Going From Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon Is Not Difficult!
Let us guess – you want to visit Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon? Good idea! The famous geothermal waters and spa are an amazing place to visit for relaxation and taking in the Icelandic landscapes. That said, getting from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon is easy – but can be difficult if you’re unfamiliar with the area and the transfer options.
Luckily, that’s where we come in! Eric visited the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik during one of his trips to Iceland and it was definitely worth it. The best way to travel to the Blue Lagoon depends on a few things like your budget, timelines, and potentially the season you visit in. Many just look for the cheapest option – but that might not be the best option based on where you are staying!
So, to help make sense of this, we wrote this guide on the different transport options to get to the Blue Lagoon. From car, taxi, tour, or bus, we dive into the considerations for each. Eric went on a bus transfer which worked great – but we will get there down below!
If you are exploring Reykjavik (or more of Iceland, too), check out these other posts to help you trip plan:
Table of Contents
Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon By Car
One of the easiest ways to get to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik is by car. The Blue Lagoon is located about a 50-minute drive to the southwest of downtown Reykjavik. The driving distance is about 50 kilometres so not that far at all.
Interestingly enough, the Blue Lagoon is actually located closer to Keflavik Airport than Reykjavik (it’s between the two of them). This makes it a popular place for travellers to head to for a few hours between flights on an Iceland stopover!
Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon Self Drive
To get to the Blue Lagoon driving from Reykjavik you just head west along Highway 41 (which is THE main/most direct highway connecting Keflavik Airport with Reykjavik) and then turn onto Highway 43 to head due south to the Blue Lagoon. Basically follow the steam!
Drive south for a bit and then turn right onto 426 Bláa lónið – this leads you to the car park/main entrance and not towards the geothermal power plant.
Once you arrive, there is a large car park and parking is free so that’s always nice! You walk a small path (aka through a very cool lava field) to the actual Blue Lagoon entrance. Before you head inside, you can walk a few other little paths and snap photos of the beautiful water and landscape.
Assuming you don’t have your own car, renting a car in Iceland (at the airport or in Reykjavik) is easy to do given that the industry has been well developed over the tourism boom years.
Address: Norðurljósavegur 9, 240 Grindavík
Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon Rideshare
If you want to go by car but also want to a bit more eco-friendly, you might consider a rideshare. There is no Uber or Lyft in Iceland – but there is a local website called Samferda which you can post about a ride and coordinate yourself!
Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon Private Transfer
If you want to take the fuss out of getting to the Blue Lagoon yourself (or you are part of a larger group), you can always hire a private transfer. There are two main modes of private transfer: taxi or private company.
As a heads-up, taxis in Iceland are expensive (but then again so is everything else when you visit). One of the main taxi companies in Reykjavik is called Hreyfill and you can book in advance or download their app to book.
Aside from being a regular taxi company, they also do a number of pre-set tours/routes between top locations like the airport, waterfalls, and the Blue Lagoon. You can check out Hreyfill Taxi here. A taxi ride to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik (including return ride) for 1 to 4 people will cost around 225 USD (32,000 ISK) but this can vary so check the website before booking.
There are a few other taxi/private hire companies you can choose from, too. You might consider Private Hire Iceland which is well-regarded for their quality and services. You can book them for a transfer to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik.
Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon Shuttle Bus
Another very popular way to get to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik is on a shuttle bus. This is what Eric and his buddy did and it worked great. The shuttle bus also ends up being much cheaper than a private car or taxi. These days, there are a number of companies you can book with to get you there and back.
For the shuttle bus option, there are three things to keep in mind:
- Some bus transfers are JUST bus transfers and you then have to buy your admission ticket to the Blue Lagoon separate (strongly recommended to be booked in advance).
- Depending on the company, most offer shuttle services right from downtown Reykjavik (often right from your accommodation) BUT some charge for this extra pick up while others include it in the whole transfer price.
- Along with Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon, many of these companies shuttle you to/between the airport (KEF – Keflavik), too. So keep that in mind if you are not returning to Reykjavik and are heading for the Blue Lagoon on your way to catch a flight, for example.
Blue Lagoon Transfer with Reykjavik Excursions
Eric went with Reykjavik Excursions which provides a reliable and very full timetable of leaving times/returning times that you can just book in advance and hop on. They leave from the BSI Bus Terminal which is a short walk south of the massive church (Hallgrimskirkja).
However, if you want to be picked up from your accommodation or closest bus stop, they charge you for the extra mini-shuttle to then bring you to the BSI Terminal (to get on a larger bus to head to the Lagoon).
Address of BSÍ Bus Terminal: Vatnsmyrarvegur 10, Reykjavik
Blue Lagoon Transfer with Destination Blue Lagoon
Another great option is to go with Destination Blue Lagoon who is the official transport partner of the Blue Lagoon. This company is different in the fact that they leave from a different terminal close to BSI Bus Terminal BUT the mini-transfer from your accommodation to the terminal is INCLUDED in the price.
>> Book a Blue Lagoon Transfer with Destination Blue Lagoon here
Keep in mind this transfer is great but doesn’t include Blue Lagoon Admission costs. You can purchase this type of combo ticket from their official website.
Address of Destination Blue Lagoon Terminal: Skógarhlíð 10, 105 Reykjavik
If you want to visit the soothing waters more in the evening, this combo ticket includes a round-trip Blue Lagoon transfer from Reykjavik (from your accommodation) and the cost of the entrance ticket.
Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon Tours
Of course, if you are visiting Iceland and are short on time or just willing to let your day be completely taken care of, a guided tour that includes visiting the Blue Lagoon might be for you!
There are a number of great tours to choose from – many of which take you around the famous Golden Circle (which Eric did and it was amazing) and then also bring you to relax in the Blue Lagoon at the end of the day!
Taking a tour to the Blue Lagoon can be a smart option for two main reasons:
- Logistically, if you only have limited time in Iceland (like on a stopover flight) and want to see the main sights, you don’t have time to waste figuring out directions, admission tickets, and car rentals.
- Financially, when you begin to add up all these smaller individual transport costs to get to the Lagoon and back and then add in admission tickets, a guided tour that includes the Golden Circle can become a money-saving option for a level of enjoyment and convenience you can’t put together on your own. Not to mention you get a guide who can tell you things along the way!
So, definitely consider a tour that combines visiting the Blue Lagoon with other top sights along the popular route like Gullfoss Waterfall, Strokkur Geyser, and Þingvellir National Park. Many of the top ones also include pick up from your accommodation in Reykjavik so you just have to dress for the weather, pack right, and be on time to be picked up.
Once again, remember that there are two kinds of Golden Circle/Blue Lagoon Combo tours: ones that do not include Blue Lagoon entrance costs and some that do include Blue Lagoon Admission costs. Be sure to read up and book the one that is right for you!
The following two Blue Lagoon/Golden Circle Tours do not include Blue Lagoon admission ticket prices and you need to book that yourself:
- For a very popular round-trip Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik with the Blue Lagoon transfer, check out this tour here.
- For another Golden Circle Tour with Blue Lagoon Transfer included, you can also check out this tour option here.
Finally, here are some Golden Circle/Blue Lagoon Tours that do include the Blue Lagoon Entrance Ticket! Basically your whole day is taken care of if you were to book this option:
- For a Top-Rated Small Group Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik with Blue Lagoon Admission (and Kerid Crater), check out this tour option here.
- For another complete Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik with Blue Lagoon Admission Ticket, explore this tour option here.
And there you have it – a pretty detailed guide on how to get from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon! In the end, you have a number of great options to get to this top attraction in Iceland. We’d say it is definitely worth experiencing once in your life so be sure to visit when you head for Iceland!
As always, Happy Blue Lagoon Waddlin’,
– L&E
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