7 Tips for Visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon in Winter

The first question you might be asking yourself is, “Is the Blue Lagoon of Iceland open in winter?” and the answer to that is that not only is it open, but it’s INCREDIBLE during winter. There’s something absolutely magical about all the snow on the ground creating a sea of white, with this amazing, milky blue water pooling in the middle with this mesmerizing steam floating above it all. The Blue Lagoon is magic all on its own, but it’s extra special to visit during the winter because of how extra warm and cozy it feels in comparison to the cold air. Though it has all of these wonderful characteristics, visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon during winter comes with its own specific considerations you should know before you go to ensure you have the best possible time. So knowing that, here’s my list of 7 tips to help you enjoy winter in the Blue Lagoon to the fullest!

The Short Version of Tips for the Blue Lagoon in Winter

1. The water is warm & you’ll be warm, but certain parts of your body will get cold so prepare for those
2. Douse your hair in conditioner before entering & don’t get it wet in the water so it doesn’t get damaged by all the silica
3. Bring a waterproof bag for your phone
4. Bring a lens to clear the steam for your camera/phone
5. Upgrade to Premium package
6. If driving, leave early
7. Book your time around sunrise or sunset

The Long Version of My 7 Top Tips for Visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon During Winter

1 – You Will Stay Warm Overall, But Random Parts of Your Body Will Get Cold

The water in the Blue Lagoon is a super comfortable, warm temperature that you will definitely stay comfortable in. However, because of the cold air temperature, any part of your body that isn’t underwater will get chilly at points.

If you’re enjoying any drinks from the bar, your hands will get cold holding the drink out of the water. Also, somewhat strangely, if you’re drinking anything room-temperature (such as red wine) it will start to get cold due to the brisk winter air. So if your hand starts to get cold holding your beverage, hang out around the edge and put your drink on it so you don’t have to hold it in the cold and you can warm your hands in the water.

Additionally, because you’re not supposed to put your hair in the water of the Blue Lagoon, your ears will get really cold over time being out of the duration of your Blue Lagoon winter visit. What I did to keep warm was simply hold a hand underwater to warm it up, then put said hand up over my ears to thaw them out for a few seconds. So if cold ears are something super unpleasant for you, you could consider bringing some ear muffs or wearing a hat that you aren’t worried about getting hair conditioner on.

2 – Douse Your Hair in All the Conditioner to Save Your Hair But Also So It Doesn’t Freeze

You’re going to be told to put conditioner in your hair and keep from putting it underwater at all because it will damage your hair, and that is true. But also, make sure to use PLENTY because it could help prevent stray, wet strands from freezing.

3 – Bring a Waterproof Bag for Your Phone

Carrying a phone around the Blue Lagoon during winter without some sort of waterproof bag guarantees you having a super cold hand during your experience. So what I highly recommend, if you’re planning on bringing your phone into the lagoon to take photos, is to bring a waterproof bag for your phone that you can wear around your neck.

The absolute biggest mistake I made while spending a beautiful Iceland winter day at the Blue Lagoon was that I forgot my waterproof phone bag. So I was having to hold my phone out of the water and my hands just kept getting so cold. Other people were less forgetful and brought their waterproof phone bag and their hands were kept much, much warmer.

So, long story short, don’t forget your waterproof phone bag so that your hands keep warm during your time at the Blue Lagoon.

4 – If Bringing Your Phone or Camera, Also Bring a Lens Wipe to Clear the Steam

This is another phone (or camera)-related tip but, an important one especially if you want to take photos! The hot water hitting the cold air ends up in a ton of steam, so if you’re taking photos from within the water at all, you’re going to need a lens wipe to clean the steam off.

I did not bring my camera into the Blue Lagoon, simply because the combination of winter Iceland air and hot spring steam was bound to fog up my lens. I did however bring my phone in, and I wished I had had a lens wipe with me to consistently wipe it off because it just kept getting a little bit steamy.

So, I highly recommend putting a lens wipe into the waterproof bag I previously mentioned so you can clean it off when needed.

Related: Iceland Winter Packing List

5 – Upgrade Your Blue Lagoon Booking to the Premium Package

A day at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, no matter what level package you book, is going to be amazing. But I highly recommend booking at least the Premium package because you get to skip the long line to check in AND you also get a robe.

The robe itself keeps you super warm before you get in and after you get out, and skipping the check-in line means you aren’t waiting in the cold Iceland winter air for longer.

6 – If Driving, Leave Early 

Because winter Iceland weather can be crazy, I highly recommend you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of drive time to get to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is located about 45 minutes away from Reykjavik, so if driving from there I would plan on at least an hour to drive because of potentially dicey winter roads.

Still looking for a hotel in Reykjavik? Check out these options:

Booking.com

7 – Book Your Blue Lagoon Reservation Timing to Include Sunrise or Sunset

The daylight hours may be shorter during winter in Iceland, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the Blue Lagoon to the fullest. One of my absolute favorite things about visiting Iceland during winter was the beautiful lighting. So, make sure to reserve your spot so that you can enjoy either sunrise or sunset – or both, if you want to make a day of it! There’s something spectacular about soaking in the milky water of the lagoon, surrounded by inches or feet of bright white snow, and the sky exploding in pinks and oranges. It’s a truly magical experience you won’t forget!

You can definitely book your tickets through the Blue Lagoon website, but if you want to tack on the Blue Lagoon to a larger day tour, check out these options on GetYourGuide:

So there you go, my top 7 tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland during winter! As always, if you have any questions please reach out. And in the meantime, feel free to check out my Iceland story highlights and my Iceland playlist on TikTok.

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