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Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon with Kids And Other Hot Springs Near Reykjavik

Iceland is well known for its many natural hot springs and geothermal pools that are scattered across the country. One Icelandic hot spring you may have heard of is the iconic Blue Lagoon. If you are planning to visit these iconic icy blue hot springs with kids, this guide will educate you on everything you should know before visiting! 

When To Go to The Blue Lagoon with Kids

Most flights arrive to Iceland first thing in the morning, making the Blue Lagoon a great first stop! The Blue Lagoon opens bright and early at 8 am.  You could also visit before heading back home, as the Blue Lagoon is quite close to the airport.

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How Much Does The Blue Lagoon Cost?

This excursion isn’t cheap.  Adult prices start around $50 USD.  Kids get in a bit cheaper and prices vary depending on age.   You can book fully refundable tickets online in advance; you’ll just need to be better at planning than me. 🙂

Check availability and book your tickets here.

I’d suggest going with the basic package… the upgraded package does include extra face mask treatments and a robe. However, realistically you’re just using the robe for about 2 minutes as you walk in and out of the locker room; for us it’s not worth the extra cost. 

The basic package includes the white face mask and a free drink at the bar. (Note: Grace, age 4, did not have to pay to get in, so we did buy her drink at the bar.  Free drinks are for paying children only.)  

All packages also include a towel, but beware you won’t get that until AFTER you shower.

You can customize your experience and consequently drive up your price quite a bit by visiting the spa, getting a massage, or eating in the restaurant.  We opted to skip these extras.  When I looked at the menu for the Lava Restaurant, entrees are around $40 per person (which is not outrageous for Iceland!)

How Your Visit Will Go To The Blue Lagoon With Kids

1. At check-in, everyone gets a colored wristband.  The youngest children (under 10) got a different color than our 10 and 13-year-old. The adults also got a different color, based on the package purchased. These wristbands are electronic and act as your key, credit card, and admittance pass.

Note: all kids under 10, regardless of swimming ability, must wear provided floaties.  They offer a bucket of them near the pool entrance to pick from.  In part, this is because of the opacity of the water water and the chance of losing a young one in the water!

2. Males and females then split up to hit the locker room.  Like all hot springs in Iceland, showering without your swimsuit is required.  They are quite clear in Iceland that none of your body oils or odors are coming in the pool. You are required to completely soak your hair and wash your body without soap before entering.

3. You’ll change out of your clothes. For us private Americans, it can be a bit intimidating to change in the large, open rooms together.  Small, private changing rooms are provided here (unlike other hot springs you might hit later), but you’ll need to walk to the shower naked or in your swimsuit, take off your swimsuit in the showers (which are private), and put it back on afterwards.

4. Time to shower! It is HIGHLY recommended to add lots of conditioner (provided) to long hair and leave it in.  The salty water is pretty rough on hair, as is the chilly air that might freeze your hair.

5. After you shower, you’ll put your swimsuit back on and lock your belongings in provided lockers.  Again, your smart wristband acts as your key so you won’t need to worry about losing it.

6. You can enter the lagoon inside the building or walk out to the stairs outside.  Grab the floats for the kids and head out!

7. Once you’re finished relaxing, you’ll head back inside, shower and get dressed. Hairdryers are provided.

Swimming in the Blue Lagoon

The water in the Blue Lagoon is such a lovely, warm temperature.  I could have stayed in it all day!  You and the kids will love swimming around and relaxing.  The water is only about 5 feet at it’s deepest. Our young kids couldn’t touch, but our 10 and 13 year-olds had no problem.

The lagoon is quite large, so explore around!  You’ll see the station where you can pick up the face masks you’ve included.  Just walk up and hold out your hand!  You can apply this to any area of your skin and either wash it off in the lagoon water or one of the many freshwater fountains around the lagoon.

The staff will warn you about dehydration and encourage you to drink water often.  Icelandic water is so delicious I’d almost move there just for the water.  Drink away!!

You’ll also find the bar, which offers slushies, fruit juices, and soda. Alcohol is also available but might cost extra (we don’t drink, so I didn’t pay attention!) Once again, your wristband will act as your payment here.

How Long Should You Plan For Your Visit to the Blue Lagoon With Kids?

Your entry ticket is valid for the entire day. We spent about 3 hours here without eating.  I’d say you should plan for at least a couple of hours to enjoy the hot springs.

Other Things to Know About Your Blue Lagoon Visit

• The lagoon holds over 9 million liters of water, which is naturally refreshed every 40 hours, making it completely self-cleaning.
• The black, volcanic rocks around the pool make for a beautiful backdrop, but can be slippery.  Be careful.
• You can walk some paths around the lagoon for a great view of the area.
• Security guards/lifeguards are constantly patrolling around the edges of the pool.
• The locker rooms do have hair dryers, so bring your brush!  They also offer complimentary shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.  The showers are fabulous and blissfully warm.
• There are plenty of tours from the airport if you aren’t renting a car right away.
• When you leave, you’ll pay any balance on your wristband and then use it as your key to get out.  The machines at the exit open and you drop your wristband in, which was super fun for the kids!
• Reminder from before: the water is opaque.  If you drop something or lose a kid, they do disappear under the water! Be cautious with any valuables.
• I did bring my phone in the water, and it’s kind of annoying to have to carry it around.  There are not many places to set it down.
• I imagine the lagoon gets very busy.  I’d recommend going near the opening or closing. (8am-9pm) Remember, in the summer it stays light until 11 pm!

Don’t Want To Pay For The Blue Lagoon?  Check Out These Cheaper Options Instead!

If you are interested in enjoying hot springs while in Iceland, but don’t want to pay for the Blue Lagoon, these are some great options! We didn’t visit any of these personally, but we heard good things about them:

• Secret Lagoon.  The cheaper option in the Golden Circle area, about 1.5 hours from Reykjavik.
• Myvatn Nature Baths.  If you are driving the Ring Road, you can hit these when you are in the north of the island.  About 6 hours from Reykjavik.
• Landbrotalaug Spring.  A tiny, free springs that only fits about 3 people!
• Reykjadalur Hot Springs Hike.   Take this 30 min hike to a natural hot springs. Located only 30 minutes from Reykjavik.

Find some other awesome options on this blog.

*Be cautious, as some of the hot springs around Iceland are NOT meant for bathing and can cause severe burns. 

Enjoy your time!!  Hot springs are an important part of Icelandic life and make your visit so fun. If you find other gems, be sure to leave them in the comments below.

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Additional Reading

Obtaining Two Passports: When You Need Them and How To Get Them

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FAMILY TIME IN KAUAI: 7-DAY FAMILY ITINERARY

BEST WAYS TO ENJOY MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA WITH KIDS