I expected Iceland's Blue Lagoon to be a disappointing tourist trap, but it lived up to the hype

Aug 02, 2023

After landing in Iceland and picking up my rental car, I made a beeline for the Blue Lagoon.

Located about a 20-minute drive from Keflavík Airport, the geothermal spa is one of Iceland's most recognizable and iconic attractions. Sure, it's touristy. But, in my opinion, you can't really say you've visited Iceland if you haven't taken a dip in the Blue Lagoon's mineral-rich waters.

With over 700,000 visitors every year, according to US News and World Report, I thought the popular site might be overpriced, overcrowded with people taking selfies, or not as blue in person.

When I visited in June, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that none of those things were true.

My $93 ticket — the cheapest available at the time of my visit — included a locker, a towel, a mineral face mask, and a drink from the bar inside the lagoon. The showers in the locker rooms were also stocked with the fancy shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel; the conditioner costs as much as $55 for a 300ml bottle in the gift shop.

If I'd splurged on the $127 premium admission, it would have come with a bathrobe, two more face masks, and a glass of sparkling wine at the on-site restaurant. Then, there's the $667 luxury admission which gives visitors access to private changing rooms, skincare products, and a five-hour spa experience. (The prices for all tickets vary depending on the season, so if you visit it's worth checking before.)

The basic admission at other lagoons I visited during my trip cost less, but I found they charged extra for perks like a drink or necessities like a towel. The additional fees made them less enjoyable and more inconvenient for me. At the Sky Lagoon, for instance, I had to dig around my purse for my credit card to rent a towel while dripping wet in 60-degree weather.

On my travels, I've found that touristy spots like the Blue Lagoon know how to cater to people easily since they get so many visitors. In my experience at the popular attraction, it seemed like every need had been anticipated. I noticed that the Blue Lagoon offered luggage storage for those arriving straight from the airport and a cafe with grab-and-go items in addition to the included amenities.

I was also wary of the lagoon ruining my curls, based on viral TikTok videos I'd seen in which travelers claimed their hair felt dry and brittle after visiting. Thankfully, I managed to smear enough conditioner in my hair to keep it protected and moisturized. However, I did notice that my skin felt dry from the mineral buildup, and my bathing suit seemed stiff and chalky afterwards.

Even so, sipping a smoothie and applying a face mask in the warm pool was the perfect pick-me-up after my red-eye flight. And although the bar and face-mask stations inside the lagoon had long lines, I still felt I had plenty of space to spread out in the pool itself.

Swimming in the milky blue water with steam rising around me was even cooler in real life.

And before I knew it, I became just another tourist snapping selfies.