Blue Lagoon: Retreat Spa Experience & Private Changing Suite

Silence is part of the treatment. The Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula gives two people five hours in a volcanic sanctuary, with a private changing suite and access to the quieter Retreat Lagoon. I like the peaceful, crowd-free setting and the carefully paced Blue Lagoon Ritual, which uses silica, algae, salt, and nourishing oils. The main drawback is the price: $724 for two is a serious splurge, especially since food and swimwear cost extra.

I also like that you can move between the private Retreat Spa and the main Blue Lagoon through a private entrance. The sauna, steam cave, fireplace, viewing deck, cold plunge well, and refreshment area give you more to do than simply sit in warm water. If you want a quick dip or a family outing, this is not the right choice. The minimum age is 12, and anyone under 18 must come with a parent or legal guardian.

Key points to know before booking

• Five hours for up to two people: The price is $724 per group, making this a couples-focused treat rather than a casual spa visit.
• Private changing suite: You get your own suite with a large shower, dry area, towels, bathrobes, flip-flops, and Blue Lagoon skincare products.
• Retreat Lagoon access: The private lagoon uses the same blue geothermal water as the main Blue Lagoon, but offers a quieter setting.
• Blue Lagoon Ritual included: You apply a salt scrub, Silica Mud Mask, Algae Mask, and Blue Lagoon face and body oil yourself.
• Public Blue Lagoon access: A private entrance lets you visit the main bathing area during your five-hour stay.
• No phones or cameras: The spa keeps electronic devices out, though staff can take a lagoon photo and email it to you.

Why the Retreat Spa feels different

The regular Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s famous geothermal bathing experience. The Retreat Spa adds privacy, space, and a slower rhythm. Instead of arriving, changing, bathing, and leaving, you get a full half-day to settle into the setting.

The spa is built into volcanic earth, with lava rock forming much of the interior. That design matters. You are not walking through a standard hotel spa with polished walls and background noise. You move through a dark, stone-lined concourse that opens into quiet relaxation areas and geothermal water.

I like the way the experience gives you choices without forcing you into a strict schedule. You can begin in the Retreat Lagoon, sit beside the fireplace, try the sauna, visit the steam cave, or head to the public Blue Lagoon. The five-hour window gives you time to pause between each part.

That extra time also helps justify the cost, at least for the right occasion. You are paying for privacy and room to breathe, not only for hot water. If all you want is a soak, the standard Blue Lagoon options may offer better value.

Arriving at the volcanic spa

The Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes by car from Keflavík Airport and about 50 minutes from Reykjavík. The Retreat has free parking for day visitors, with signs directing you to the correct area when you arrive.

If you come by bus, get off with the other passengers and walk to the Luggage House. An attendant can call the shuttle that takes you to The Retreat. This transfer detail is easy to miss, so do not wander around the main complex looking for the spa entrance.

The setting on the Reykjanes Peninsula makes the Retreat convenient at the start or end of an Iceland trip. Its closeness to the airport can work well before a flight or after landing, though you should allow enough time for transport and your scheduled start time.

At check-in, an English-speaking host or greeter explains the spa area and how to use the facilities. You are then shown to your private changing suite. If you have luggage to store, staff can assist.

The experience is wheelchair accessible. That is useful to know because the Retreat is built into a rocky setting, yet access has been planned for visitors who need it.

Your private changing suite

The suite is one of the clearest differences between this experience and a basic public pool visit. You have a private place for two people to change, dry off, shower, and keep your things organized during the spa session.

Inside, you receive towels, bathrobes, flip-flops, and Blue Lagoon skincare amenities. The large shower and dry area make the transition into the spa easy, especially if you have arrived from the airport or spent the day outdoors.

Bring your own swimwear. It is not included, and swimwear is required for the lagoon. Food is also not included, so plan on paying separately if you eat at the Spa Restaurant.

The private suite is especially useful for couples who want a more relaxed start. You are not rushing through a busy changing area or trying to keep track of your belongings beside a public pool.

Starting in the quiet Retreat Lagoon

The Retreat Lagoon is the heart of this package. It contains the same blue geothermal waters as the main Blue Lagoon, but the atmosphere is more intimate and less crowded.

You can enter the water, order a drink, and take your time. The appeal is not a long list of activities. It is the feeling of having a quiet place to settle into the warm mineral-rich water without the constant movement of a large public bathing area.

I would start here rather than saving it for the end. The Retreat Lagoon gives you a calm introduction to the spa, and you can use the first part of your visit to slow down before trying the sauna, steam cave, or ritual.

One drink of your choice is included. You can enjoy it in the lagoon, adding a small luxury without another charge. The information provided does not specify the drink selection, so check with staff when you arrive.

The lagoon is also the place for the optional staff-taken photo. Cameras and electronic devices are not allowed inside the spa. If you want a picture in the Retreat Lagoon, staff will take it for you and email it to you.

That rule may disappoint anyone who wants to document every part of the visit. Still, it supports the Retreat’s main purpose: five hours without phones, notifications, and the usual urge to photograph everything.

The Blue Lagoon Ritual, step by step

The Blue Lagoon Ritual is a self-applied treatment that uses three elements associated with the lagoon: silica, algae, and minerals. It is included in the price, so you do not pay extra for the main skincare portion of the experience.

The ritual includes four parts:

• A salt scrub
• The Silica Mud Mask
• The Algae Mask
• Blue Lagoon face and body oil

The salt scrub begins the process with a more active treatment. You apply it yourself, so the experience feels less like a conventional massage and more like a guided skincare routine in a geothermal setting.

Next comes the Silica Mud Mask, one of the Blue Lagoon’s best-known treatments. Silica is part of the lagoon’s mineral content, and the mask gives you a hands-on way to experience that element beyond simply bathing in the water.

The Algae Mask follows. It adds a second skincare step with a different texture and purpose. You apply both masks yourself, which makes the ritual simple and informal rather than highly clinical.

The final step is face and body oil from Blue Lagoon Skincare. This helps finish the treatment with moisture after the salt and masks.

Do not expect a private therapist performing a series of treatments for you. The Blue Lagoon Ritual is a self-guided cycle, and that suits people who enjoy controlling the pace and amount of product. If you want hands-off treatment, such as a massage, this package does not promise one.

I like that the ritual gives structure to your time. Without it, five hours in a spa can blur into one long soak. Here, you have a clear wellness sequence, followed by plenty of time to rest.

Sauna, steam cave, fireplace, and cold plunge

The Retreat Spa surrounds the lagoon with several places to change the mood of your visit. The sauna gives you dry heat, while the steam cave offers a more humid setting. You can try both, then return to the warm lagoon or a quieter relaxation area.

The fireplace creates a cozy contrast to the mineral water. It is a good place to sit between spa activities, especially if you want to warm up without immediately getting back into the lagoon.

A nesting area provides another place to rest. The refreshment area gives you a break from the water, and a panoramic viewing deck lets you look out over the surrounding mineral-rich water and centuries-old lava.

The cold plunge well is the sharpest contrast of the group. It offers a brief, brisk change after the sauna or steam cave. The supplied information does not provide its temperature or recommended duration, so follow the spa’s guidance rather than treating it like a challenge.

This mix of hot, warm, cool, dry, and steamy spaces is important. You can shape the visit around your own comfort instead of spending the full five hours in one pool.

Visiting the main Blue Lagoon

Your Retreat Spa pass includes access to the public Blue Lagoon through a private entrance. This gives you two different experiences in one visit.

The Retreat Lagoon is the quiet, private part. The main Blue Lagoon is the larger public area and offers a change of scene. You might prefer the main lagoon for a while, then return to The Retreat when you want more calm.

The private entrance makes moving between the two areas easier. You do not have to treat the Retreat and public lagoon as separate bookings. Still, the quality of your visit depends on what you want most. If privacy is the main reason you booked, spend the larger share of your time in The Retreat rather than assuming the public area is the highlight.

The public Blue Lagoon access also adds value to the $724 price. You are not paying for only a private room and a single pool. You get access to the spa facilities, private lagoon, main lagoon, ritual, drink, and suite for two people.

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 water and old lava around the spa. That setting makes lunch or a light meal part of the occasion rather than a simple stop for fuel.

No reservation is needed. That gives you flexibility, since you may not know exactly when you will want to eat after the sauna, ritual, and lagoon time.

Because food costs extra, include the restaurant in your budget if you want the full experience. The package price covers a drink, but not meals. You can also skip the restaurant if you prefer to keep the visit focused on bathing and relaxation.

Is $724 for two people good value?

At $724 per group of up to two, this is one of Iceland’s special-occasion experiences. The price works out to $362 per person before food, travel, and swimwear. That is a lot for a spa visit, even in Iceland.

The value comes from privacy and duration. You get five hours, a private changing suite, towels and robes, the Retreat Lagoon, the main Blue Lagoon, the ritual, spa facilities, skincare products, and one drink each or one included drink for the booking, depending on how the spa handles the package.

The biggest question is how much you value quiet. If you dislike crowds, want a private space to change, and prefer a slow half-day to a quick soak, the package is easier to justify. If you are comparing it with a standard Blue Lagoon entry, the difference is substantial.

I would book it for a honeymoon, anniversary, milestone birthday, or a final Iceland treat after a demanding trip. I would not choose it for a casual first look at geothermal bathing. The public Blue Lagoon offers the basic experience at a lower cost.

The single available verified comment describes the experience as wonderful, and that matches the package’s strongest feature: it is designed to feel special from beginning to end. Just keep your expectations practical. The luxury is space, quiet, setting, and time. It is not a menu of private therapist treatments.

Who should book the Retreat Spa

This experience suits two adults who want a calm, private outing. Couples are the obvious match, but two friends can enjoy it if both value quiet and skincare more than sightseeing.

It is also a good fit for people with a long airport connection or a gap at the beginning or end of an Iceland itinerary. The location is close to Keflavík Airport, and luggage assistance is available.

You should consider another Blue Lagoon option if you are traveling with children under 12, trying to keep costs low, or mainly want a quick soak. Children under 12 cannot use the spa, and anyone under 18 needs a parent or legal guardian.

Leave your camera and phone behind. Electronic devices are not allowed in the spa, which is inconvenient for some people but central to the quiet atmosphere. Staff can take and email one of your lagoon photos if you want a souvenir.

Should you book this experience?

Book the Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa if you want Iceland’s geothermal waters with privacy, quiet, and a full five-hour schedule. The private changing suite and Retreat Lagoon are the strongest reasons to pay more, while the ritual, sauna, steam cave, and public lagoon add useful variety.

Skip it if $724 feels uncomfortable, if you want a family activity, or if a simple lagoon soak is enough. For the right couple, this is a polished and peaceful splurge. For everyone else, the standard Blue Lagoon may deliver the main pleasure at a much friendlier price.

FAQ

How long does the Retreat Spa experience last?

The experience lasts five hours. Check the available start times when booking.

How many people can use the private changing suite?

The private changing suite is for up to two people. The booking is priced per group of up to two.

What is included in the Retreat Spa package?

You receive access to the Retreat Spa, sauna, steam cave, relaxation areas, Retreat Lagoon, public Blue Lagoon area, private changing suite, towels, bathrobe, flip-flops, skincare amenities, the Blue Lagoon Ritual, and a drink of your choice.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included in the package. You can eat at the Spa Restaurant, which serves seasonal, light meals and does not require reservations.

Do I need to bring swimwear?

Yes. Swimwear is not included, so bring your own.

Are children allowed in the Retreat Spa?

The minimum age is 12. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Can I bring my phone or camera?

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

How do I reach The Retreat from the airport or Reykjavík?

Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport by car and about 50 minutes from Reykjavík. Free parking is available for Retreat day visitors. By bus, walk from the Blue Lagoon arrival point to the Luggage House, where an attendant can call the shuttle to The Retreat.