10 top tips for visiting The Blue Lagoon with kids (or without)

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The Blue Lagoon is a natural hot spring and the most famous geothermal spa in Iceland. Located near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland but should you visit the Blue Lagoon with kids?

All over Instagram you will see the perfect pictures of perfect women in the perfect bikini having the most relaxing time but do you see kids in these pictures and are there actually any families visiting the Blue Lagoon?

Top tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon

When we were planning a trip to Iceland I found there was not a lot of information out there about visiting the Blue Lagoon for families or visiting the Blue Lagoon with kids. There was plenty of information on what to do when you are an adult but not a lot of Blue Lagoon tips that I found helpful or information that I could use for the girls.

So I thought that I would put a guide together on our best Blue Lagoon Iceland tips with kids on our Iceland family holiday!

1: Conditioner in hair

One thing we had read about the water at the Blue Lagoon swimming area is that it dries your hair out.

Solution: One solution is to use conditioner in your hair both during and after your visit to the Blue Lagoon. You will the chance to do this in the blue lagoon Iceland showers area.

There are bottles of conditioner in the shower area and the attendants will remind you to apply it. Every time you have to get out of the water and take one of the kids to the toilet, put more conditioner in their hair.

After we got back to our Reykjavik apartment and showered the girls I put what I thought was a heap of conditioner in their hair, but it still seemed very dry, just persist and keep putting it in. It took us about a week to get our hair back to normal. So, GO CRAZY!

Book Blue Lagoon Tickets with optional transport ↗

2: Floaties 

This was the one thing that put Marley off completely. It is the rule for visiting the Blue Lagoon with kids, that if you are under 9 you must wear floaties in the water. Marley is a great swimmer so she was absolutely mortified that she had to wear them. If I had have known I would have been able to warn her before we got there.

3: Extra Towels

We got three towels in the end from the blue lagoon reception area. I thought this would be enough but we really could have done with one more. As we were staying in a Reykjavik apartment I was not comfortable taking the towels from there but if you get a chance take extra towels with you.

This will help you save a little bit of money and because all of the towels are the same colour it will help you easily identify where you have put yours. It will also stop people from accidentally using yours as they are all hung in the same places and you have to remember where you hung them up.

Mark and Willow from Wyld Family Travel with moisturizer on their skin while visiting the bBlue Lagoon with kids

4: Family Rooms for visiting the Blue Lagoon with kids

There are huge changing rooms at the Blue Lagoon where all of the lockers are located and just off to the side are little rooms that you can go into to change little ones. The other change rooms are open but these ones are a nice size and the door shuts.

Willow used these as she is at that age now. There is ample room to hang clothing and a bench to help out with really little ones. You are not able to ‘reserve’ these and there are no lockers in them but they would be great for people visiting the Blue Lagoon Iceland with kids or toddlers.

5: Shower before you put your bathers on

I made the mistake of getting Marley into her bathers before we left the apartment in the morning as we were heading straight out there and then I had to take them off her. She was far from impressed by that! There are signs all around the change rooms and there are attendants if you need to ask some questions.

Book Blue Lagoon Tickets with optional transport ↗

6: Have a drink

Other than the fact that after a while you do get thirsty having a drink from the swim-up bar was a highlight for the kids. The bartenders did ask the kids where their parents were so they were not just served and had their bracelets scanned without us knowing.

As it was something they really wanted to do we let them line up themselves and we just stood back a little. When the bartender looked around to see where their parents were I just them a little wave and said ‘they are mine and it is ok’ All the people in the line were really considerate of the kids and no one tried to push in front of them. There is plenty to choose from and something for everyone. The girls had
slushies each and Mark and I shared a banana smoothie.

7: Hair Dryers/Lockers

There is no need to pack absolutely everything when you visit the Blue Lagoon with kids. You can hire robes, slippers and towels when you get there but as I have said before they are things you may have to take extra of. The one thing that I did like and that made perfect sense was that all the bathrooms had large mirrors with hairdryers attached to the walls beside them.

8: If you are in Iceland in winter go for sunrise!

We were lucky that when we arrived it was still dark (we visited Iceland in winter) so we were able to swim around in the dark and watch the sunrise. It is technically not that hard in Iceland in winter as the sun rises at about 10.30 am but we all loved it.

The girls loved it that little more as they got to swim in the dark and then in the light! The colours in the sky were amazing. It is one of the best things to do in Iceland with kids!

9: Life Guards

There are lifeguards patrolling the area around the Blue Lagoon all the time and they are very good at their jobs. Anything that they did not like and they were onto it very quickly. I felt very safe with them looking at us and I knew we would be in great hands if something did go wrong.

The girls thought it was hilarious that they were walking around in full winter gear, and we were all in our bathers! I think if you or a family member is not a confident swimmer, visiting the Blue Lagoon may be the safest option for you.

10: Take an extra plastic bags for wet clothes

This is something I forgot to take with me and I really regret it. I had the bathers in a bag that I thought would be ok, but they just leaked everywhere over the back of the car. I would say take a couple of extra bags with you so that you can stop the clothes from wetting everything that you have on you.

The Blue lagoon in Iceland is amazing, the rocks the blue milky water the amazing scenery. Its great to visit as a single, couple of the Blue Lagoon with kids

Added Tip For Visiting The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

There were plenty of people walking around with their phones in zip-lock bags to get their pictures. They were a great idea and the people I spoke to had some good pictures. One thing they all did say though is to take some spares as if they got a hole in the bag it was not able to be used anymore.

I know plenty of these are common sense things but if you are on a tour of the Blue Lagoon you may have some things included that we did not. We were also trying to save some money as we were finding Iceland to be very expensive so we decided not to get some of the extras that we were able to hire to keep the Iceland trip cost low.

Many people have said they did not like their time at The Blue Lagoon and that it was overrated and crowded. A famous travel quote once said, ” Don’t listen to what they say, just go and see it, it really is one of Iceland’s top attractions.

We did not have this experience on our visit to the Blue Lagoon with kids, and we found it to be one of the best things to do in Iceland! If you are planning a trip to Iceland, we highly recommend that you visit!

How do I get tickets to the Blue Lagoon?

Blue Lagoon tickets for entries can be found on The Blue Lagoon company website. The website along with tour booking sites like Viator will allow you to make a Blue Lagoon reservation. A visit is often part of many blue lagoons Iceland tours. 

There are a number of Blue Lagoon packages that can be booked. Extras like blue lagoon ritual spa treatment, private spa lagoon, blue lagoon comfort package and a blue lagoon Iceland silica mud masks treatment to name a few. 

Know before you go! Our top Reykjavik travel tips

Travelling to Iceland requires a lot of planning. Not only is Iceland one of the most expensive countries to visit it is absolutely amazing. Once you are travelling in Iceland you feel like you have to do it all while you are there. Below are the best things to have prepared before you leave for your vacation to Reykjavik.

Where to stay in Reykjavik

You’ll never be short of options for your accommodation in Reykjavik. In Reykjavik, you find a range of hotels, apartments and hostels. You will be sure to be able to find something to fit singles, couples, families and groups on every budget. If you’re not keen on any of our picks below or have specific needs, we recommend using Trip Advisor and Hotellook to find the best prices in Reykjavik.

  • Luxury: Located in the city centre of Reykjavik is the Opel Premium Apartments. Featuring rooms for singles, doubles and 2 bedroom suites for families. Your family can free Wi-Fi in all rooms if you arrive early luggage storage is available along with, car parking and airport transfer.
  • Mid-Range: Singles, Doubles and family rooms for 4 featuring Tv’s, Wi-Fi, refrigerator and coffee maker is waiting for you. Fosshotel Baron is located in the Reykjavik City Centre area of Reykjavik. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk and facilities for disabled guests
  • Budget: If you like communal living then the Reykjavik Hostel Village might be the best budget bet for you in the city center. Featuring rooms for all number of visitors, free Wi-Fi, kitchen and BBQ for cooking. The city center is 300 m away from the hostel.

Reykjavik apartment alternative for your stay

If you prefer a home away from home-style accommodation in Reykjavík then an apartment is the best choice for you on your vacation to Iceland. There are so many options for singles, families and budget-friendly options as well when you visit Reykjavik. Check out the map below to find the perfect Reykjavik apartment for your vacation in Reykjavik. 

How to get to Reykjavik

  • Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. Reykjavik is located in South Iceland. Travel to Iceland is via Keflavik International Airport. The airport is 50 kilometres from Reykjavik. 6.8 million people travelled through Keflavik airport in 2016. Search your flights to Iceland with Kiwi.com
  • Smyril Line car ferry M/S Norröna sails between Seyðisfjörður in Iceland, Hirtshals in Denmark and Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands once a week. This allows you to bring your car and drive to Reykjavik.
  • You can reserve a rental car and have it waiting for you at Keflavik International Airport

How to get around Reykjavik

  • The city buses in Reykjavík are yellow. The Icelandic word for them is strætó, which is short for strætisvagn (streetcar). These buses are the only public transport in the city.
  • The Reykjavik Hop on hop off bus is another excellent option for seeing the sites of the city and surrounding area. Check the current prices HERE
  • The Reykjavik City Card entitles you to entry to some of Reykjavik’s major attractions and free public transport on the buses. More information is available here

Reykjavik City Card

The Reykjavik City Card helps visitors save money on Reykjavik attractions around the city. Sightseeing in Reykjavik and Iceland is pricey and adds up quickly. The city card helps keep the costs down with free entries and discounts to top Reykjavik attractions, free transportation and discounts at restaurants. You can get a Reykjavik City Card for 24-, 48- and 72-hour duration. Buy your city card for your Reykjavik trip today

Do you need a sim card for your trip to Iceland?

Relying on Wi-fi when you are travelling in Iceland can be hard. Making calls and staying in contact with who you need is a top priority when you are on vacation in Iceland. Plan your trip to Reykjavik out and order your sim before you leave home to stop any stress about travelling, data, and calls on your vacation to Reykjavik.

What currency do I need for my trip to Reykjavik?

The official currency you need to use in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona. We recommend that you get a Revolut travel money card, that can be loaded with multiple currencies and has nearly non-existent withdrawal fees to save you money on your family trip to Reykjavik.

Do I need travel insurance in Iceland?

Iceland has a high quality of healthcare but in saying that travel insurance is still recommended for all travellers entering the country. The last thing you want is a huge bill for medical expenses should you require care on your family holiday in Reykjavik.

We recommend using Travel Insurance Master, their website will compare the best deals from a number of providers and present you with the best value for money policy on the market. Click through to Insurance Masters to get a free quote.

We hope this article from us here at Wyld Family Travel has you inspired to visit Iceland. There are so many things to do in Iceland that are free but you do need to watch your money if you are on a budget holiday in Iceland.

For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Iceland click through to our Iceland Destination Guide page for more brilliant inspiration


More travel inspiration for your trip to Iceland


6 thoughts on “10 top tips for visiting The Blue Lagoon with kids (or without)”

  1. I love that your girls participate in the trip planning and research things to do at the destination. It must be an amazing experience for them. It’s good to read you had a lovely time there. I also read before that it was crowded. Still, it seems like a hard one to miss when you’re in Iceland… I mean, it’s so unusual…! I’d love to visit it during sunrise like you did. I always miss sunrise because it’s too early (like 5am here in Australia lol), but I’m sure I can make it for 10.30 am ahah!

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  2. Fun and sensible tips for visiting Blue Lagoon. When we visited Iceland last summer, my practical and adventurous children decided we should skip that attraction and instead hike an hour to some public (and FREE) hot springs. We had an incredible time. One day I will return to Iceland to visit Blue Lagoon.

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  3. I too loved my time at the Blue Lagoon and you offer some great tips that i haven’t seen elsewhere. Also as an American I love that you call swimsuits bathers.

    Reply
  4. I’ve always wanted to experience the Blue Lagoon and reading your post just makes me want to do it even more. I love it that your girls participate as well as it nice hearing about family activities.

    Reply
  5. A lot of tips and thanks for your sharing! For me, I think the Blue Lagoon has a very nice package and so far I have no problem with my hair nor I need extra towels.
    But great to know about sunrise, and I was there during summer and the sun basically won’t go down… :S

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