12 Oct Iceland’s Blue Lagoon Under the Midnight Sun
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is just one of those magical places where all your cares melt away. Sure, there are plenty of other amazing hot springs to check out around the entire country of Iceland, and we did made sure to check out as many other hot springs as possible, but we still couldn’t resist another relaxing visit at the Blue Lagoon.
Our first visit to Iceland in 2013 saw us starting our trip off with the Blue Lagoon as one of our first adventures. It was the perfect way to relax after a long day of flights and it set a wonderful tone for our entire trip. We indulged by getting in-water massages and then soaking in the milky blue water all morning long.
This time around, we opted for a visit under the midnight sun. During the summer, the Blue Lagoon has extended hours and is open until midnight! We were based in Reykjavik for the last five days of our trip, so we made the hour long drive and arrived around 8 p.m. to wind down our evening. After showering in one of the many private shower stalls that have been added since our last visit, we changed into our swimsuits and made our way out into the cold, rainy, foggy weather that we were dealt on this particular evening.
Thankfully, we didn’t even notice the weather with the warm, soothing heat of the lagoon. Our first visit was filled with anticipation and excitement of what was to come, but our return visit was all about rejuvenating and reflecting on the amazing adventures we’ve had in this spectacular country. It’s funny how two visits to the same place can be so different. This visit was exactly what we needed to unwind after two weeks of road tripping and days full of adventures.
We spent the next couple of hours floating, relaxing and enjoying the never-ending daylight. When our fingers started to look like prunes, we took a break and made our way to the café where we were tempted with delicious treats. We settled on a strawberry skyr smoothie and sucked down the refreshing concoction in what seemed like a matter of just minutes.
The Blue Lagoon is sometimes coined as touristy, but we still think it’s a spot worth visiting. We love the mystical setting and even though we have visited numerous hot springs around the world, they all offer unique experiences, and the Blue Lagoon is no exception. The lagoon is set on an 800 year old lava field and filled with around nine million liters of geothermal seawater. A unique combination of silica, algae and minerals fill the water, and the sunlight reflecting off the silica is what gives the water its milky blue color. While the water has many healing benefits for your skin, it doesn’t exactly do much for your hair except make it extremely dry. So, it’s a good idea to load your hair with conditioner both before and after entering the lagoon to keep your strands silky and smooth.
When you arrive at the lagoon, you will receive a wristband that will act as your locker key and it can also be used to make purchases such as drinks and food from the bar or restaurant. Upon entering the locker room, you pick an open locker and then head to the shower—you must shower without your swimsuit in order to keep the lagoon clean for everyone to enjoy. There are private lounges/locker rooms available for an extra charge, but there are also plenty of shower stalls for privacy in the main locker room, as well. Also, towels and swimsuits can be rented if you don’t have your own, but it’s a good idea to bring your own if you plan on checking out multiple hot springs during your trip!
In addition to the waters of the Blue Lagoon, you will also find a sauna and steam rooms, a powerful waterfall that you can stand under for a quick massage, silica mud masks at the Silica Bar, an out of water relaxation area that overlooks the lagoon, plus a bar, restaurant and café. Basically, enough to entertain yourself with for several hours!
While we didn’t quite make it until midnight, we thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend such late hours soaking in the lagoon. As we drove away from the Blue Lagoon at 11:30 p.m., only a couple of nights before it was time to make our way back home, we couldn’t help but think about all the amazing experiences Iceland has given us. It really came full circle and we can’t wait for another trip to the land of fire and ice again in the future—we know we will never have quite enough of this unique slice of paradise.
Special thanks to the Blue Lagoon for providing us with entrance to the lagoon! As always, all opinions are our own.