Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Reykjavík audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~180 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~180 min
- Reykjavík Reykjavík guide
About Blue Lagoon
Not a natural hot spring but a man-made lagoon of silica-blue water, the warm byproduct of a geothermal power plant, pooled in a black lava field.
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa set in a black lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula, about 45 kilometres southwest of Reykjavík and 20 from Keflavík International Airport. It is a man-made lagoon, not a natural hot spring: its mineral-rich water is a byproduct of the neighbouring Svartsengi geothermal power plant. The bathing water averages about 37 to 39 degrees Celsius, and its milky-blue colour comes from a high silica content that also forms a soft white mud used by bathers.
The water is mildly salty and renews roughly every two days. Bathing in the runoff began after the Svartsengi plant opened in the 1970s; public facilities opened in 1987 and the Blue Lagoon company followed in 1992. It is one of Iceland's most visited attractions, with about 1.3 million visitors in 2017. During the volcanic eruptions near Grindavík that began in late 2023, the lagoon was repeatedly evacuated and temporarily closed.
Did you know? The Blue Lagoon is not a natural spring. Its water is spent geothermal water from the neighbouring Svartsengi power plant, pumped into a lava field, where people began bathing after the plant opened.
How long should you spend at Blue Lagoon?
Plan about ~180 min at Blue Lagoon. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Blue Lagoon worth visiting?
Blue Lagoon is one of the 18 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Reykjavík, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Reykjavík
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Blue Lagoon and read more:
Day 2 of the Reykjavík in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Blue Lagoon
Preview the Reykjavík tour free in the Gingerguide app.