Is the Blue Lagoon Worth It?

Honestly, I don't know.

I think if it is something that intrigues you and you couldn't imagine a trip to Iceland without going, then yes - by all means, go. But if you are on the fence and it will cut into time that could be otherwise spent exploring other parts of the country, then I think my answer would be different.

Here I will try to answer some FAQ's about the Blue Lagoon and you can make your own decision.

1. Is it touristy?

Yes. Obviously. The Blue Lagoon is a huge tourist draw and in fact was built just for that purpose. It is not a naturally occurring geothermal pool - it developed from pooling waste water from a nearby geothermal power plant and was later developed by the Blue Lagoon company into a bathing facility. We got there early, probably 20 - 30 minutes before it opened and were probably within the first 10 people to get in that day. It was busy and definitely a lot more full about two hours after we got there, but I never felt like it was obnoxiously crowded. Then again, we went at the end of May. I'm sure the experience June - August would be one I would avoid at all costs. Just because something is touristy though, doesn't mean it isn't worth the experience. I would just keep this in mind and plan your trip knowing what you are getting yourself into, crowds wise.

2. Is it clean?

This is most definitely a loaded question. The Blue Lagoon company has their own answer and I have mine. Mine is: Not really. While the water itself might pass health checks, something I did not think of is the drawbacks of having naturally occurring clay and silica all over the pool. Just for a moment, imagine if you dumped a couple tons of sand into the bottom of a public pool. What would be in that sand? If you said "everything you could possibly imagine" then you are dead right. They have big buckets of the silica "healing" clay all over the sides of the lagoon and it coats the bottom as well. The clay from the buckets is pretty clean, but what you're walking all over is clay full of hair, lint and any other debris anyone happens to bring into the pool with them.

3. Do you have to get naked?

Kind of. If you purchase the cheapest option (which I did), then you go into a common locker room where you can store your belongings and you have to bathe before you go into the lagoon. Because I was one of the first people to arrive I was able to take a shower in a private stall and had quite a bit of privacy. There was a bathroom attendant that stood there to make sure everyone bathed before they entered the lagoon but it wasn't like she was checking me over with a magnifying glass. It was completely unobtrusive and for someone who doesn't relish public nudity I was totally fine. If you purchase the more expensive options you can get a private bathing room. I would imagine that if you go into the public locker room when its super busy then all you're going to see are lady lumps left and right.

4. Is the healing clay miraculous? 

I don't know. I don't know if anyone really knows for sure. It definitely exfoliates and there's something about devoting a nice chunk of time to just relaxing, floating in warm water and trying to pamper your skin that makes you feel better but I did not notice any change in my skin after.

5. Is the water hot?

For me, no. It was warm and there are certainly hotter pockets throughout that I hung out in, but I prefer my water to be just this side of boiling and it wasn't quite there. If you're worried that it will be too hot for you or your child, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I saw people with their babies in swim diapers (see item 2).

6. How long should I stay?

We scheduled our trip to the Blue Lagoon before we flew home from Iceland and I slated 2 hours there before we had to head to the airport. This felt like more than enough time for us but if you're planning on getting a massage or spa treatment as well you can obviously stretch that out quite a bit.

Hopefully this helps you get an idea of whether or not the Blue Lagoon is for you. We had just spent 18 days hiking our way around Iceland so finishing with a dip in warm water for a couple hours before flying home was exactly what our bodies needed. But, would I do it again? Honestly, probably not. Iceland also has fantastic shower situations that come free with the price of your hotel room :).