How to Visit The Blue Lagoon on Your Iceland Layover

With travel back in full swing, our summer flight budgets were pushed over the edge. After 3 weeks in Europe, I needed a cheap one-way flight back to New York. I found a nice $400 connection from Copenhagen through Keflavik with an 8-hour layover. I did not want to spend that time at the airport so I decided to make a day trip out of it.

The easiest thing to do in that time frame was to see the Blue Lagoon which is conveniently located a short 20-minute ride from Keflavik Airport. It seemed like the ideal layover activity and I am here to show you what the experience entails. If you have a similar layover or are trying to decide if it’s worth it, you found the perfect guide for how to see the Blue Lagoon on your Iceland layover!

Although I did some light reading about the logistics of my Iceland layover, to be honest, I wasn’t too prepared. Luckily for you, I figured it out and I am here to give you everything you need to know before you embark on this journey on your own.

Let’s Get to the Logistics of Your Iceland Layover

Most international flights into Iceland will land at Keflavik Airport which is located just 20 min away from the Blue Lagoon. Keflavik Airport is not directly in Reykjavik, it’s about 40 minutes out. At first, I was a little confused about whether Keflavik Airport is different than Reykjavik Airport because some sources online use these terms interchangeably. Well, they’re not the same thing, there actually is another airport nearby, but Reykjavik Airport is mostly for domestic flights. It is very likely you will land in Keflavik not Reykjavik but obviously double-check your itinerary to confirm.

What is the Blue Lagoon?

You’ve seen the pictures: baby blue steaming waters, people in mineral face masks, your friend sipping a beer in the middle of Tuesday in this paradise … But what is the Blue Lagoon exactly?

The Blue Lagoon is a pool of wastewater from a geothermal plant but don’t fret, it’s not the waster water that you imagine. The plant generates electricity and hot water using an underground system of turbines near a lava flow. The water used to power comes in contact with many minerals and can’t be pumped to the homes as the particles would damage the pipers. Instead, the water is then is fed into the Lagoon for you to enjoy and soak in. The water has a high content of silica and sulfur and is said to have natural healing properties for some skin conditions. Temperatures are ideal for bathing ranging between 37-40 C or 98-104 F.

If you were visiting outside your Iceland layover, you can stay on the property in a luxury spa hotel. They also have 4 restaurants on site so you can reserve a tradtional Icelandic meal experience on your Blue Lagoon journey.

How to get to the Blue Lagoon to Keflavik Airport

Now, let’s get to the most crucial part of your layover, the transport. Since you won’t be directly in Reykjavik, your time of getting to the Blue Lagoon will be very restricted as the connections are less frequent compared to the city ones. Even though the 20-minute drive from the airport seems super close, it’s actually quite expensive to get there given the distance. There are three modes of transportation you can take:

Rent a car: In theory, you can rent a car. I certainly wouldn’t recommend that for a shorter layover but let’s say that your Iceland layover is kinda long, you can rent one near the terminal and do some quick exploring of the area. Keep in mind the time you will spend checking the vehicle in and out!

Take a taxi: There are currently no Ubers or shared ride services (as of 2022) in Iceland so taxis are your choice here. Sounds like a good idea right? A quick 20 min ride in a private car right to your destination. Well, it will cost ya between $50 to $100 for a one-way ride depending on who you end up with. Once I realized that my taxi round trip can cost me more than my entry ticket, I decided that a bus will be my mode of transport. However, if you’re traveling with more people, a taxi might be a better option for you!

Blue Lagoon Buses: There are two bus companies running on this route and it really doesn’t matter which you choose since they have similar prices. They run at slightly different times so that’s what will set them apart. You have Destination Blue Lagoon (Airport Direct) and then Reykjavik Excursions (FlyBus) on the Keflavik Airport to Blue Lagoon route going a couple of times a day back and forth for about ~$50 roundtrip. Yes, I agree, that’s a WILD price for a 20 min ride. You can buy a ticket online or in person at the corresponding stand. I bought mine in person in case I had some issue with the flight. The buses are very punctual and leave from right outside the terminal. You’ll need a Blue Lagoon ticket confirmation before they let you get on board too. At the Blue Lagoon, they get you from the parking area dedicated to buses.

Tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon

• If you want to take a lot of pictures, I highly recommend a waterproof case for your phone. I personally dropped my phone in the water and due to the color of the water, it took me some time to find it. Thankfully, the phone survived!
• Depending on what type of hair you have, put a lot of leave-in conditioner in it. The high mineral content in the water will make it very dry so you want to protect it!
• You don’t really need the premium ticket. It includes a robe and two additional face masks. If you only need the robe, you can rent it for $10 extra rather than $20 for the ticket upgrade.
• The Blue Lagoon is probably the most popular tourist attraction in the country. It will be busy so you absolutely need to book your entry in advance. It’s a timed entry and slots quickly sell out.

What do you need to bring to the Blue Lagoon?

Technically, you can shlep your luggage from the airport to the Blue Lagoon. But why would you want to? So before you get on that bus, run to the luggage storage at the Keflavik Airport, rent a cheap locker, and just take a couple of essentials for your Iceland layover.

The locker storage is located in an odd place. You’ll need to exit from the arrivals airport, walk straight through the parking lot and reach a red bin (yes bin) labeled “bike pit”. Inside you will find lockers that are reasonably priced in which you can leave your belongings from the day. Here are the essential items to take with you:

• Bathing suit & slippers
• Hair tie
• Sunnies
• Waterproof case for your electronics
• Toiletries like deodorant, make-up etc.

When you get there, depending on the time of the year, you might or might not need a robe. I didn’t rent one there in August and I was fine but I could see why you’d want it there when it gets colder outside. You can purchase a ticket with one or add it on. The same applies to slippers. Included in your basic ticket are lockers, towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and communal hairdryers.

How much time do you need at the Blue Lagoon?

I landed at 8:40 am and had a flight out around 5 pm. Since I didn’t check any bags and with fairly quick customs, I was out by 9 am in the terminal and I needed to be back by 3:30ish at the latest. In my head, that seemed like a very short amount of time and I didn’t know if it would be enough to enjoy the Blue Lagoon. Well, guess what? It was more than enough time to the point where I wanted to head out earlier than my scheduled bus. Ideally, you don’t need more than 2 to 3 hours at the Blue Lagoon.

What does the Blue Lagoon experience look like

Once you get dropped off by your bus/taxi, you will automatically get the feel for the surroundings. The lava dark stones will surround the entry passage and you will slowly start to see small streams of that baby blue water around the property. The walk into the building is a preparation for what you will see next! The Blue Lagoon is located along a fancy property so don’t expect a body of water in the middle of nowhere. The whole visiting process is very streamlined for everyone and here is what it entails:

• Your ticket will have a one-hour window which you can enter. Depending on the time of the day, that might be flexible but if they’re tight on capacity, you might be refused entry outside your times.
• When you enter, you will get a wristband that will allow you to access your locker and add additional items to purchase if you choose to do so.
• Before entry in the lagoon, you will need to take a shower.
• Then you enter the amazing water and be in awe for a while. The Lagoon is pretty big so you can slowly explore the whole property while enjoying the nice warm temperatures. Make sure to venture out from the entry point too, the further you go the smaller the crowds.
• Don’t forget to get your free beverage and facemask included in your ticket. Additional masks and beverages will be charged to your bracelet.
• Don’t forget to check out the awesome saunas and steam rooms too!
• There is a cafe and more formal restaurants on-site if you’re in a dining mood.
• The gift shop sells original Blue Lagoon products for a very hefty price if you wanted some boujee souvenirs to bring back home!

What surprised me the most is that there was no space to sit and relax by the lagoon. Your two options of being are inside the water or on a couple of uncomfortable chairs in the cafe. After an hour in the water, I wanted to lay on a lounge chair or sit somewhere to enjoy the surroundings but a place like that doesn’t exist. I guess the lounging chairs would ruin the aesthetic of the outside …

How much does a Blue Lagoon visit cost on an Iceland layover?

Blue Lagoon Ticket: $86 for Comfort or $102 for Premium.
Transportation: $50
Locker Rental: $5
Additional Costs: Extra drink $8-15,
Food: $10-50

Total: $150-220 Per Person

This short layover is not cheap! But my philosophy is this, if I’m going to spend $700 for either a direct flight home or $400 with a new experience totaling the same price, I’ll choose the latter 🙂

Is it worth it to go to the Blue Lagoon on your Iceland layover?

I’m still mixed on this. While the Blue Lagoon was an incredible place to see, the cost of the layover and the very strict schedule stressed me out. I explored the property, sweated in some saunas, took a nice shower and just wanted to GTFO of there 🙂 After sitting in the lagoon for a couple of hours, I wanted to relax, read my book and sit somewhere but it felt like I couldn’t really go anywhere.

I would certainly recommend visiting this gem outside your Iceland layover but rather on your Iceland trip. Going back to my point of spending more to sit in a place or spending less on a ticket along with the layover, choose the second option. However, if a direct ticket home costs the same as one with an Iceland layover, save your Blue Lagoon visit for a complete Iceland visit instead 🙂