Blue Lagoon & Beyond: A Geothermal Day in Iceland

Our Virgin Voyage shore excursion started at 7:45 AM, which was perfectly fine with us. The Galley doesn’t start serving breakfast until 7:00 AM, so we grabbed a few pastries to go and headed off to await our Shore Group. The morning was cool, around 47°F, but warmer than northern iceland. Turns out we were very fortunate as the sun came out for us.

As it turned out, the early start was one of the best things about this excursion because our first stop was the Blue Lagoon. Getting there early meant we arrived before the crowds really started building, giving us a much better chance to enjoy the lagoon without fighting through a sea of people.

And what a place. This was our first visit to the Blue Lagoon, and I was surprised by how modern and impressive the entire facility was. Each of us received an NFC wristband that handled pretty much everything. It gave us access through the doors, opened our lockers and allowed us to charge food and drinks to our account. Before leaving, we simply settled our account.

The gender divided locker rooms were huge, with what seemed like about ten rows of locker sections, plenty of showers and private changing areas. They even had two bathing suit dryers near the showers that were free to use. After getting changed, we headed into the lagoon.

We had about 75 minutes to enjoy the Blue Lagoon, which sounds like plenty of time until you get in and realize how much there is to explore and add in pre and post lagoon showers.

The water itself is fascinating and soothing. The aquamarine color looks almost unreal, and different areas of the lagoon varied in temperature. Some sections were surprisingly hot. We spent most of our time wandering through the different areas, checking out the steam rooms and enjoying the waterfalls. We also tried the famous silica mud mask. The line for the mask was short, so we grabbed some and applied it for the recommended ten minutes. The line to rinse it off was another story. There were only three water spouts, so everyone who had completed their ten-minute mask was waiting for a turn.

The swim-up bar was another popular spot. Since we arrived early, the line was manageable at first, but by the middle of our visit, the crowds were starting to arrive and the lines were getting noticeably longer. I tried the apple cider which was delicious and justin had gatorade to stay hydrated.

The time flew by quick but the crowds made us thankful it was time to get going. The Blue Lagoon was easily our favorite part of the excursion, and given the choice, we would have happily traded some of the other stops for another hour in the lagoon.

I also spent some time browsing the gift shop, hoping to bring home a little piece of the Blue Lagoon experience. I was specifically looking for some of the mud masks or firming eye patches, but the prices were a bit hard to swallow. I did try a few of the creams on my hand, though, because of course I had to see what all the fuss was about.

Then I found a cute hat. It was SO soft.
Unfortunately, it was also more expensive than I wanted to pay for a souvenir hat, so I reluctantly left it behind. I walked out empty-handed, but at least I got the Blue Lagoon experience.

Our next stop was a Viking museum. The highlight was an indoor replica Viking ship that we were able to walk around and explore. It was interesting to see, but overall the museum was a little lackluster for us. If the museum were a stand-alone destination, we wouldn’t recommend making the trip specifically to visit it.

From there, we headed toward the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The drive took about an hour, and much of the landscape looked familiar after our previous excursion in northern Iceland. Along the way, we saw a town that had recently been affected by lava. The town had been evacuated and abandoned, which was a sobering reminder of how active the volcanic landscape around Iceland remains.

Then, in the middle of all this rugged volcanic terrain, we spotted something completely unexpected: an actively used golf course.

A golf course.

Surrounded by lava fields.

Iceland continues to produce some strange combinations. The dark black lava rock mixed with patches of green moss and sand creates a landscape unlike anything we see at home. It looks almost otherworldly, especially when you see how close everyday life sits alongside these volcanic features.

One of the big features of this part of the excursion was the Bridge Between Continents. The bridge crosses the fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, giving us another reminder of the geological forces shaping the island beneath our feet.

From there, we continued to the Krýsuvík geothermal area. I was surprised by how little sulfur we smelled at Krýsuvík. During our previous geothermal visit, the sulfuric odor was much stronger. The wind was blowing pretty steadily during this stop, so perhaps that helped carry the smell away.

The geothermal activity itself was still fascinating. Large plumes of steam shot up from the ground, and bubbling mud pools filled the landscape. Our guide repeatedly reminded everyone to stay on the designated paths and never reach into or lean over anything releasing steam. The temperatures beneath the surface are dangerous, and the steam comes out with enough force to cause serious injuries.

It was a cool place to see, but compared with the geothermal landscape we experienced earlier in northern Iceland, this one didn’t have quite the same impact. Even with the rain during our northern excursion, those sights felt more dramatic.

By the end of the day, there was no question about our favorite part.

The Blue Lagoon won.

The Viking museum was interesting enough, the Reykjanes Peninsula gave us some memorable volcanic scenery, and the geothermal area was worth seeing. But given the choice, we both would have spent more time soaking in those incredible blue waters.

The biggest lesson from this excursion? When an itinerary gives you a chance to visit the Blue Lagoon early in the day, take it. Getting there before the crowds made a noticeable difference, and we were grateful for every minute we had before the swim-up bar and mud-mask lines started growing.

As much as we enjoyed our time in Iceland, I’m not sure we’ll make a return trip. It was a wonderful experience and we’re glad we got to see it, but Iceland’s high cost for food, souvenirs, excursions and pretty much everything else is a significant deterrent for us. There are still plenty of places in the world we’d like to visit, and at Iceland prices, we might choose somewhere new instead.

For now, we’re happy to have experienced Iceland, from the dramatic volcanic landscapes and geothermal activity to soaking in the Blue Lagoon. Sometimes a trip doesn’t have to leave you wanting to come back. It’s enough to have been there and experienced it for ourselves.

TL;DR: Iceland Lessons

• Early Blue Lagoon = fewer crowds. Take advantage of it.

• 75 minutes at the lagoon wasn’t nearly enough. We both wanted more time.

• The Viking museum was interesting, but not worth a trip on its own.

• Reykjanes was cool, but northern Iceland’s geothermal scenery impressed us more.

• Iceland was a great experience, but the high cost makes a return trip less appealing.Read more