is popular year-round, so booking your preferred time slot in advance matters more than choosing a particular season.

Safety and practical tips

• Book your ticket and time slot well ahead, especially in summer and around holidays.
• Apply the provided conditioner before entering the water and leave it in. The silica can make hair dry and tangled otherwise.
• A towel is included with every ticket. Bring your own swimwear, or rent it on site.
• Remove jewellery before entering, as the silica-rich water can affect some metals.
• Shower without swimwear before entering the lagoon, as required at all Icelandic pools and spas.
• In winter, bring a warm hat. Your head is the only part of you out in the cold air.
• For Northern Lights from the water, book an evening slot between September and April and hope for a clear sky.
• If you visit on a flight day, leave a buffer of a few hours and tell the staff if you have luggage. There is luggage storage by the car park for a fee.

Facilities and accessibility

Changing rooms, showers, lockers, a restaurant, a café and a gift shop are all on site. The in-water swim-up bar and silica mud mask stations are part of the main lagoon experience.

On the map

Nearby places worth a stop

GrindavíkNearby fishing town

ReykjanestáDramatic coastline at the peninsula's tipGunnuhverGeothermal mud pools and steam ventsBridge Between ContinentsFootbridge over the tectonic rift

KeflavíkAirport town, 15 minutes awayKrýsuvíkColourful geothermal area with seabird cliffs nearbyKleifarvatnThe largest lake on the peninsulaSkátalaugSmall warm pool near KleifarvatnLeiðarendi lava caveLava tube on the way to Reykjavík

Where to stay near The Blue Lagoon

Most visitors stay in Reykjavík or near Keflavík Airport and treat the Blue Lagoon as a day trip or an arrival/departure stop rather than an overnight base, though there are hotels near the lagoon itself for those who prefer to stay close.

The Blue Lagoon FAQ