Blue Lagoon, Iceland

The amazing Blue Lagoon is a popular tourist attraction in Iceland, named for its milky-blue geothermal seawater. The lagoon, set in a black lava field, began to form after the Svartsengi geothermal power station opened nearby in 1976, and makes for a striking view. The water sits at a soothing and relaxing 38 degrees Celsius on average and is believed to have healing abilities. In 2018 the Blue Lagoon company opened a 62-room luxury hotel, and it operates with sustainability in mind. On our Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour, we spend the afternoon of Day 2 at the Blue Lagoon, after a morning exploring Reykjavík.

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland

The Blue Lagoon is not located in the capital, Reykjavik, but in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Geopark on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, about twenty minutes from Keflavik International Airport and 50 minutes from the capital city. Iceland is one of the few places in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) is visible above sea level, as almost all of this mountain range is underwater, and the Reykjanes Peninsula is where the ridge comes ashore. The MAR separates the North American Plate from the Eurasian Plate in the North Atlantic. These two tectonic plates continue to move apart, causing earthquakes and, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, volcanic eruptions.

In the heart of all this is the Blue Lagoon, where guests can take in the scenic beauty while immersed in warm geothermal seawater, which is 70% ocean water and 30% freshwater. This water comes from about 2,000 metres below the surface, where it reaches up to 240 degrees Celsius, but it has cooled to around 38 degrees Celsius by the time it fills the lagoon, just the right temperature for relaxation.

Condé Nast Traveller readers voted the Blue Lagoon resort one of the top resorts in Europe in 2019. In 2012 it was also named one of the 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic.

The Blue Lagoon sign, set among the lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula

Bathers in the milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon, with steam rising behind

Volcanic activity and the Blue Lagoon

Since late 2023 the Reykjanes Peninsula has seen a series of eruptions on the Sundhnúkur crater row, a few kilometres from the lagoon near the town of Grindavík. The Blue Lagoon was closed or evacuated several times between November 2023 and July 2025, and in November 2024 lava reached its car park. At the time of writing the most recent eruption ended on 5 August 2025 and there has been none since, but more magma has built up beneath the area than before any earlier eruption in the series, and the Icelandic Met Office considers a new eruption likely. The lagoon has reopened after each closure, but opening times and access roads can change at short notice, so check the Blue Lagoon website and Safetravel.is before you go.

Visitors can decide to head straight to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa from Keflavik as it is nearer to the airport than to the capital. Booking can be done online but should be done well in advance. At the time of writing the main lagoon tickets are Comfort, Premium and Signature, with the Comfort Package as the most economical. The Comfort Package includes basic amenities such as the use of a towel, a silica mud mask and a drink. Premium and Signature add extras such as the use of a bathrobe and further masks. Packages and what they include change from time to time, so check the Blue Lagoon website before you book.

The Retreat Spa, at the upscale end of the lagoon’s offering, gives access to private changing rooms and provides a more private and secluded way to enjoy the lagoon and its services. Rooms are designed in a spare, Nordic aesthetic, and the spa offers in-water massage (where you are given the massage while in the pool) and beauty and spa treatments using the natural silica, algae, and mineral salts found in the lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon at dusk

The Blue Lagoon also has the Blue Cafe and the Lava Restaurant, which offers gourmet dining to guests.

One of the well-loved attractions in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is a great way to begin or end your Nordic adventure.

Seeing the Blue Lagoon on our Iceland tour

On our Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour, the Blue Lagoon comes early in the journey. Day 2 begins in Reykjavík with a morning lecture on contemporary Iceland, a stop at Perlan and a visit to the National Museum of Iceland. In the afternoon we head to the Blue Lagoon to experience its naturally warm, silica-rich water, before returning to Reykjavík. From there the tour circles the island, as set out in our Iceland Ring Road itinerary, and on Day 16 we visit the Golden Circle sights of Gullfoss and Geysir and learn how Icelanders capture geothermal power at the Hellisheidi power plant. The tour is Level 2 – Moderate and led by an Odyssey Program Leader.

Articles about the Blue Lagoon and Iceland published by Odyssey Traveller.

The following articles published by Odyssey Traveller for mature travellers will help you make the most of your visit to Iceland:

• Questions About Iceland
• Visiting Iceland for Mature Travellers
• Lunar Landscapes and Geology in Iceland
• The Golden Circle, Iceland
• Iceland Museum Collection
• Egilsstadir, Iceland
• Isafjordur, Iceland
• Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to the Blue Lagoon and Iceland

• Blue Lagoon Iceland
• Lava Restaurant
• A Guide to Enjoying Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
• Visit Iceland: The official tourism website
• Travel + Leisure: How to travel to Iceland
• Ice, Fire and Feuds: On the Trail of Iceland’s Sagas
• Lonely Planet: Top things to do in Reykjavík