Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Blue Lagoon—arguably Iceland’s most famous attraction—is tucked into a jagged volcanic landscape in the middle of nowhere, about a 45-minute drive south of downtown Reykjavík and not far from the international airport. People flock here from around the globe to soak, splash, and bob in the lagoon’s thermal and, yes, milky-blue waters. While many visitors consider the Blue Lagoon a must, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea--it’s pricey, crowded, time-consuming, and not ideal for small kids.
Reservations are required, and some slots sell out days in advance. (The bottleneck isn’t the lagoon itself, but the number of lockers.) The reservation requirement keeps the lagoon from getting too congested—even on the busiest days, you can find pockets of hot water where you can escape the tour groups.
Visit ricksteves.com for more information about this destination and other destinations in Europe.
*Check out more Rick Steves’ Europe travel resources:*
• “Rick Steves’ Europe” public television series: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show
• “Travel with Rick Steves” public radio program: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/radio
• European tours: ricksteves.com/tours
• Guidebooks: store.ricksteves.com/shop/guidebooks
• Travel gear: store.ricksteves.com/shop
• Travel classes: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/travel-talks
• Rick Steves Audio Europe app: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-europe
Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.
The Blue Lagoon—arguably Iceland’s most famous attraction—is tucked into a jagged volcanic landscape in the middle of nowhere, about a 45-minute drive south of downtown Reykjavík and not far from the international airport. People flock here from around the globe to soak, splash, and bob in the lagoon’s thermal and, yes, milky-blue waters. While many visitors consider the Blue Lagoon a must, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea--it’s pricey, crowded, time-consuming, and not ideal for small kids.
Reservations are required, and some slots sell out days in advance. (The bottleneck isn’t the lagoon itself, but the number of lockers.) The reservation requirement keeps the lagoon from getting too congested—even on the busiest days, you can find pockets of hot water where you can escape the tour groups.
Visit ricksteves.com for more information about this destination and other destinations in Europe.
*Check out more Rick Steves’ Europe travel resources:*
• “Rick Steves’ Europe” public television series: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show
• “Travel with Rick Steves” public radio program: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/radio
• European tours: ricksteves.com/tours
• Guidebooks: store.ricksteves.com/shop/guidebooks
• Travel gear: store.ricksteves.com/shop
• Travel classes: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/travel-talks
• Rick Steves Audio Europe app: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-europe
Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.
