The very blue, Blue Lagoon

During my 2018 solo journey, I began in Montreal, and then traveled onward to Reykjavik, Iceland. I was only spending the day in the South, before catching a flight to Akureyri (the capital of the North!)

The intention was to always spend the whole day at the Blue Lagoon, even though it was January and therefore dead in the middle of winter. But it turned out to be an absolutely delightful experience. And I made a friend – another travel blogger, Barbara, who was also solo traveling in Iceland.

1. Important – Reservations for Blue Lagoon

You need to make reservations for entrance into the Blue Lagoon. Especially if you are going in the summer!! When I arrived (in winter), people were being turned away because it was sold out for the whole day. Book your tickets online here!

Also, there are several bus lines that will take you from the Reykjavik Keflavik Airport or Reykjavik town to the Blue Lagoon. BUT BEWARE – they don’t include entrance tickets to the Blue Lagoon unless you specifically include them.

2. Types of Tickets at the Blue Lagoon

There are three levels of tickets at the Blue Lagoon:

• Comfort – includes entrance fees, Silica mud mask, towel, 1 drink of your choice;
• Premium – all of the above, plus a second mask, slippers, a bathrobe, a reservation at Lava, and a glass of sparking wine at Lava;
• Luxury Spa – from 372 USD per room. I’ll let you look that one up on your own.

In 2018, I paid about $100 USD for the premium package (and an extra add on of an airport transfer). Right now (as of March 2021), Comfort packages are listed at $61 USD, and Premium at $68 USD.

3. Arrival to Blue Lagoon

It was raining that winter morning. Our ticketed arrival time of 8 am meant that we began wading into the lagoon before sunrise, which would happen around 10 am. It’s a pretty amusing experience to have at least 50-100 people in this large geothermal pool, in the complete darkness and rain.

I won’t write too much about the Blue Lagoon, since every other travel blogger will tell you how amazing it was. But here are the things that surprised me about the Blue Lagoon:

• It’s MUCH BIGGER than you imagine, and expansion is ongoing!
• The photo posted above shows the area near the bar…which is why it’s so crowded! Since the Blue Lagoon is actually quite large, you can definitely find areas that are quieter, with less people.
• There are several different areas, including a face mask stand. Silica mud masks are included, and algae mud masks for a fee. There are also steam baths, saunas, in-water massages, and a bar!
• The silica, while great for your skin, is terrible for your hair! Days later, my hair still feels a little rough and a little grimey from the sediment. The Blue Lagoon warns you, especially if you have long hair (which I do), to condition your hair immediately before and after entry into the baths. (I took a break at lunch time and reconditioned my hair and again that night in Akureyri.) In total, I conditioned my hair at least 4 times that day!!! I don’t entirely remember, because I was going on no sleep at that point.

4. Lunch Tasting Menu at Lava

After Babs left, I had lunch reservations at the Blue Lagoon’s famed restaurant, Lava.  I ordered the seafood, 3-course tasting menu, for 7600 ISK or roughly $77 USD.

My reservations were at 11:30. Besides a group that was still filing in, I was the first one seated.  Furthermore, I was the first table to put in an order. (Can you see where this is going?)

Yet, would you believe, that between my first and second course, 5 tables of 2 or more people already received their entrée?  And some tables had even finished and subsequently left?  I tried to complain in a friendly way to the waiter, who promptly brought out my second course, post-complaint. 

When the food finally arrived, I asked why it took so long. The waiter, poor guy, did not have a response, so I asked to speak with a manager about it.  The waiter came back shortly and said that the kitchen brought out the food as soon as it was done.  “Ok… May I still speak with a manager?”

I honestly felt like the manager did not want to speak with me.  When he finally came, he was not apologetic in any way. He said that the kitchen timed it, and 14 minutes elapsed from when I finished my first course to when my main course was brought out.  Other tables did not order the set menu, so their food came out faster.  (That logic does not entirely make sense to me).  

The manager accused me of being in a rush and not taking the time to enjoy the dining experience. I responded that I was in fact not in any hurry at all.  Somewhere in our conversation, he received a phone call, did not excuse himself, and left mid-sentence.

In the meantime, I cancelled my dessert course and was annoyingly finishing my cod.  The manager came back and jumped back into conversation. He says, of course, lunch is free. And that I did not need to cancel my dessert.  He reminded me that he already explained the mechanics of the kitchen. Unfortunately, because I did not accept that explanation, there was nothing more to be done.  And with that, he left.

Don’t get me wrong – the food was really very good. And the portions were generous for a tasting menu size.  I did not expect this level of service for a place so reputable.  In fact, my food tour guide in Akureyri, who is a trained chef, was immediately excited when I told him that I had eaten at Lava.  After I recounted the story to him, he replied, “hmm, something does not sound right about that story…”  AGREED

5. Don’t miss your ride

After lunch, I went back into the lagoon to shake off the annoyance of before.  Without Babs around, it wasn’t as fun as lively as the morning was.  I got out early to shower and condition my hair and wait for my bus to the Reykjavik domestic airport. 

I found my Flybus, off to the side, and the bus driver said we would not leave for another 45 minutes and instructed me to wait in the luggage storage area, where he would pick everyone up.

44 minutes later, and no bus, I walked outside, only to watch the bus fly by.  They don’t call it Flybus for no reason… The bus was there, however, with a larger passenger bus completely blocking it out of view.  At this point, I had no choice but to take a taxi to the airport, because although I had plenty of time, I did not have the time to wait for the next bus.  Another 45 minutes?  Perhaps an hour?

I knew the taxi ride would be annoyingly expensive, and sure enough, it was.  $180 USD for a 45 km ride.  Iceland, you’re killing me.

6. Departing Reykjavik

The Reykjavik domestic airport was a small, quite adorable place.  The boarding area was separate, but the rest of the airport, check in, car rental, café, baggage claim, disembarking area was 5-in-1.

Not only that, but the plane itself was a propeller plane!  I’ve never flown in one!

Surprisingly it was a smooth 35 minute ride, in which I promptly passed out.

And now, onto Akureyri!  Capital of the North.

Parting Thoughts on my day at Blue Lagoon

Despite having issues with my lunch, I genuinely had an amazingly relaxing time at the Blue Lagoon! There’s something so relaxing about wading around in hot water for long periods of time. (At least for me). If that’s not your jam, maybe skip the Blue Lagoon on your Iceland trip.

But for me, having been on horrible flights, and having not slept for days at that point, it was the relaxation and rejuvenation I needed to start a 3 month traveling journey!

For more information and bookings, visit The Blue Lagoon.

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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