Blue Lagoon: Retreat Spa Experience & Private Changing Suite

The best part of the Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa is the quiet private lagoon, where you can soak in the same warm blue geothermal water as the main lagoon without its larger crowds. The spa is built into the lava, with a sauna, steam cave, fireplace, cold plunge, relaxation spaces, and a viewing deck.

I like the private changing suite, which gives you a calm place to prepare and dry off. I also like the Blue Lagoon Ritual, a self-guided treatment using salt, silica mud, algae, and nourishing oil. The main drawback is the price: $724 for two people is a serious splurge, and food is extra.

Key points at a glance

• Private Retreat Lagoon: Soak in warm geothermal water away from the main bathing area.
• Five-hour visit: There is enough time to move slowly between the water, saunas, treatment ritual, and rest areas.
• Private suite for two: Towels, robes, flip-flops, a large shower, and Blue Lagoon skincare products are provided.
• Blue Lagoon Ritual: Apply salt, silica, algae, and face and body oil in a set sequence.
• Public lagoon access: Enter the main Blue Lagoon area through a private spa entrance after enjoying the Retreat.
• No phones or cameras: Staff can take a lagoon photo for you and email it later.

A quieter way to experience the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is famous for its milky-blue geothermal water and black volcanic surroundings. The Retreat Spa gives you a more private version of that experience, with five hours to use a secluded lagoon and a series of indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces.

The setting matters. Rather than feeling like a basic swimming pool, the spa is carved into lava rock. Dark stone, warm water, steam, fire, and wide views of the mineral-rich surroundings create a strong sense of place. You are not simply stopping for a quick soak. You are paying for time, privacy, and a slower pace.

This package is designed for two people. It works especially well for couples, close friends, or anyone who wants a special Iceland stop without sharing every part of the experience with a large group.

The package has a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 40 ratings, and the most direct praise is simple: it is described as a wonderful experience. That matches the main appeal here. The Retreat is less about a packed schedule and more about giving you room to relax.

Arriving from Keflavik Airport or Reykjavik

The Blue Lagoon sits on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, making it easy to pair with an airport transfer day. By car, the spa is about 20 minutes from Keflavik Airport and about 50 minutes from Reykjavik.

If you drive, follow the signs for The Retreat rather than stopping at the regular public entrance. Day visitors using The Retreat have free parking. That detail is useful if you are renting a car and planning the spa before a flight or soon after landing.

You can also arrive by bus. When the bus reaches the Blue Lagoon, leave with the other passengers and walk to the Luggage House. An attendant there can call the shuttle to The Retreat.

The route is practical, but give yourself enough time to reach the correct entrance. The Retreat and the main Blue Lagoon area are part of the same complex, yet the spa has its own arrival process. If you have luggage, staff can help store it.

The experience is wheelchair accessible. The minimum age is 12, and anyone under 18 must be with a parent or legal guardian. Children under 12 cannot use the spa.

Check-in and your private changing suite

Your visit begins with check-in and a briefing about the spa. Staff explain how the area works and how to get the most from the available facilities, then show you to your private changing suite.

The suite is one of the clearest reasons to consider this package instead of a basic Blue Lagoon admission. You do not need to hunt for an open locker or change beside strangers. You have a private space for two, with a large shower and a dry area.

The following items are provided:

• Towels
• Bathrobes
• Flip-flops
• Blue Lagoon skincare amenities

You need to bring your own swimwear. Food is not included, and swimwear is not supplied, so pack accordingly.

The private suite also helps with the rhythm of a five-hour visit. You can leave your robe and belongings in one place, shower when needed, and take breaks without treating the whole experience like a quick public pool visit.

The Retreat Lagoon, made for lingering

I would begin with the Retreat Lagoon. It contains the same blue geothermal water as the main Blue Lagoon, but the mood is more intimate. That difference is the heart of the package.

You can order a drink while soaking and take in the quiet around you. The experience is not built around swimming laps or a long list of activities. It is about staying warm, looking across the water and lava, and letting the pace drop.

Five hours gives you an advantage here. You do not have to squeeze the lagoon, ritual, sauna, meal, and public area into a short visit. You can spend time in the water, leave for a rest, return later, and avoid the feeling that you are checking boxes.

The drink of your choice is included. The information provided does not specify the full drink menu, so ask at the spa when you arrive. If you want a meal, plan to pay separately at the Spa Restaurant.

The private lagoon is not completely isolated from the rest of Iceland. You are still at a working spa complex, and the main Blue Lagoon is available during your visit. But the Retreat Lagoon offers the privacy that makes the higher price meaningful.

Sauna, steam cave, fire, and the cold plunge

The Retreat Spa gives you several ways to warm up or cool down between periods in the lagoon.

The sauna is a natural companion to the geothermal water. The steam cave offers a softer, more humid break, while the fireplace adds a dry, cozy place to sit. There is also a nesting area for quiet rest, a refreshment area, and a panoramic viewing deck.

The cold plunge well may appeal to you if you enjoy alternating heat and cold. It is not a required part of the visit, and you can simply use the warm lagoon, steam cave, and rest areas at your own pace.

This variety helps the five-hour duration feel justified. A shorter admission might be enough if you only want to sit in warm water. Here, the indoor spaces give you reasons to leave the lagoon without ending the experience.

The viewing deck is another useful pause. After spending time in steam or warm water, stepping out to look across the volcanic setting gives the visit some contrast. Iceland’s weather can change quickly, so bring a robe outdoors and follow staff guidance.

The Blue Lagoon Ritual, step by step

The Blue Lagoon Ritual is the main treatment included in the package. It is self-applied, so do not expect a private therapist or a hands-on massage. Instead, you move through a sequence using the lagoon’s familiar ingredients: salt, silica, algae, and minerals.

The treatment includes:

1. A salt scrub
2. The Blue Lagoon Silica Mud Mask
3. An algae mask
4. Blue Lagoon face and body oil

The salt scrub begins the process with a more vigorous feel. Apply it as directed, then move on to the silica mud mask. Silica is the ingredient most closely associated with the Blue Lagoon, and the pale mud gives the ritual its most recognizable step.

The algae mask follows. It is intended as a more nourishing part of the treatment, while the face and body oil finishes the cycle. Since you apply everything yourself, you control the pace and can be careful around sensitive areas.

I like this format because it lets you use the products without adding another appointment to your schedule. You can treat it as a playful spa ritual rather than a formal beauty treatment.

The limitation is just as clear: if you want expert skin advice, a massage, or someone to perform the treatment for you, this package does not promise those services. The Blue Lagoon Ritual is a self-guided cycle.

Using the main Blue Lagoon area

The Retreat Spa includes access to the public Blue Lagoon area through a private entrance. This gives you a chance to see the larger, more familiar side of the complex after enjoying the quieter Retreat.

That access adds value, especially if this is your only Blue Lagoon visit. The main area has a different feel from the Retreat Lagoon, and you can decide how much time to spend there. Some people may prefer the private lagoon almost entirely, while others will want to experience both.

The private entrance is a useful touch. You do not have to leave the Retreat and start over at the public check-in area. The package lets you move between the two parts of the complex as part of one spa visit.

Still, keep your expectations clear. Public-area access does not turn the whole Blue Lagoon into a private experience. If complete quiet is your priority, stay focused on the Retreat spaces.

Eating at the Spa Restaurant

Food is not included, but the Spa Restaurant is available before, during, or after your spa time. Its seasonal menu focuses on light meals made with fresh local ingredients.

The restaurant looks over the mineral-rich waters and old lava, so the setting is part of the meal. You do not need a reservation, which makes it easy to decide based on your appetite and the timing of your visit.

I would use the restaurant as a flexible break rather than building the entire day around it. You can eat before the ritual, take a meal in the middle of the five hours, or finish with food after changing.

Because the price already reaches $724 for two, remember that lunch or dinner increases the total. The package includes one drink per person, but not additional drinks or food. If you are watching costs, eat before arriving and use the included drink during the lagoon portion.

The no-phone rule is part of the experience

Electronic devices and cameras are not allowed inside the Retreat Spa. That includes phones, so you will not be checking messages or taking your own pictures from the water.

For some people, this is a drawback. The Blue Lagoon is a highly photographed Iceland stop, and you may want proof of the blue water, lava walls, and robe-clad spa day. The rule means you need to accept that the memory comes first and the photos come later.

There is a practical solution. If you want a picture in the Retreat Lagoon, staff can take one for you and email it afterward. You do not control every detail of the photo, but you can leave your phone safely stored and still receive a keepsake.

The ban also helps protect the tone of the Retreat. The space is meant to be free from modern distractions. If you find constant camera use tiring, this may feel like a relief. If you need to stay connected, it may frustrate you.

Is five hours long enough, or too long?

Five hours is generous for a spa visit. That is good news if you prefer a slow day, but it may feel excessive if you only want a short soak.

A sensible rhythm could be:

• Check in and settle into the private suite
• Start in the Retreat Lagoon with your included drink
• Try the sauna, steam cave, fireplace, or cold plunge
• Complete the Blue Lagoon Ritual
• Rest in the nesting area or use the viewing deck
• Eat at the Spa Restaurant if desired
• Visit the public Blue Lagoon area
• Return to the private suite to shower and change

You do not have to follow that order. The strength of the package is freedom from a strict tour schedule. Staff provide the opening briefing, but the rest is yours.

Five hours also makes the experience easier to pair with travel. It can work as a major half-day activity from Reykjavik or as a planned stop near Keflavik Airport. Do not make your timing too tight around a flight, since the package is designed to be enjoyed slowly and airport traffic or road conditions can change.

Is $724 for two people good value?

At $724 per group of up to two, this is one of Iceland’s luxury splurges. The number is easier to understand when you break down what you receive: five hours, a private changing suite, access to the Retreat Lagoon, use of several spa areas, the Blue Lagoon Ritual, one drink, skincare products, and access to the main Blue Lagoon.

The private suite and quiet lagoon are the strongest value points. If you would be happy with a towel, a locker, and a short soak, the public Blue Lagoon is likely the better financial choice. If privacy and time matter, the Retreat package offers something the standard visit cannot fully match.

Food is extra, and so are any additional drinks. That does not make the package poor value, but you should budget for the full outing rather than treating $724 as the final cost.

I would book it for a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, or final Iceland holiday treat. I would hesitate if you are traveling on a tight budget, have limited time, or mainly want to photograph the lagoon.

Who should book the Retreat Spa?

This experience suits you best if you:

• Want a special two-person spa day
• Prefer quieter surroundings to a busy public bathing area
• Value a private changing room
• Enjoy self-guided skincare rituals
• Have five hours available
• Are comfortable leaving your phone and camera behind
• Can afford a luxury add-on to your Iceland trip

It is less suitable for families with young children because the minimum age is 12. It is also not the right pick if you want a massage, a therapist-led treatment, or included dining.

The private group format keeps the experience focused on up to two people. That is useful for couples, but it also means the price is not spread across a larger party.

My booking advice

Book the Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa if the point of your Iceland day is privacy, quiet, and plenty of time in a volcanic setting. The Retreat Lagoon, private suite, and Blue Lagoon Ritual give you more than a basic soak, while public-area access lets you see the larger complex too.

Skip it if $724 feels uncomfortable, since the public Blue Lagoon can meet the basic need for geothermal water at a lower cost. Also skip it if you cannot go five hours without electronic devices.

For the right pair, this is a polished, calm splurge with a clear strength: it turns the Blue Lagoon from a quick Iceland stop into a full half-day retreat.

FAQ

Where is the Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa located?

It is on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, about 20 minutes by car from Keflavik Airport and about 50 minutes from Reykjavik.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts five hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $724 for a private group of up to two people.

Is the private changing suite included?

Yes. The package includes a private changing suite for up to two people, with a large shower and dry area.

What is provided in the changing suite?

Towels, bathrobes, flip-flops, and Blue Lagoon skincare amenities are provided.

Is swimwear included?

No. You need to bring your own swimwear.

What does the Blue Lagoon Ritual include?

It includes a salt scrub, a silica mud mask, an algae mask, and Blue Lagoon face and body oil. You apply the treatment yourself.

Can I use the main Blue Lagoon?

Yes. The package includes access to the public Blue Lagoon area through a private entrance from the spa.

Can I bring my phone or camera?

No. Cameras and electronic devices are not allowed in the Retreat Spa. Staff can take a photo for you in the Retreat Lagoon and email it to you.

Is the spa suitable for children?

The minimum age is 12. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and children under 12 are not permitted.