Help me figure out Blue Lagoon timing

Posted by eshrimps on 10/31/24 01:49 PM

After reading about all the other amazing hot springs, i think I have concluded that Blue Lagoon makes the most sense for this trip, and we will branch out on a future trip when we have more time. So, I'm trying to figure out when entry time would make the most sense for us. There are two scenarios (one with a rental car and one without).

Working backward:
Our flight is at 5PM (1700).
Sounds like we need to be at the airport by 2PM (1400)

1) With rental car: What time would we need to depart the Blue Lagoon to drop off our car and be at the terminal by 2PM?
2) Without rental car: same question, except I'm not sure what our airport transfer mode will be/how those timetables work. However we won't have to drop off a rental car.
3) When people say they spent 2-3 hours there, is that from arrival to departure (I'm trying to factor in getting dried off and changed etc.)
4) Besides driving time, is there anything I should be thinking about for time between checking out of our hotel and arriving at the Blue Lagoon?

Also any advice from folks who have Blue Lagooned and then gone straight to the airport with wet swimsuits etc...

Thanks!!

Posted by Ed

Houston, Texas

10/31/24 02:20 PM

1039 posts

The Blue Lagoon is about a 30 minute drive from Keflavik. The car rental agencies are mostly right across from the parking lot at the airport. I would plan on leaving the Blue Lagoon by 12:30 PM or so. Just pack the wet bathing suits in a plastic bag and go from there.

Posted by CL

Salem, Oregon, USA

10/31/24 02:43 PM

2821 posts

re #3: Weather could be a factor to consider if you're driving, but you really can't factor that in until much closer to your travel dates. If you don't drive, factor in some time to get your luggage in and out of storage lockers (the Blue Lagoon website says it's near the car park).

Posted by Plumeria54

Bainbridge Island, WA

10/31/24 03:17 PM

305 posts

Not sure when you're going, but check on the conditions and have a backup plan, perhaps going to Sky Lagoon instead. When we were there in late September, Blue Lagoon was closed due to emissions from the nearby volcano and we went to Sky Lagoon instead which was wonderful.

Posted by eshrimps OP

10/31/24 04:05 PM

24 posts

Thanks for the reminders. Clearly there are a million variables that could derail our plan. Which is why I don’t know about the rental car yet, I have a reservation that I’m going to cancel if the weather is bad. For now I’m just trying to figure what entry time would make the most sense and I’ll deal with Plan B when the time comes.

Posted by mikliz97

Snohomish, WA

10/31/24 04:24 PM

2799 posts

With a rental car it depends on whether you can easily walk over or need to take a shuttle. We have always rented with Blue so just walk about 2 minutes to their location. For many others, you need to take their shuttles. I would leave the BL by 1pm to get back to the airport and time for returning the car.

We have been to BL several times and usually spend about 2 hours total there. When we have gone, we do it the morning of the day we leave, so yes we have wet swimsuits with us. BL does not have a swimsuit spinner, so bring a plastic bag and then either dirty clothes around the suit to absorb any excess water, or bring a small towel for that.

Yes, you want the full 3 hours at KEF. It can be easy peasy, but it can also be total chaos. All flights to the US leave from the D gates, but the actual gate will not be announced until 45 minutes before departure. If you are flying on Icelandair, their app will give you the gate before they announce it on the boards at the airport. What we do, after learning the hard way, is go through security and then skip all the shops and restaurants after duty free and go straight to passport control and to the D gates. There are restaurants down there that you can sit and eat at, as well as more duty free shopping. When you are at the gate, know that most of the time you will be taken on a shuttle bus out to the plane, so keep your jacket with you vs in a packed bag.