On our first trip to Iceland, visiting the Blue Lagoon was on our bucket list. Apart from that, we didn’t know much about where we should stay. In one of my endless Instagram doom scrolls, I happened across a reel about staying at the Retreat Hotel while visiting the Blue Lagoon and I was sold (my wallet shuddered). A 20-minute drive from the Keflavik international airport, the Retreat Hotel is part of the Blue Lagoon and is a 60-suite luxury resort that has a spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. The property looked stunning and since the Blue Lagoon was on our bucket list, we decided that staying at the Retreat Hotel would be the splurge of our trip. The main lesson learned from this plan was that when you start your trip with the most luxurious accommodations, you get spoiled real fast and every hotel that follows is quite the letdown. “Where are the assortment of smoked fish and pastries?” I would fume at our next hotel’s breakfast as I scanned the buffet of congealing cheese slices and rock-hard boiled eggs. “This juice is not freshly squeezed” Jason would sigh, resigned as he poured himself a glass of something from concentrate. I digress.

1. Luxurious suites that have stunning views.

Both of our jaws dropped open when we walked into our Lagoon View Junior Suite King at the Retreat Hotel. It was stunning. The suite has a modern design and includes amenities like a complimentary minibar that is restocked daily with a variety of beverages (alcohol and non-alcoholic) and snacks. You get bathrobes and slippers and you’re encouraged to walk around the property in your robes (most people come to breakfast in them, we did). There is shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower and you get a little Blue Lagoon skincare gift waiting for you in the room, which was a fun touch and a great way to sample the Blue Lagoon line of products. More on that later. The views are incredible. Take a look…

2. Access to a private lagoon, with its own swim up bar, that is only open to Retreat Hotel or spa guests.

The private lagoon at the Retreat Hotel has multiple pools to explore and we had the area all to ourselves one evening, which felt like you were in the Blue Lagoon all by yourself. No personal photography is allowed and we learned that the hard way after Jason took the below photo and a security guard popped out of somewhere to tell us cameras are not allowed. Oops.

Instead, a staff member is available to take your photo during the day – they are literally in their swim gear in the pool and take multiple photos and email them to you. They also have the famous silica masks at the ready so you can have a photo with one of the masks on.

Speaking of the masks, you must try them through either the Signature Mask series in the public Blue Lagoon (video below) or by going through The Ritual in the spa. The Signature Mask series is focused on the face and neck while The Ritual is a full body experience. Both of these experiences are great for the skin since the Blue Lagoon’s geothermal waters are rich in silica and algae. Silica helps with eczema, acne, and psoriasis, and strengthens the skin’s barrier. Algae accelerates collagen production. In the Signature Mask series, you can try the four different masks available – Lava Scrub Mask, Silica Mud Mask, Algae Mask, and Mineral Mask. Retreat Hotel guests (and spa guests) have the added perk of doing The Ritual in the spa instead of with the masses in the public Blue Lagoon section, which gets crowded, but is still very fun. Jason and I did both. Since you can’t take your phone into the spa, we only have a video of the public Signature Mask series.

In addition to the masks, the in-water treatments are a unique part of the Blue Lagoon spa experience. You get a massage while floating in a private section of the Blue Lagoon. I tried the 120-minute Signature Massage. It starts with a salt body scrub, followed by a silica or algae body wrap, and ends with a massage. While I’m glad I tried it because I’ve never done an in-water treatment, I don’t think I would do it again. Wrapped up in a giant plastic bag, steaming inside, I floated around the lagoon like a bag of seafood boil.

3. Delicious breakfast spread and The Library bar.

The breakfast options at The Retreat Hotel are *chef’s kiss*. From the fresh-squeezed juices to the assortment of pastries and cheeses and smoked fish, to the a la carte menu that you can customize to your preference, these were the best breakfasts we had in Iceland. I was so busy stuffing my face, that I didn’t take any photos or videos.

The Library is a lounge area where you can pour yourself an after-dinner libation from their selection of drinks on the honor system. It’s such a fun touch and great way to sample local liquors.

We poured Jökla cream liquor over Rökvvi espresso liquor on ice and this became our go-to after-dinner tipple. We liked it so much, that we stocked up on Jökla cream liquor at the duty free airport shop on our way home. We didn’t have room for the Rökvvi, sadly, as we had to prioritize the local Icelandic gin to bring home (these were very serious deliberations).

4. Chance to see the northern lights.

I didn’t think we would see the northern lights at the Blue Lagoon so I was pleasantly surprised when we caught the auroras on our first night and were treated to a beautiful light show.

5. It may not be around much longer.

The Blue Lagoon and The Retreat Hotel are a few miles from an active volcano that just erupted for the 7th time this year. We were able to visit the Blue Lagoon and stay at The Retreat Hotel days before it was evacuated following the November 20th volcanic eruption in Grindavik. It just reopened and who knows when the next eruption will be, so if this is on your list, book your trip! We started our trip by staying at The Retreat Hotel and were spoiled by it so I think it would be a great way to end a trip to Iceland. Or to hell with saving money, do both! 😆

Key Essentials to Bring to The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon’s geothermal waters are great for the skin but can be super damaging and drying for the hair since the waters contains high concentrations of silica, magnesium, and sulfur. I would cover my hair in conditioner or hair oil before going in. Also, because we went in November, the weather was cold, dry, and windy and chapped lips and skin was a challenge. I would slather myself in all the lotions and potions. Nivea and Aquaphor were my friends on this trip. I curated an Amazon list of the most useful items that I used while visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, especially for face, body, and hair moisturization.

Souvenirs That We Bought

You can purchase Blue Lagoon skincare online but we brought home sets of travel-sized Blue Lagoon Signature Mask Series. I fell in love with their body oil and would basically bathe in it after getting out of the lagoon. And I brought back their signature scented candle, which makes me feel like I’m back in the spa. All three of these are included in my Amazon list.

• Facebook
• X