With WOW air providing very cheap roundtrip flights out of the U.S. and Easyjet providing even cheaper tickets out of Europe It seems as though everyone is flocking to Iceland. As one of iceland's main attractions, The Blue Lagoon is a must see if you can make the trek over to this breathtaking country.

The Blue Lagoon has landed itself on top of many travel enthusiasts bucket list's lately and it's certainly a testament to it's milky blue waters that boasts an otherworldly appearance that draws people in effortlessly.

This geothermal spa is one of Iceland's most popular attractions where you can stay, play and destress while soaking in it's therapeutic waters. The Blue Lagoon’s water temperature averages 37–40 °C (98–104 °F) year round making it basically the the most badass jacuzzi on this planet (especially in the dead of the winter). The three active ingredients in the geothermal water include silica, algae and minerals making for a very relaxing experience that will leave your skin refreshed and rejuvenated.

Here are some important facts and info you need to know before planning your visit to The Blue Lagoon Iceland:

Plan ahead

You must pre-book your ticket to get in, which you can do on the Blue Lagoon’s website. It is highly recommended that if you plan to visit in the Summer (their high season) that you book a few months in advance.

Cost-

Entry prices at the Blue Lagoon Iceland can be unpleasantly high and they can vary year-round depending on the season, the time of day you visit and how far in advance you book.

The Blue Lagoon offers four types of entrance tickets ranging in price as well as the option to include add-ons such as towels, slippers, etc as well.

The Standard ticket ($50) Recommended
The Comfort ticket ($70)
The Premium ticket ($90)
The Luxury ticket ($500) for 2 persons

Getting there

Hopefully you have either rented a car or booked transportation and entry in advance.

The Blue Lagoon is located in a lava field in Grindavík about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik and 20 minutes away from the airport. Booking your ticket online in advance allows you to book transportation via coach bus from the airport or out of Reykjavik- dropping you off directly in front of the entrance (return service every hour included).

Protecting your hair

Protecting your hair before entering the lagoon is vital. The sulphur, silica and minerals found in the lagoon waters can dry out your hair causing it to feel brittle. It won't do any permanent damage but to avoid having 24 hours of crunchy, tangly hair- follow these steps below:

Hop in the shower before entering the lagoon. Get your hair completely wet and make sure to lather the conditioner provided thoroughly (skip the shampoo). The great news is the spa provides free shampoo and conditioner in the locker rooms so you won't need to bring any yourself!
Once you have a good layer of conditioner on your hair, give it a gentle rinse (leaving a small coat of conditioner on your hair as a protectant) and pile your hair into a bun on top of your head.
If you get your hair wet while in the lagoon, this is OKAY! Just make sure you wash your hair again on your way out- but this time use both the shampoo and the conditioner provided. I also used the blow dryer on the cool setting to dry my hair so the heat of the blow dryer didn't make my hair any more brittle. The following day my hair went right back to normal.

Fun Facts

The Lava surrounding the Lagoon is natural but The Blue Lagoon itself is actually Manmade. A nearby power plant, Svartsengi, was drilling to create electricity and hot water for nearby communities. The milky-blue water of The Blue Lagoon became a result to the accidental byproduct or runoff due to this drilling process.

Thanks to the Sulphur in the lagoon, it has a funky rotten egg smell but you'll get used to it.
The Blue Lagoon got it's name due to it's blue appearance when in reality the water is actually a milky white when you hold it in your hands.

The Blue Lagoon offers free silica mud masks to visitors that are conveniently located in swim up buckets around the Lagoon. The minerals and algae packed into this white-clay looking silica mask does wonders for your skin. I did three throughout my visit and it also provided for some fun photos!
The Blue Lagoon is now a geothermal spa & hotel. Beyond offering access into the Lagoon, Day Spa treatments and nightly accommodations, they also have saunas, a restaurant and a cafe on property for their guests.

Tips

Plan ahead and save money

If you haven't yet heard, Iceland in general is a very, very expensive country. Alcohol alone is nearly triple the price as almost everywhere else on this planet. However, there is just no way around it. I was expecting such a popular tourist attraction to sell alcohol way beyond my budget but to my surprise- the awesome and convenient swim-up bar sold a large draft beer for a reasonable $8.50 which is typically what you would spend at any tourist attraction or sporting event. Here are a few ways to save money so you can put the extra funds towards a refreshing beer (if you are over 18) or one of their delicious smoothies:

I recommend purchasing the standard package (above) and plan to bring your own towel & slippers. The standard package also comes with your own personal locker and access to the Lagoon, saunas and showers.
Bring your own water bottle to save money or drink from the tap. Iceland has some of the cleanest water in the world so drinking from the tap won't harm you.

VISIT BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR FLIGHT

The warm waters of the Blue Lagoon are rich in minerals, which is known to have healing and rejuvenating benefits for your skin leaving you feeling all around relaxed. This is the perfect way to destress and relax all of your worries away.

You can even bring your luggage! Luggage can be stored in the Service Center building near the parking area for ISK 550 (about $5 USD). Hand luggage and small carry on bags can be stored in the private lockers in the changing rooms.

You won't need your wallet inside

That's correct! You can leave your wallet locked up in your personal locker the entire time. Upon arriving at the Blue Lagoon, you will receive a digital waterproof wristband once you check-in. This wristband opens and closes your locker and allows you to buy stuff from the swim-up bar, gift shop, and restaurant. When you want to leave you settle the bill through your wristband.

What to bring

Towel (if you want to save money)
Swimwear
Slippers or flip flops
Sunglasses due to the water reflections of the sun rays
Water bottle (optional)
Deorderant
Hairbrush/ Hair ties
Waterproof case for your phone (If you want to bring your phone to the lagoon to take photos you will have to hold it the whole time, which brings the risk of dropping it in the water). I bought mine on Amazon for $7 and covered me on my other adventures throughout Iceland where waterfalls and rain were involved!
GoPro/Waterproof camera

*The spa provides free shampoo, conditioner and blowdryers so no need to pack these unless you are specific about the products you use.

MORE TIPS FOR VISITING ICELAND’S BLUE LAGOON

Don’t wear contact lenses – The Blue Lagoon encourages against wearing contact lenses in the water as the silica can get into your eyes and making it very unpleasant and painful if you have contacts in.

Leave the bling at home – Not only just to prevent loosing your precious jewels, but the silica, algae, and minerals can damage the jewelery.

Give yourself enough time- On average, people spend about 4 hours at the Blue Lagoon. We spent about the same amount of time there and it was perfect. However, if a massage or lunch at the cafe are in your plans, I would factor in about an extra hour or two.

Thumbnail photo: @meryldenis

Everything You Need to Know before Visiting The Blue Lagoon