Even if you don’t know much about Iceland, you’ve probably heard of the Blue Lagoon. It’s one of the country’s most popular destinations — with good reason.

After seeing other travelers’ photos of the dreamy blue lagoon water over the years, I couldn’t wait to get here myself. In fact, it’s the very first place I go upon picking up my rental car from the airport. The Blue Lagoon is located between the airport and capital city Reykjavik, so it’s especially convenient to visit either upon arrival or just before you depart the country… or both.

My flight lands around 4am and I decide to kill some time at the airport because everything in the country is closed at that hour. I pick up my rental car a little after 7am and pull into the Blue Lagoon parking lot by 8am. At that hour, there are only a few cars in the lot. I take this as a good sign I’ve avoided the crowds.

Follow the charcoal brick road… to the giant cloud of steam rising off the lagoon.

The entrance itself is lovely. I pause for a few photos before going inside.

It is important to pre-book tickets before arrival. They are often at capacity during peak hours and have to turn people away. Plus they charge 5 euros extra for walk-ins so you’ll save time and money by booking ahead. Admission during summer months is 50 euros per adult for the standard experience (it only costs 35 euros in winter months). For an extra 15 euros, you can upgrade to the comfort experience, which includes use of a towel, a drink, and a sample of skin care items. There are additional packages that include a meal at the Lava Restaurant, a massage, more skin care products, and use of the Exclusive Lounge, but if you’re looking to simply experience the Blue Lagoon for a few hours then the standard or comfort levels are a great choice.

Upon checking in, I head to the women’s locker room. Everyone is required to shower sans bathing suit before going into the lagoon, as enforced by cheerful but stern locker room attendants. Fair warning for prude Americans: most of the showers are open without a curtain or door for privacy. (This is the norm for showers at thermal baths around Iceland.) Embrace letting it go!

But first, I walk outside to snap photos of the lagoon with my DSLR camera. Here is the indoor lounge and bar / cafe, with hooks for towels.

I get a kick out of this — the main observation window is equipped with a wiper to clear off fog:

Helloooo Blue Lagoon!

Please note the obvious lack of people in the Blue Lagoon. This is rare! You have to arrive early to get this place to yourself. Within an hour there are lots more people, and within 2.5 hours the Lagoon is at capacity and they are turning people away at the front desk.

See the blue skies? This is also rare. Most days the sky in Iceland are overcast and cloudy. I feel super lucky to be here when the sun is out.

Off to the left side there are areas designed for lounging in the lagoon:

Check out the dramatic landscape in the distance. This place feels like Middle Earth… says the girl with no knowledge of Lord of the Rings.

I think there is a sauna behind that door — I don’t make it inside:

And here is a cave — another place I don’t go inside, but photograph from the boardwalk.

Okay, the lagoon is calling my name. Time to get in before the crowds arrive.

I go back to the locker rooms, take the mandatory naked shower, and get into my swimsuit. Let’s do this!

See that green wristband? It’s linked to my locker and credit card — with a swipe of my wrist, I can open my locker or pay for a beverage at the swim-up bar. So convenient.

With that, I stash my DSLR camera in a locker and venture back to the lagoon with my GoPro.

I should also mention that I put lots of conditioner (provided in the locker room) into my damp hair. The minerals in the lagoon are not good for hair so conditioner helps protect it, but even then my hair does not return to its normal texture for three days or so. In retrospect I wish I’d tied my hair back and left it out of the water the whole time. It’s not a big deal though.

But one thing IS a big deal — be sure to take out your contacts before going into the lagoon, or else be SUPER careful not to get water near your eyes. (Easier said than done because of the lagoon clay that guests put on their faces.) A friend emailed me before this trip to say that during her visit to the Blue Lagoon a tiny amount of water got into her eye and ruined her contact; luckily she had a back-up pair with her. This isn’t a big concern for me because I had Lasik surgery a few years ago, but guess what — some water does get into my eyes at the lagoon, and it stings for the last 30 minutes or so of my visit. I should have been more careful after what my friend told me. So that is my word of advice to future Iceland travelers!

There’s a waterfall guests can sit under — the pressure feels so good on my back and shoulders. Soaking here is the best cure for a red-eye flight from Boston to Reykjavik.

Perhaps you’ve heard about the famous clay mud here at the Blue Lagoon. There is a pot of it under this wooden platform, along with a ladle to scoop out clay for your face.

This sort of tradition always makes me feel a little silly (see: Milky Way Lagoon in Palau) but it’s fun to partake.

It’s starting to get more crowded…

Check out the swim-up bar:

I pick the blueberry smoothie, which is made with Iceland’s popular Skyr yogurt. Very refreshing to enjoy it in the warm water.

Drink in hand, I wander some more around the lagoon. I scope out hot spots near the mineral terraces, which are mostly around the perimeter but occasionally pop up inside the lagoon like this:

By now it’s really crowded. I’ve explored the whole place and taken all the photos I need, so I relax in an alcove towards the back of the lagoon and apply another face mask.

This is when it occurs to me that lagoon lounging is best done with company. As a solo traveler I’m content to do most activities by myself, but here it would be nice to chat with someone. There are no distractions in the form of cell phones, books, podcasts, etc. — and napping isn’t an option! — so talking is the most natural activity. Shortly after reaching this conclusion I hear a couple nearby mention they are from Connecticut, my home state. I swim over and introduce myself to the couple and the guy from Canada they’re chatting with, and we all converse for the next 40 minutes or so.

And before I know it, I’ve been here for nearly three hours.

I head back inside to shower and change. Before leaving, I come out once more with my DSLR camera.

And here’s GoPro footage of my Blue Lagoon experience:

Hope you have enjoyed this recap! The Blue Lagoon is a beautiful spot. Remember to arrive early to enjoy this place without crowds — it’s magical at that hour.

Many thanks to the Blue Lagoon for hosting my visit. Opinions are my own.