Is Iceland's Blue Lagoon Overrated?

When we did our 12-day Iceland road trip, we made sure not to miss the Blue Lagoon. It is one of those iconic bucket list items for anyone visiting Iceland and easy to understand why — a vast milky blue geothermal pool, rich with silica and minerals, sitting in a black lava field with steam rising into the cold air.

We visited on our final morning before flying home. Here is the honest verdict.

The Blue Lagoon — What to Expect

We paid 50 Euros for the most basic package — entry, towel, one silica mud mask. We arrived at 7am and the buses were already pulling in packed with people. After a quick mandatory shower we made it out into the Blue Lagoon while it was still relatively quiet.

As soon as you walk in it feels like a luxury spa hotel. You receive a waterproof wristband that you charge anything onto and pay on the way out. There are options for all sorts of extras — additional face masks, in-water massages, swim-up bar drinks.

The water is geothermally heated and sits at around 38-40°C. The silica gives it the extraordinary milky blue colour. It genuinely looks like the photographs.

We left after about an hour. It was starting to get busier and the water felt less hot than we expected after the Mývatn Nature Baths in the north. After 12 days in a campervan we made the most of the complimentary shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The showers and changing facilities are genuinely excellent.

Our honest verdict: It felt too commercialised for the price. A genuinely spectacular setting — but not a particularly authentic Iceland experience. The gift shop of Blue Lagoon skincare products as you exit tells you everything you need to know.

Mývatn Nature Baths — The Better Alternative

If you are staying in Iceland longer and seeing more of the country, skip the Blue Lagoon and go to the Mývatn Nature Baths in North Iceland.

The Mývatn Nature Baths overlooking Lake Mývatn

We strolled in without booking at around 2.30pm and paid 30 Euros. The communal showers, then out to the lagoon.

The Mývatn Nature Baths felt so much hotter — we kept having to get out to cool down. One pool is very hot, the other a couple of degrees cooler. We spent almost two hours swimming back and forth. Overlooking Lake Mývatn with steam rising off the water and the volcanic landscape surrounding you — completely brilliant.

Not as glamorous as the Blue Lagoon. Nicer atmosphere, better setting, more authentic experience, better value.

Wild Hot Springs in the Westfjords

For the truly adventurous option — hunt for wild hot springs in the Westfjords. Most are completely free, genuinely remote and you often have them entirely to yourself. The coordinates for the best one we found are in the Westfjords post.

Some are body temperature, some are very hot. Finding a pool in the middle of nowhere with views over a fjord with nobody else around is one of the best experiences in Iceland. No entrance fee. No gift shop.

The Verdict

Do the Blue Lagoon if: You only have a few days in Iceland, you want the iconic experience, or you are on a layover (it is 20 minutes from the airport).

Skip the Blue Lagoon if: You are doing a longer Iceland trip and will visit Mývatn or the Westfjords — both offer a better geothermal experience for less money.

Whichever you choose, pack a hair tie if you have long hair. The silica in the Blue Lagoon will mat it badly. They do sell hair conditioner on site but prevention is better.

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• Epic Iceland Road Trip Itinerary — 12 Days
• Iceland Day 1 — The Golden Circle
• Iceland's South Coast — Waterfalls and Glaciers
• Discovering Iceland's Eastern Fjords
• North Iceland — Volcanoes and Waterfalls
• Iceland's Westfjords — Hot Spring Hunting
• From Snæfellsnes to Reykjavik
• The Best Hikes in Iceland
• The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide