The Blue Lagoon

How to Visit the Blue Lagoon from Iceland's Keflavik Airport

Imagine you just arrived at Iceland’s Keflavik Airport after an eight-hour Trans-Atlantic flight. As you clear passport control and customs, you will be happy to stretch your sore legs. It’s now 8 am local time, which is a common arrival time as many of Iceland’s flights from the US are red-eyes. You must find something to do until you can check into your hotel, but what? In my opinion, the first thing you should do after arriving at Keflavik Airport is to stop at Icelands’s Blue Lagoon on your way to Reykjavik. In the section below, I will highlight my experience visiting the Blue Lagoon from Iceland’s Keflavik Airport.

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is located between Keflavik Airport and the city center of Reykjavik. What could be a better first stop in Iceland than relaxing in the geothermally heated waters of the Blue Lagoon?
Many tour companies offer special packages from Keflavik Airport to Rejykavik with a stopover at the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon will even hold onto your luggage for a fee of around $6.

Plus, if you have just arrived on a red-eye flight, the Blue Lagoon is likely to not be very crowded between the hours of 8 am and 11 am. All of these are reasons why you should visit the Blue Lagoon after landing at Iceland’s Keflavik Airport.

Iceland's Blue Lagoon
Iceland's Blue Lagoon

Visiting the Blue Lagoon from Iceland's Airport - Table of Contents

Disclaimer:  At Buzzin’ Around the World, we do our best to offer the most factual information that was available to us at the time of posting based on our research. If you believe something on our site is incorrect or misleading, please email us.

We follow all local, national, and international laws and ordinances based on our best interpretation at the time of posting. If you are a representative of an organization that believes one of your ordinances has been violated, please know it was not intentional. To have content removed, please email us.

Finally, under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 

We use affiliate links to help pay for fees associated with our website. When you book a service (i.e. flight, hotel, tour) or purchase a product through any of our links, we may/will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Buzzinaroundtheworld.com may be compensated for reviews posted on this website. We always review each product truthfully. 

Buzzin’ Around the World uses our individual travel experiences to write our content. All photos and content are original. Buzzin’ Around the World sometimes uses AI to generate titles, summaries, or descriptions of our original work.

For more information, please click HERE to visit our private policy page. We can be reached at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com

How to Get to the Blue Lagoon from Iceland's Keflavik Airport

My first stop in Iceland was a visit to the Blue Lagoon. To get to the Blue Lagoon from Iceland’s Keflavik Airport, I booked a package with Gray Line. The cost of the package was $245 and included entrance to the Blue Lagoon, as well as transfers from Keflavik Airport to the Blue Lagoon and then onward to my hotel.

After claiming my bag and clearing customs, I followed the signs towards ground transportation. A Gray Line van was waiting for me, and within ten minutes, we departed Iceland’s Keflavik Airport and drove towards the Blue Lagoon.

I arrived at the Blue Lagoon around 8:00 am.

 

The Pathway to the Entrance of the Blue Lagoon
The Pathway to the Entrance of the Blue Lagoon

Luggage Storage at the Blue Lagoon

One of my concerns about visiting the Blue Lagoon from Iceland’s Keflavik Airport was what to do with my luggage. Thankfully, the Blue Lagoon has luggage storage. The luggage storage at the Blue Lagoon is located near the parking lot and costs 800 ISK ($5.85) to check a bag.

Since my reservation was not until 9:00 am, I decided to wander around the various paths that are between the parking lot and the actual entry to the spa.

One thing many guests of the Blue Lagoon don’t realize is that the spa is human-made. The water is geothermally heated, but the actual swimming and bathing area is not nature-made. According to signs, all of the water in the Blue Lagoon is cycled in and out every 48 hours.

Don’t let the fact that the Blue Lagoon is human-made scare you from enjoying this spa. After spending 8 hours on a plane, you will quickly forget that the Blue Lagoon is not a natural spa as you relax in the water.

One of the Geothermal Pools Near the Entrance to the Blue Lagoon
One of the Geothermal Pools Near the Entrance to the Blue Lagoon

Check In and the Locker Room - Iceland's Blue Lagoon

Check-in to enter the Blue Lagoon was very smooth. Gray Line had registered me as a VIP, and I was able to skip much of the line.

When I approached the counter, the receptionist asked if I wanted to upgrade my package. My package didn’t include a towel or a silica mask. I told her that I would be interested in a towel but did not need a silica mask. She said that it would be cheaper to rent a towel once I was inside the spa.

I was issued a wristband that had an electronic chip in it. The wristband would open my locker and allow me to make purchases, including renting a towel.

Next, I entered the locker room area, changed into my bathing suit, and headed to the showers. I had heard a rumor that at the Blue Lagoon, there is an employee who monitors to make sure every person takes a fully nude shower. There was no such person in the shower area, and everyone was showering while wearing their bathing suits.

After showering, I walked down some stairs and saw my first sight of the fabulous Blue Lagoon. It was an amazing sight, especially since I had been sitting on an airplane less than 90 minutes ago. Visiting the Blue Lagoon on my way to Reykjavik from Iceland’s Keflavik Airport was the right decision!

Swimming in Iceland's Blue Lagoon
View of the Blue Lagoon from the Main Entry

Swimming in the Blue Lagoon

As I entered the geothermally heated waters of the Blue Lagoon, I quickly forgot that the outside air temperature was around 45ºF. The water was warm, a perfect 102ºF, and I quickly began to relax.

I explored the entire Blue Lagoon, including the waterfalls, steam rooms, and the swim-up bar/restaurant.

A Swim Up Bar at the Blue Lagoon
A Swim Up Bar at the Blue Lagoon
Swim Up Restaurant at Iceland's Blue Lagoon
Swim Up Restaurant
Waterfalls and Steam Room at Iceland's Blue Lagoon
Waterfall and Steam Rooms

The water at the Blue Lagoon is a little thicker than swimming pool water due to the silica. I was surprised that it did not have much of a sulfur smell. The lagoon itself was not overly crowded, and after talking to a few people, I realized that many of them had just come from the Iceland’s main airport, including one couple that was on my flight.

Swimming in the Blue Lagoon
Swimming in the Blue Lagoon

Overlooking the Blue Lagoon was a large geothermal power plant. There was also a large digital clock so guests could keep track of the time.

Iceland's Blue Lagoon
Geothermal Power Plant and the Digital Clock

The lifeguards at the Blue Lagoon all wear thick winter jackets. The warmest temperatures in Iceland are around 55-60ºF. Often, the temperature is below freezing. If they didn’t wear jackets, the lifeguards would freeze.

Lifeguards Wear Jackets at Iceland's Blue Lagoon
The Lifeguards Wear Jackets

Braving the Cold to Take Some Pictures of Iceland's Blue Lagoon

After about 45 minutes in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon, I decided to get out and take pictures. I had asked the receptionist at check-in if I was allowed to take photos at the Blue Lagoon. She assured me that photos were allowed everywhere except in the locker rooms.

As I exited the water, I realized that I had never rented a towel. I quickly shivered on the way to the amenities store, dripping a large amount of water behind me, scanned my wristband, and rented a large towel.

Now that I had a towel, I went back to the locker room and put on a long-sleeved shirt. With the towel wrapped around my wet bathing suit, I began walking around the Blue Lagoon, taking pictures.

One of the My Many Photographs of the Blue Lagoon
One of the My Many Photographs of the Blue Lagoon

After about fifteen minutes out of the water, I was cold and ready to get back in. I hung my towel on the towel rack and got back in the lagoon.

I ventured over and tried the steam room. It was too hot and painful for me to take a full breath of air.

The Stream Rooms at the Blue Lagoon
The Stream Rooms at the Blue Lagoon

Exiting the Blue Lagoon

Initially, I wanted to stay until around 11:00 am, but after another 30 minutes in the water, I was ready to get out.

I took another minute to take in the beauty of the Blue Lagoon and then got out and found my towel. The towel rack is numbered, and I put my towel on peg #44, my high school basketball number. I returned to the showers and washed the silica off my hair and body.

Then I found my locker and changed. I was glad that I remembered to bring a few ziplock bags for my wet swimsuit. There was a final checkout at the reception where I owed around $13 for my towel rental and Pepsi.

One Last View of the Blue Lagoon
One Last View of the Blue Lagoon

Getting from the Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik

After leaving the paid area, I spent another 15 minutes walking the various paths until it was time for my Gray Line bus to Reykjavik.

After reclaiming my luggage, I found the bus, and we departed for Reykjavik. The ride took about 45 minutes, and the driver dropped me off within a block of my hotel. It was still a little early to check in, so I dropped my bag off at the reception area and decided to explore Reykjavik.

I was glad I visited the Blue Lagoon on the way to Reykjavik from Iceland’s Keflavik Airport. It was the perfect way to spend the morning after a long flight.

Waiting for my Transfer from the Blue Lagoon to My Hotel in Reykjavik
Waiting for my Transfer from the Blue Lagoon to My Hotel in Reykjavik

Blue Lagoon Packages that Include an Airport Transfer

Linked below are some Blue Lagoon packages that include airport transfers. As an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission from purchases of these packages. The commission is at no additional charge to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would book using one of my links.

Prices are accurate as of March 2024.

Private Blue Lagoon Transfer with Admission
Private Airport Transfer with Blue Lagoon - Admission included - $444.57

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of Iceland's most popular attractions. The warm waters are rich of silica minerals and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help people with skin diseases. This tour is a private transportation from your accommodation to the Blue Lagoon where you can enjoy a 2 hour stopover before returning back to your accommodation. Blue Lagoon admission needs to be purchased separately on a chosen date and time.

Please note: Tour is subject to availability at the Blue Lagoon

Private Transfer - Keflavik Airport to Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik
Private Airport - Blue Lagoon - Reykjavík - $246.38

Are you in a hurry or simply tired after a long flight? Enjoy our hospitality and comfort to you destination.

Private Transfer Between the Blue Lagoon and Iceland's Keflavik Airport
Private Roundtrip Transfer between Blue Lagoon and Keflavik Airport - $131.44

Hassle-free transfer arrangement from anywhere in Keflavik. You can arrange to be dropped off in Reykjavik or Keflavik International Airport.

The Blue Lagoon from Keflavik Airport - My Thoughts

Although the Blue Lagoon is a bit of a tourist trap and quite expensive, I am glad that I visited the Blue Lagoon. As a solo traveler, it made sense for me to visit the Blue Lagoon as I needed something to do between landing at Iceland’s Keflavik Airport and checking into my hotel in Reykjavik. If I had a family of five, it would be difficult to justify spending $1000+ on two hours of Blue Lagoon fun.

The Blue Lagoon is one of the top attractions in Iceland. Despite not being a spa person, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. In closing, I highly recommend visiting the Blue Lagoon from Iceland’s Keflavik Airport.

Iceland's Blue Lagoon
The Relaxing Waters of the Blue Lagoon

Buzzin' Around the World's Affiliate Partners

Affiliate Disclaimer

Affiliate Partner of the Month - Viator

Viator is my favorite website for booking tours and packages. With over 300,000 unique tours to choose from, everyone should be able to find something on Viator that interests them. I like Viator because anytime I have an issue with a tour company, Viator has intervened and helped on my behalf. I highly recommend using Viator for booking your tours and vacation packages.

Book Through the Link Below to Help Buzzin' Around the World Earn Commission

Earn $200 in Travel Rewards with the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card is one of the few rewards cards that does not charge an annual fee. Cardholders can earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent while enjoying 0% APR for 15 months.

Currently, Capital One is offering a signup bonus of 20,000 points (worth $200 in travel rewards) when the cardholder spends $500 in the first three months. If you are interested in this card, I would appreciate it if you would sign up with the link below, as I earn a referral bonus of 10,000 points. Those points are worth $100 in travel rewards and will help me continue to bring great content to Buzzin’ Around the World.

Once again, the Capital One VentureOne card is one of the few reward cards without an annual fee and is the perfect card for someone who is just starting to get into the travel points game.

Related Content