Blue Lagoon
Not a water park but an experience no child forgets: floating in milky-blue geothermal water at 38 degrees while cold Icelandic air nips at your ears, silica face masks optional but universally applied.
- Best forCouples · Families · Wellness & slow travel
- In July13°C · 12 rainy days
- Ideal stayA half-day stop
- Approx. flying time~8h 50m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyISKIcelandic króna
- LanguageIcelandic
- Local time10:161h behind the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+354
Why go
Set in a black lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula, the lagoon is a broad expanse of opaque, mineral-rich water held at bathing temperature, steam drifting across it whatever the weather is doing overhead. The experience is engineered rather than wild, and it is very good at what it does: silica masks, a swim-up bar, and the odd pleasure of warm water and cold air at the same time.
It sits between Keflavík airport and Reykjavík, so most people slot it into an arrival or departure day rather than making a special journey. Entry is by timed slot sold well in advance, and the earliest and latest of them are the quietest. Winter adds floodlit steam and a chance of aurora; summer adds daylight at strange hours. Anyone hoping for solitude should try Iceland's smaller geothermal pools.
- Ideal stay
- A half-day stop
- The vibe
- Steamy, engineered, oddly serene
From our guides
Milky geothermal water at 38 degrees in a black lava field, steam drifting over silica-smoothed rocks — Iceland's most famous soak is unapologetically touristy and doesn't care; neither will you. Book the evening slot in winter, when floodlit steam and the chance of northern lights turn the lagoon frankly cinematic. Stay at the Retreat for access to the quieter private lagoon, and slather on the complimentary silica mud mask — the romance will survive it.
Featured in Ten water park and lagoon days to build a holiday around and Ten spa and hot-spring escapes to switch off together
Things to do
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The main lagoon
Large enough to find a quiet corner away from the bar and the mask station, particularly at the far end where the water often runs warmest.
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Silica mud masks
Included with entry and applied by almost everyone. Leave it on for ten minutes and rinse, which explains the collective white-faced look in the water.
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The lava field paths
Short walking routes through moss-covered lava around the site give a proper sense of the landscape the lagoon sits in, and cost nothing.
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Reykjanes peninsula
Volcanic coastline, the Bridge Between Continents and the steaming ground at Gunnuhver are all within a short drive of the car park.
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Evening slots in winter
Floodlights, steam and genuinely dark skies. On a clear night the northern lights are a real possibility from the water itself.
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Krýsuvík and Kleifarvatn
A scenic alternative route back towards Reykjavík, passing a bubbling geothermal area and a deep, black-shored lake in the hills.
Getting there
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Fly to
Reykjavík (KEF)
Nearest airport to Blue Lagoon, about 14km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Reykjavík
About 20 minutes by car from Keflavík (KEF), which is why most people slot the lagoon in on the way to or from a flight. Reykjavík is around 50 minutes further on.
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On the ground
Getting around
The lagoon has its own car park and a boardwalk in from it. Scheduled coaches connect the site with both the airport and Reykjavík, timed around booking slots.
Public transport: Coach transfers are frequent and easy, so a hire car is optional here.
Flights
Los Angeles Blue Lagoon, Iceland
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Roughly 8h 50m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 2°C in December to 13°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in January, with rain on about 17 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
July13° · rain 12 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
City hotels and apartments in Reykjavik, guesthouses along the Reykjanes peninsula, and two very expensive hotels at the lagoon itself. Almost no budget chains.
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Best base overall
Reykjavik
Forty-five minutes away and the only place with a real choice of hotels, restaurants and evening life. Airport transfers stop at the lagoon in both directions, which makes the logistics easy.
Find stays in Reykjavik -
Closest to the sights
Grindavik
The fishing town nearest the lagoon, useful for an early morning slot. Volcanic activity on the peninsula has repeatedly disrupted the town, so check the current situation before booking anything here.
Find stays in Grindavik -
Best value
Keflavik and Reykjanesbaer
Guesthouses and airport hotels at lower rates than the capital, twenty minutes from the lagoon and handy for an early flight. The town itself gives you very little to do.
Find stays in Keflavik and Reykjanesbaer -
Best with children
Reykjavik 101 and the old harbour
Central, walkable and next to the city's own geothermal pools, which children often prefer to the lagoon. Family rooms in Iceland are scarce, so expect to book apartments instead.
Find stays in Reykjavik 101 and the old harbour
Worth knowing before you book: Lagoon entry must be pre-booked with a timed slot, often weeks ahead in summer, and reserve accommodation on the peninsula only after checking volcanic and road updates.
Search everything else in Reykjavík by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- Entry is by timed slot booked online, often weeks ahead in summer. Turning up without a reservation does not work.
- Shower rules
- You must shower without a swimsuit before entering. It is entirely normal here, expected of everyone and briskly enforced.
- Hair care
- The silica dries hair badly. Use the conditioner provided before you get in, and tie long hair up out of the water.
- With kids
- Under-twos are not admitted, and younger children wear armbands issued at the site. There is no shallow play area for toddlers.
- Luggage
- Left luggage is available, which is what makes the airport stopover work so neatly. Allow two to three hours in total.
Nearby destinations
Northern lights snowmobiling
Iceland · 38km away →
Snorkelling between continents at Silfra
Iceland · 77km away →
Puffins in the Westman Islands
Iceland · 119km away →
The Laugavegur trail
Iceland · 166km away →
Ice caves under Vatnajökull
Iceland · 273km away →
Old Man of Storr
Isle of Skye, Scotland →Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Blue Lagoon?
Daytime highs run from about 2°C in December to 13°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in January, with rain on about 17 days.
How long should I spend in Blue Lagoon?
Our suggestion: a half-day stop.
How do I get to Blue Lagoon?
About 20 minutes by car from Keflavík (KEF), which is why most people slot the lagoon in on the way to or from a flight. Reykjavík is around 50 minutes further on.
Do I need a car in Blue Lagoon?
No. Coach transfers are frequent and easy, so a hire car is optional here.
What currency and language are used in Blue Lagoon?
Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK). Language: Icelandic. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Blue Lagoon best for?
Best for couples, families and wellness & slow travel. In a phrase: steamy, engineered, oddly serene.