Blue lagoon in Iceland: tickets, opening hours and the road from Reykjavik
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa complex on the Reykjanes Peninsula, 50 km from Reykjavik. The water here is milky in color and stays at 37-42 °C year-round. Bathing in the lagoon has long been part of the itinerary for almost every tourist in Iceland.
Tickets are sold only by time slot, and in high season available hours sell out several days in advance. Below you'll find prices for 2026, exact opening hours, water composition, and all the ways to get there from Reykjavik and Keflavik Airport.
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Where the Blue Lagoon is located
💡 In short:
- Complex address: Norðurljósavegur 9 in Grindavik, southwest Iceland.
- The drive from Reykjavik takes about 45 minutes, from Keflavik Airport twenty minutes.
- Entry is by advance booking for a specific time only; tickets are not sold on site.
- Tickets and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the opening hours page.
© G. Edward Johnson · CC BYPhoto: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe lagoon lies amid black lava fields, about fifty kilometers from Iceland's capital. The nearest town, Grindavik, is almost next door, and the complex itself welcomes guests right in a field of solidified lava.
What awaits you is not a natural lake but a warm pool next to the Svartsengi geothermal plant. The plant's wells bring up water from several hundred meters deep, so the lagoon water is renewed every few days. The temperature at the outlet measures hundreds of degrees, and in the pool the water cools to a comfortable level.
The water surface area is about 10,000 m², temperature 37-42 °C, depth up to 1.3 meters (as of 09/2026, lagoon website). There's nowhere to dive here: standing chest-deep in warm water and watching the steam is more pleasant.
There is one road to the lagoon, Route 43. The operator warns that navigation systems sometimes follow old routes (according to iceland.org, 09/2026). Before setting out, check the update on the seismic activity page. Coordinates for your navigation system: open on map.
Why the lagoon water is milky
© G. Edward Johnson · CC BYPhoto: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe water in the lagoon is not clear but milky, with a slight white tint. The reason is silica. When hot water cools to 37-39 °C, silica precipitates as tiny particles and gives the water a whitish color.
Silica particles scatter light, which is why the water appears bluish-milky. The same particles gradually seal cracks in the lava, and the pool slowly grows. The depth varies: at the edge you stand knee-deep, in the center the water reaches your chest.
White clay lies on the bottom; guests scoop it up with their hands and apply it to their faces. The first silica mask is provided at the Mask Bar with any ticket (as of 09/2026, bathing area description).
Climate and water temperature
The lagoon operates outdoors in any weather. The water stays at 37-42 °C, and in winter the difference with the air reaches thirty degrees. Steam constantly hangs over the surface, so your head and shoulders get cold faster than your legs (as of 09/2026, lagoon website).
On a windy day it feels cooler: there is warm water, but no warm air. Guests step out of the pool for a few minutes and then come back. If you get cold, the sauna, steam cave, and a cold-water plunge pool nearby will help.
The ticket is valid all day, so you can swim with breaks for coffee at Blue Café or lunch at Lava Restaurant. In the morning and late evening there are fewer people in the water than during the day.
Water composition and skin benefits
© big-ashb · CC BYPhoto: big-ashb, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe water is seawater-based, diluted with fresh water from wells. It contains silica, mineral salts, and blue-green algae, which give the water its therapeutic properties (as of 09/2026, lagoon materials).
Silica softens the skin, algae nourish it, and white clay cleanses. The complex runs a separate program for guests with psoriasis: bathing is part of the course alongside skin care (more on the lagoon website).
The water is salty, you cannot drink it, and it is best to remove jewelry and contact lenses. Silica dries out hair: shampoo and conditioner are provided at the exit from the bathing area and are included in the ticket (as of 09/2026, what's included in the ticket).
Services, bathing areas, and restaurants
© joiseyshowaa · CC BY-SAPhoto: joiseyshowaa, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsBesides the lagoon itself, the complex has a sauna with panoramic glass, a steam cave, a cold plunge pool, a quiet zone with no phones, an in-water bar, and a massage waterfall (as of 09/2026, list of lagoon services).
Additional services are booked separately:
Service | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
In-water massage | from ISK 20,900 | massage right in the lagoon |
Float therapy | from ISK 20,950 | a relaxation session floating on the water |
Group swim | ISK 5,900 | a session for several guests |
Retreat Spa | on request | five hours in a spa with a private pool |
Prices and service details verified (as of 09/2026, pricing page).
- Who it's for: guests who want warm water, service, and minimal walking.
- Not for: those looking for a wild pool without reservations or infrastructure.
You can eat at Blue Café, at Lava Restaurant with Icelandic cuisine, and at Moss Restaurant, which holds a Michelin star (complex restaurants).
Tickets and opening hours
© RG72 · CC BY-SAPhoto: RG72, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe baths are open every day, but entry is by reservation for a specific time slot. Prices depend on the package (as of 09/2026, packages and prices):
Package | Price from | What's included |
|---|---|---|
Comfort | ISK 11,990 | bathing, silica mud mask, towel, one drink |
Premium | ISK 14,990 | the same, plus a robe and two additional masks |
Signature | ISK 18,490 | bathing, silica mud mask, towel, robe, two drinks, a lagoon skincare set |
Opening hours vary by season (as of 09/2026, official schedule):
Period | Hours |
|---|---|
June 1-14 | 08:00-22:00 |
June 15 - August 20 | 07:00-23:00 |
August 21 - January 31 | 08:00-22:00 |
February 1 - May 31 | 08:00-20:00 |
Guests are asked to leave the water 30 minutes before closing. In July the lagoon is open until 23:00, and the evening slot works well for those arriving during the day.
Slots at popular times sell out several days in advance, so it's best to book tickets early: Blue Lagoon tickets on GetYourGuide.
Tours and tickets
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How to get there from Reykjavik and the airport
© Hansueli Krapf This file was uploaded with Commonist . · CC BY-SAPhoto: Hansueli Krapf This file was uploaded with Commonist ., CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe distance from Reykjavik is about 50 km via Route 43, a 45-50 minute drive (according to the map). From Keflavik Airport it's just over twenty kilometers, a 20-25 minute drive (according to the map).
With a rental car, you leave the city on Route 41 and then turn onto Route 43. Another landmark that won't lead you astray: coordinates on OpenStreetMap.
Buses to the lagoon run from the BSÍ bus terminal in central Reykjavik and from the airport. There are several departures a day; check the schedule and price with the carrier (according to iceland.org, 09/2026). The trip takes just under an hour.
If you're visiting the lagoon on your arrival or departure day, allow several hours: the drive, bathing, and changing take longer than you'd expect.
When you have half a day left after the lagoon, add Strokkur geyser to your itinerary. It's a two-hour drive from the lagoon, and together they make for a full day (according to the map).
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does admission to the Blue Lagoon cost?
The basic Comfort package starts at ISK 11,990 (as of 09/2026, package overview). See the table above for what's included in the Premium and Signature packages and their prices. All three packages are valid for the entire day.
Can I buy a ticket on site?
No. Booking is required, and admission is only with a prepaid ticket for a specific time slot (as of 09/2026, schedule on the lagoon's website). During high season, convenient time slots sell out in advance, so you should buy your ticket a few days ahead. If your plans change, you can reschedule or cancel your booking.
What should I bring?
A swimsuit, flip-flops, and a hat for winter. A towel, shampoo, and conditioner are included in the ticket, so you don't need a separate bag (as of 09/2026, package details). Leave jewelry and contact lenses in the locker.
How much time should I allow for the visit?
Plan for at least two hours: changing, showering, bathing, masks, and coffee all take time. If you book an in-water massage or float therapy, add another hour. It's less crowded in the morning and late evening than during the day, so you'll have a more relaxed experience in the water before noon or closer to closing time.
What if the lagoon is closed due to an eruption?
The complex closes during volcanic activity, which has happened several times (as of 09/2026, seismic activity page). Check the status on the lagoon's website and with your transport provider before heading out. Closed bookings are rescheduled to another date or refunded, and it's worth keeping a backup day in your itinerary.
In short: what to book
If it's your first visit and you just want to swim: go with Comfort, this ticket is valid all day.
If you want a robe, a drink from the in-water bar, and more masks: pay extra for Premium.
If you're arriving in the evening and want skincare products to take home: look at Signature.
It's easiest to book tickets for your preferred time slot in advance on GetYourGuide, and you can check accommodation near the lagoon on Trip.com. Prices and opening hours were verified on September 15, 2026 on the lagoon's official website.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.