Europe Iceland How to Buy Tickets to the Blue Lagoon Iceland

How to Buy Tickets to the Blue Lagoon Iceland

Share

Iceland delights visitors with its raw natural landscapes and vivid Northern Light displays. But one attraction that tends to rank above all the places to visit in Iceland is the steamy and luxurious Blue Lagoon spa resort. Visiting the Blue Lagoon has become a rite of passage for travelers to this remote destination, with people flocking to soak in its mineral-rich waters and admire its volcanic surroundings.

If you’re planning to add a visit to the Blue Lagoon to your Reykjavík itinerary, it’s worth knowing just how important being organized is. We’re not just talking about remembering to pack your swimsuit either, as things like how you get there, when you go, and which Blue Lagoon tickets you get are just as crucial. That’s why we’ve assembled this guide with everything you need to know, including how to buy tickets for the Blue Lagoon so that there are no unwanted surprises.

Quick Answer – How to Buy Tickets to the Blue Lagoon Iceland: Unless you like spending your vacation waiting in long lines, we highly recommended you book your Blue Lagoon tickets online here. If you don’t have access to a car, you probably want to buy a combo ticket that includes transfer to and from the Blue Lagoon instead.

Best Ways to Get Tickets to the Blue Lagoon Iceland

With such a special place like the Blue Lagoon that everyone wants to see when in Iceland, it stands to reason that you have plenty of options when organizing tickets. To make the process easier for you, we’ll show you where to buy tickets for the Blue Lagoon and what your options are.

1. Line Up in Person (Not Recommended)

The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Iceland, meaning there’s always a high demand for tickets. As such, it’s not a good idea to wait until you arrive at the spa to buy tickets to the Blue Lagoon. Leaving it to the last minute is incredibly risky as you might arrive to find out that you might have to wait to enter until later in the day or even that tickets are sold out for the day.

2. Book Online (Recommended)

There’s no question that booking tickets to the Blue Lagoon online before you arrive is the smart way to go about it. Not only can you guarantee having a Blue Lagoon ticket for when you want to go, but you may even be able to save some money if you’re flexible and pick a cheaper time slot. It’s even possible to make a same-day booking online if there are still tickets available, so there’s no real reason not to do it.

Tickets to the Blue Lagoon can be purchased through the official website to the Blue Lagoon. Unfortunately, these tickets are nonrefundable, which can be an issue if your plans change. This is why we recommend booking through this link if you want a general Comfort ticket for an afternoon visit; these tickets are fully refundable if you cancel 24 hours prior to your visit and are only slightly more expensive, which is worth the peace of mind.

If you don’t have access to a car, consider purchasing a combo ticket which includes a return bus transfer to and from the Blue Lagoon instead.

3. Book a Day Trip

With so many great things to see and do around the country, your schedule in Iceland is sure to be pretty full. So why not optimize your time by combining the Blue Lagoon with other attractions in a day trip from Reykjavík? A day trip that really delivers on Iceland’s highlights is the tour through this link, which takes you around Iceland’s classic Golden Circle route and to the Kerid Crater, and finishes with a soak at the Blue Lagoon. This way you pack multiple great spots into a single day, allowing more time for other sightseeing adventures on your other days.

Useful Information for Visiting the Blue Lagoon

What’s the Best Time to Visit the Blue Lagoon?

Iceland has become quite an in-demand destination for tourists over the years, as has the Blue Lagoon. It’s also a destination that is very different depending on when in the year you go, so the timing of your visit will have a great impact on your experience there.

The summer months of June through August are the busiest time in Iceland, so you can expect the lagoon to be extra busy during these months. A better time to plan your visit is spring and autumn, during the months of April, May, September, and October. These times of year shouldn’t be as busy and there should still be plenty of daylight and warm enough weather – not that you’ll notice when submerged in the toasty waters of the lagoon.

Because many people visit the lagoon before or after their flight to Iceland, the spa is usually busiest first thing in the morning, just after lunch, and the late afternoon. Though it can change day to day, it does seem like midafternoon is the best time to come if you want a quieter and cheaper experience.

Blue Lagoon Hours of Operation

The Blue Lagoon is open every day of the year, except when closed for maintenance (from April 19 to April 29, 2022). Opening hours for the attraction depend on when you go during the year and are as follows, with last entrance 30 minutes before closing:

  • January to May: 9:00 to 21:00
  • June: 8:00 to 22:00
  • July to August: 8:00 to 23:00
  • September: 8:00 to 22:00
  • October to December: 8:00 to 21:00

How to Get to the Blue Lagoon

If you plan on including the Blue Lagoon in your itinerary, then working out how you’re getting there is an important step in planning your trip. Driving is easy enough from Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport if you have a car, but there are other options if you don’t have one.

The most common approach is to book a return transfer from Reykjavík, which makes one less thing to worry about. We recommend booking your transfer through this link rather than through the lagoon’s official provider as this transfer option is significantly cheaper and offers flexible return times. However, this option is less useful if you want to stop at the Blue Lagoon as you go between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport for your flight.

How Do Blue Lagoon Tickets Work?

Tickets to the Blue Lagoon are designed to allow visitors plenty of choice regarding when and how they visit. When choosing your ticket online, you have to select the day you wish to visit and the one-hour window in which you’d like to arrive.

The right ticket for you will depend on what level of luxury you wish to experience during your visit. There are three types of ticket that escalate in price and inclusions: Comfort, Premium, and Retreat Spa.

The Comfort ticket is the basic and most common ticket. It comes with admission to the Blue Lagoon, a complimentary silica mud mask, a towel, and one free drink. With a Premium ticket, you get everything included in the Comfort ticket, plus two extra masks of your choice, a bathrobe, and one glass of sparkling wine when dining at the spa’s Lava Restaurant.

Finally there’s the Retreat Spa ticket, which offers an exclusive luxury experience. This ticket focuses on the services and amenities provided at the Retreat Spa, including access to the restricted Retreat Lagoon, private changing rooms, a body scrub ritual, and skin-care amenities. However, like the other tickets, it also allows you entry to the Blue Lagoon.

On the day you arrive, you can either show your ticket on your smartphone or print it out. In exchange for your ticket, you’ll receive an electronic bracelet that handles entry, your locker, and any purchases you’d like to make while inside.

How Much Do Tickets for the Blue Lagoon Cost?

As Blue Lagoon tickets offer wildly different experiences depending on which you choose, it makes sense that they each have a different price to match. What makes this a little more complicated is that there aren’t set prices for tickets on the official website. Instead, the cost of tickets varies depending on demand and their time of day. 

An adult Comfort ticket costs between €48 and €69, while an adult Premium ticket costs between €62 and €86. That’s right: You might be able to get a Premium ticket for cheaper than a Comfort ticket depending on the time you choose to book. Finally, there’s the exclusive Retreat Spa tickets, which cost between €405 and €542 for adults.

Children aged two to thirteen enter the Blue Lagoon for free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets for children do not come with their own locker, bathrobe, or complimentary drink.

Best Hotels for the Blue Lagoon

If experiencing the Blue Lagoon is a priority during your Iceland trip, then you may consider finding somewhere close to the spa to stay. However, it’s vital to understand that the Blue Lagoon is not in Reykjavík or even all that close to the city, relative to the size of Iceland. The good news is that the spa actually has two on-site hotels for you to choose from and there are budget-friendly options not far away at Keflavík Airport.

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland is the place to stay if money is no object and you’re after the height of luxury. This gorgeous five-star hotel is surrounded by the thermal waters of the lagoon and offers guests unlimited access to the spa facilities and pools.

Silica Hotel is the other option for accommodation at the Blue Lagoon, providing guests with stylishly modern rooms that look out toward the wild, volcanic landscape. Guests at this four-star hotel also gain free access to the Blue Lagoon, as well as to the hotel’s private lagoon.

Iceland is by no means a low-cost destination, so your best bet for budget-friendly accommodation nearby is the cozy and comfy Anita’s Guest House. Located in Grindavík, a 10-minute drive from the Blue Lagoon, this guesthouse is clean and welcoming, and provides a complimentary breakfast.

Rules and Security at the Blue Lagoon

To ensure you have a pleasant and hassle-free visit during your time at the Blue Lagoon, it’s worth knowing about the venue’s various rules and restrictions. 

Probably the most important one for families to know up front is that children under the age of two aren’t allowed in the water as they’re likely to be sensitive to its high mineral content. Similarly, children aged two to eight must wear inflatable armbands for their safety, even though the lagoon has lifeguards on duty.

All visitors to the spa are given a changing room locker to store their belongings. While this locker is big enough for regular-sized backpacks and handbags, large luggage and bags will need to be stored for a small fee at the Luggage House in the parking lot.

One of the health and safety requirements for use of the Blue Lagoon is that all guests must shower without their swimsuit before entering the water. Another health requirement is that guests are limited to three alcoholic drinks during their stay, with drinks purchased and monitored through the electronic bracelets.

Visiting Blue Lagoon With a Disability

Thanks to its modern facilities, the Blue Lagoon can provide services and facilities to assist visitors with disabilities and accessibility concerns. The spa provides visitors who have mobility issues with disabled parking spaces, a wheelchair accessible floor plan, wheelchair hire, and special lagoon access points. It is also possible to book a dedicated changing room large enough to share with a carer.

FAQ – Facts About the Blue Lagoon

What Is the Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon is a spa and research facility at a man-made geothermal lagoon in Iceland.

When Were the Blue Lagoon Facilities Built?

Bathing facilities at the Blue Lagoon first opened in 1987, while the modern-day spa opened in 1999.

How Old Is the Blue Lagoon?

Pools of runoff from the Svartsengi geothermal power station began forming in 1976.

Who Built the Blue Lagoon Facilities?

Doctor Grímur Sæmundsen was responsible for the idea of creating a spa and research facility on the site of the lagoon, as well as for founding Blue Lagoon Limited that operates the site.

Why Were the Blue Lagoon Facilities Built?

The facilities at the Blue Lagoon were built after local residents realized the waters had restorative properties in the 1980s.

Where Is the Blue Lagoon Located?

The Blue Lagoon is located in the Reykjanes UNESCO Geopark of southwestern Iceland, between the town of Grindavík and Keflavík Airport.

With all this information at your fingertips, you should now be well prepared to visit this dreamy Icelandic attraction. Hopefully you better understand your options when it comes to tickets to the Blue Lagoon and how they drastically change what kind of experience you can expect when you arrive.

Share

Comments

Leave the first comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.