Is the Blue Lagoon In-Water Massage Worth It? My Honest Experience

When it was time for my massage, I made my way through the lagoon toward the far right corner.

There’s a small bridge where you wait until your masseuse is ready.

The massage area felt more tucked away than I expected and is only accessible if you’ve booked a treatment, which made it feel a lot more private.

I was a little worried it might feel awkward or exposed, but it really didn’t. There were only a handful of other people getting massages at the same time, and the whole area felt calm and relaxed.

Before my session started, I climbed onto a floating blue raft, kind of like the ones you use in a pool, and rested my head on a surprisingly comfortable pillow. Once I was in position, my masseuse gently draped a super soft blanket over me.

They placed a towel over my eyes to block out the light, and then it was just… stillness.

For the next 30 minutes, I just floated while my muscles were slowly worked on with mineral massage oil.

The combination of the warm water, the gentle movement, and the massage itself put me into this almost trance-like state.

It felt like being suspended, completely weightless and relaxed. Time moved fast. Before I knew it, it was over.

What I appreciated most was that it didn’t feel rushed at the end. Instead of immediately moving me off for the next person, my masseuse slowly guided me to the side and let me rest there for a bit longer.

I had a flight later that evening, and looking back, this was probably the best possible way to start a long travel day.

One thing to know though, this isn’t a deep tissue or intense massage. If you’re used to something like a Thai massage where you walk out a little sore but feel amazing after, this is not that.

This is much more about relaxation than working out knots.

And for that, it’s completely worth it.

In-Water Bar

Before or after your massage, there’s plenty of time to just enjoy the lagoon.

Even with a lot of people around, it never felt overcrowded. It was actually pretty easy to drift off and find a quiet corner to relax for a bit.

My husband and I stopped at the in-water bar before my massage and grabbed a Prosecco and a skyr smoothie, which I’m really glad we did. If you’re not familiar with skyr, I break it down in my guide to must-try foods in Iceland!

You also don’t need to worry about bringing cash or a card into the water. Everything is linked to an electronic wristband, so you can order whatever you want without thinking about it.

Mask Bar

I had about an hour and a half before my massage, so we took our time enjoying the lagoon.

We stopped at the Mask Bar and tried the silica mud masks, which quickly turned into us attempting to give each other facials.

Messy, but fun, and my skin actually felt softer afterward.

Of course, you’ll want to take a few photos.

I brought my iPhone into the lagoon to grab some quick pictures and videos, then put it back in the locker for the rest of the time.

I wasn’t totally sure how the silica would affect it, so I used a waterproof case that I normally bring for snorkeling, just to be safe.

It’s one of those small things that ended up being really worth packing. I included it in my Iceland summer packing list along with a few other items I was glad I didn’t skip.

Wait, prepare for a massage?

Yes, there are a few things to know before your 60 minutes of relaxation.

Pre-Treat Your Hair

The Blue Lagoon is filled with geothermal seawater, about 70% ocean and 30% freshwater, enriched with silica, algae, and other minerals. It’s naturally renewed every 40 hours, so no chlorine needed.

The water is great for your skin. Silica is known to help with collagen and elasticity, which is a nice bonus.

Your hair, on the other hand, is a different story.

If you dunk your head in that milky blue water, be prepared for your hair to feel extremely stiff and dry. Silica will do that.

The lagoon provides conditioner in the showers and recommends applying it before getting in. I did that.

It didn’t really help.

My hair still felt stiff and kind of crunchy for a couple of days after.

If I were to do it again, I’d rinse my hair first and really coat it with my own leave-in conditioner before getting in the water.

After the massage, I’d wash it thoroughly and follow up with something like Olaplex No. 3, then add more leave-in conditioner.

I wish I had brought it with me. I’ve used it after snorkeling before and it works really well, so I’m pretty confident it would’ve helped in this situation too.

They also recommend wearing a swim cap. I didn’t, but it’s probably a good idea.

Ditch the Jewelry

The lagoon water can be rough on jewelry because of the minerals, algae, and silica.

And realistically, the last place you want to lose something is at the bottom of the lagoon.

Hydrate Before & After

The water temperature usually sits between 98 and 104°F, so you’ll start to feel it after a while.

Add in a couple of Proseccos from the in-water bar, and it’s easy to get dehydrated without realizing it.

Massages don’t help either. As your muscles are worked, your body can lose fluids, which can leave you feeling a little off if you’re not paying attention.

So drink water before and after your massage.

The nice part is you don’t even have to leave the lagoon to do it. There are water fountains right in the water, so it’s easy to stay on top of it.

When you book your Blue Lagoon day visit, you’ll have the option to add an in-water massage.

You can choose between 30, 60, or 120 minutes, then select your time slot.

That’s all there is to it.

I went with the 30-minute massage, and it went by way too fast. Looking back, 60 minutes would have been the better choice.

These spots fill up quickly, so it’s worth booking your massage as early as possible.

In the summer, you’ll enjoy the Midnight Sun, and in the winter, there’s always a chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

Our Blue Lagoon entry was at 1 pm, and I scheduled my massage for 2:30 pm. It worked out well and gave us time to enjoy the lagoon before and after.

I’d plan for about three hours total to fully enjoy the Blue Lagoon and the in-water massage without feeling rushed.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the in-water massage pricing:

• 30-minute relaxing massage: $168 USD
• 60-minute relaxing massage: $232 USD
• 120-minute signature massage: $425 USD

Just keep in mind, this is in addition to the cost of your Blue Lagoon day pass.

There are three entry options to choose from, comfort, premium, and signature.

I’ll break down what’s included in each below so you can decide what makes the most sense for your visit.

The Comfort package ended up being the right choice for us.

It includes a towel, a silica mud mask, and one drink, which was really all we needed. Since I had booked the in-water massage, I was also given a bathrobe.

We weren’t planning to eat at Lava Restaurant, so upgrading didn’t feel necessary.

The Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes from the airport and roughly 50 minutes from Reykjavik, which makes it an easy stop no matter how you plan your trip.

I’d strongly recommend renting a car. It gives you a lot more flexibility, especially if you’re trying to fit multiple stops into a short itinerary.

We used Blue Car Rental and had a really smooth experience.

For our stay, we based ourselves in Reykjavik at the Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton.

It’s right in the heart of downtown (next to my favorite Iceland bar!) and ended up being a great location for exploring the city.

It also worked perfectly as a base for visiting the Blue Lagoon as a day trip.

f you’re deciding where to stay, I share more options in my guide to the best boutique hotels in Iceland.

→   Pre-book your massage early. Time slots fill up quickly.

→   Pre-treat your hair before getting in the water, and skip wearing jewelry.

→   Go with the Comfort package and a 60-minute in-water massage. It’s the best value.

→   Plan for about three hours to fully enjoy the lagoon and your massage.

→   Don’t skip the skyr smoothie and mud mask. It’s part of the experience.

Yes, the Blue Lagoon is touristy, but there’s a reason for that.

It’s fun, it’s relaxing, and if you go in with the right expectations, it’s easy to enjoy. There’s more space than you’d think, and it wasn’t hard to find a quiet corner to just hang out in the warm, milky blue water.

Honestly, it felt like a really nice reset after a few days of being constantly on the move. We had just come off hikes around Svartifoss and Reykjadalur Hot Springs, so slowing down and just floating for a while hit at the perfect time.

Take advantage of what’s included, especially the mud mask and the in-water drinks. And if you’re considering the massage, go for it, just know it’s more about relaxing than working out deep tension.

If you’re looking for more can’t-miss stops, check out my guide to my 19 favorite experiences in Iceland!

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Questions about the Blue Lagoon in-water massage experience?

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