Soaking in the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is Iceland's most famous attraction, a pool of milky-blue geothermal seawater in a black lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula. It's also the most changed since I first wrote this page: you now have to book ahead, prices have climbed steeply, and the volcano next door has shut it down more than once.

It's still worth doing. Here's how it works in 2026.

What the Blue Lagoon actually is

A lot of people assume it's a natural hot spring. Iceland has plenty of those, but this isn't one. The water is runoff from the Svartsengi geothermal power plant next door, which pulls superheated water from deep underground to make electricity and hot water for the region. People started bathing in the runoff in the 1980s, and bathing facilities opened in 1987.

When the plant was built, the engineers expected the runoff to drain back into the ground. It didn't. Silica in the water settles out and seals the lava, so the water pools instead. That silica is also what gives the lagoon its color. The lagoon now covers about 10,000 square meters and averages 37-40°C (98-104°F), with hotter and cooler patches as you move around. There are ledges to sit on, a massage waterfall, a steam cave and an in-water bar.

Crowds are the other thing that's changed. The page I wrote in 2010 said 400,000 visitors a year. By 2017 it was 1.3 million.

The volcano next door

The lagoon sits about 5 km from Grindavík, and that area has been erupting on and off since late 2023. Grindavík was evacuated in November 2023, and nine eruptions followed along the Sundhnúkur crater row between December 2023 and August 2025.

The Blue Lagoon closed or evacuated its guests at the start of several of those eruptions, most recently on 1 April 2025 and 16 July 2025. Between November 2023 and December 2024 it was closed for about four months in total. In November 2024 lava covered the whole car park. Protective barriers kept it out of the lagoon itself, and the lagoon reopened on 6 December 2024. A new car park inside the barriers opened later that month.

As of 15 September 2026 nothing is erupting (the last eruption ended on 5 August 2025), but the Icelandic Met Office says the ground at Svartsengi is still slowly rising, and the most likely next step is another magma intrusion into the crater row, which could lead to an eruption with little warning. In practice that means:

• Check Safetravel's Reykjanes page and the Met Office update the day before you go.
• Book direct so you can cancel or change easily if the lagoon closes at short notice.
• Don't plan your airport day so tightly that a closure leaves you stranded with nowhere to go.

Tickets and prices (as of 2026)

You can't just turn up anymore. Pre-booking is essential, and you book a timed entry slot. Once you're in, there's no time limit. The three standard packages:

• Comfort, from 11,990 ISK: entry, towel, a silica mud mask at the Mask Bar, shampoo and conditioner, a locker and one non-alcoholic drink.
• Premium, from 14,990 ISK: adds a bathrobe, any drink from the in-water bar, two extra masks and a small tube of silica mask to take home.
• Signature, from 18,490 ISK: two drinks, a robe, two extra masks and a set of Blue Lagoon skincare products (valued at 14,000 ISK) to take home.

Prices go up at busy times, so those "from" numbers are the floor. The Retreat Spa is a separate, far pricier day option with five hours in a private spa area, from 89,000 ISK per private changing room (up to two people), and in-water massages start at 20,900 ISK. Book on the Blue Lagoon's own site: it offers free cancellation and you skip the check-in line.

The old euro prices and swimsuit-rental fees from my original write-up are long gone. Towel use is now included in every package.

Expect some building work, too. The lagoon says work runs from autumn 2025 through 2027: a new walkway from the parking lot, updates to the lagoon systems and changes in the main building. As of September 2026 the walkway is under construction and there are screens and scaffolding near the quiet and treatment areas of the lagoon.

Opening hours

The lagoon is open every day of the year, but hours change with the season:

• 1-14 June: 08:00-22:00
• 15 June-20 August: 07:00-23:00
• 21 August-31 January: 08:00-22:00
• 1 February-31 May: 08:00-20:00

On Christmas Eve it's open 08:00-16:00, and on New Year's Eve 08:00-18:00. You're asked to be out of the water 30 minutes before closing. In June and July, a late slot means soaking in full daylight close to midnight.

Getting there

The lagoon is about 20 km from Keflavík Airport, which is why so many people stop on the way in or out of the country. Driving is simplest. I've covered the transfer options in getting from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon, and if you're heading straight to your flight, see getting from Reykjavík to Keflavík.

There are small lockers for luggage. They take most carry-on bags, not big suitcases.

Staying overnight

There are two hotels on site: the Silica Hotel and the more luxurious Retreat Hotel. Both are in the same eruption zone as the lagoon, so check the volcano news before you book. For other options nearby, see hotels near the Blue Lagoon and Keflavík.

My tips

Go on arrival, not departure

Most people suggest stopping on the way to the airport. I'd make it your first stop instead. I can't think of a better introduction to Iceland than walking through snow to a steaming pool and sitting in the hot water while snowflakes land in your hair. Transatlantic flights tend to land early in the morning, and a soak is a good way to kill time before your hotel room is ready. The one exception is if there's volcanic unrest: then keep your arrival plans loose.

Load up on conditioner

Showering before you get in is mandatory (Icelanders take pool hygiene seriously, see hot springs and swimming pools for the rules). The signs in the showers tell you to coat your hair in conditioner first. Take this seriously. The silica does a number on hair. My first time, I didn't use enough, and for three days my hair had a feel I can only describe as "chewy". Conditioner is supplied, so use a lot, or keep your hair out of the water.

Use the mask, skip the shop

The silica is good for your skin, which is why you'll see people smearing white mud on their faces. The Comfort ticket includes a mask at the in-water Mask Bar, so you don't need to buy the expensive jars sold around the country.

Bring kids? Check the rules

The lagoon doesn't allow children under two, children aged 8 and under wear arm floats, which are provided free, and one adult can bring at most two children. Entry for children 11 and under is 2,000 ISK.

Alternatives if it's closed or booked out

The Blue Lagoon isn't the only geothermal lagoon anymore. Sky Lagoon opened in 2021 on the Kópavogur waterfront, minutes from central Reykjavík, well away from the eruption zone. It has an infinity edge over the ocean and a seven-step bathing ritual with a sauna, a cold plunge and a body scrub. And Reykjavík's city pools cost a fraction of either and are where locals actually go: see hot spring pools in Reykjavík and Reykjavík city pools.

FAQ

Can I visit the Blue Lagoon without booking?

Plan on no. Tickets are sold for timed entry slots, and the lagoon asks everyone to book ahead. Popular summer slots sell out, so book as soon as your flights are fixed.

Is the Blue Lagoon safe with the eruptions?

When the risk goes up, it closes and evacuates, as it did during several eruptions between 2023 and 2025. It's open when there's no active threat. Check Safetravel and the Icelandic Met Office before you go, and follow any evacuation instructions right away.

How long should I spend there?

Two to three hours is enough for most people: a soak, a mask, a drink, a sauna. There's no time limit once you're in, so a late-evening slot can stretch until closing.

Is it worth the price?

It's expensive, and the city pools give you the same hot water for much less. But the setting in the lava field is like nothing else in Iceland, and most first-time visitors are glad they went. If the price stings, book an off-peak slot and skip the upgrades.

Photo by Ewan McIntosh