Blue Lagoon: Retreat Spa Experience & Private Changing Suite

The best part of this experience is the private Retreat Lagoon, where you soak in the same mineral-rich geothermal water as the famous Blue Lagoon, but with far fewer people around you. The spa is built into black lava rock, and its sauna, steam cave, fireplace, cold plunge, and viewing deck give you more to do than simply sit in warm water.

I like the private changing suite, which makes the arrival and departure feel calm and easy, and I like the Blue Lagoon Ritual, a four-part treatment using salt, silica mud, algae, and nourishing oil. The main drawback is the price: at $724 for two people, this is a major splurge, and food at the Spa Restaurant costs extra.

Key details to know before booking

• Five hours in a subterranean spa: You have time for the Retreat Lagoon, treatment ritual, relaxation spaces, and the public Blue Lagoon.
• A private suite for two: Your changing room includes a large shower, dry area, towels, bathrobes, flip-flops, and Blue Lagoon skincare products.
• A quieter lagoon experience: The Retreat Lagoon uses the same geothermal waters as the public lagoon but offers a more secluded setting.
• The Blue Lagoon Ritual is self-applied: You work through salt, silica, algae, and face and body oil at your own pace.
• No cameras or electronic devices: Staff can take a photo for you in the Retreat Lagoon and email it to you.
• Best for couples and special occasions: The private setting and high cost make the package easier to justify for a celebration than for a quick stop.

Entering the Retreat Spa through Icelandic lava

Blue Lagoon sits on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport and roughly 50 minutes from Reykjavík by car. That makes this a handy first or final stop in Iceland, especially if you want a long soak before a flight or a restful break after arriving.

Follow the signs for The Retreat when you reach Blue Lagoon. Day visitors to The Retreat have free parking. If you arrive by bus, get off with the other passengers, walk to the Luggage House, and ask an attendant to call the shuttle to The Retreat.

Your five hours begin with check-in and a briefing. Staff explain the spa area and how to use the different spaces, then show you to your private changing suite. This first step matters more than it may sound. Blue Lagoon can feel large and busy, so having someone explain the layout helps you get comfortable quickly.

The setting is the main visual treat. The spa is built into a stretch of dark, centuries-old lava, with curved spaces and passages that feel tucked beneath the ground. The design does not try to imitate a traditional Nordic bathhouse. It uses rock, steam, warm water, and soft resting spaces to create a place where you can slow down.

Your private changing suite and five-hour pace

The changing suite is reserved for up to two people. It has a large shower and a dry area, along with towels, bathrobes, flip-flops, and Blue Lagoon skincare amenities.

You still need to bring your own swimwear. Swimwear is not included, and the package does not cover food. The supplied robe and flip-flops are useful because you can move between the changing area and spa spaces without packing extra gear for the visit.

I would not treat the five-hour booking as a strict five-hour program with a set order. It is better understood as a generous window. You can take your time in the Retreat Lagoon, pause in the relaxation areas, use the sauna and steam cave, complete the ritual, have a drink, and visit the public lagoon without rushing.

That flexibility is part of the value. A shorter package could give you the lagoon and a shower, but this experience gives you room to take breaks. You do not need to squeeze every feature into one hurried circuit.

The spa is for people age 12 and older. Anyone under 18 must be with a parent or legal guardian, and children under 12 cannot use the spa. The private group format means the booking is limited to the two people sharing the suite, not a large tour group moving through the facility together.

The Retreat Lagoon, where the quiet begins

I would start in the Retreat Lagoon. It contains the same blue geothermal water associated with the public Blue Lagoon, but the area is intended to feel more intimate and peaceful.

You can soak, order a drink of your choice, and look across the mineral-rich water and lava around you. The included drink adds a small but welcome touch, particularly if you plan to stay in the water for a while.

The main difference from ordinary pool time is the setting. This is not simply a hot pool beside a hotel. The water, steam, and volcanic rock are part of the experience, and the architecture keeps the mood quiet and enclosed.

The private lagoon is also where the price starts to make sense for some couples. You are paying for space, time, privacy, and a more controlled setting, not just for entry to warm water. If your priority is the lowest-cost way to visit the Blue Lagoon, the public area is the more sensible choice.

There is one important rule: cameras and electronic devices are not permitted in the spa. That includes phones. You will need to accept that the experience is mostly unrecorded, which is either a minor inconvenience or one of the best parts of the visit, depending on how much you want a break from your screen.

If you want a picture in the Retreat Lagoon, staff can take one for you and email it to you. This gives you a way to keep a memory without bringing your own camera into the spa.

Sauna, steam cave, fireplace, and the viewing deck

The Retreat Spa includes several spaces beyond the water. The sauna provides dry heat, while the steam cave offers a damp, enclosed setting. Moving between these areas and the lagoon gives you a simple rhythm: warm water, heat, rest, then water again.

I like that the spa includes places to pause. A fireplace, nesting area, and refreshment area let you sit down without feeling that you must always be doing something. The fireplace adds a cozy contrast to the cool volcanic setting outside, while the nesting area is suited to quiet rest between treatments.

The panoramic viewing deck gives you a wider view of the surrounding mineral-rich waters and old lava. You might find this is the best place to appreciate how unusual the site is. Much of the Retreat Spa feels enclosed and sheltered, so the deck provides a useful change of scale.

There is also a cold plunge well. It is not a required part of the visit, and you can skip it if cold water is not for you. Its presence gives the spa circuit another option for people who enjoy alternating heat and cold.

The spaces are not a checklist. You do not need to use every one. I would choose the sauna and steam cave based on how your body feels, then leave plenty of time for the lagoon and relaxation areas.

The Blue Lagoon Ritual: four simple skincare steps

The Blue Lagoon Ritual is the central treatment included with the package. It is self-applied, so you do not receive a traditional hands-on massage or facial from a therapist. Instead, you follow a treatment cycle using Blue Lagoon’s main natural elements.

The sequence includes:

• Salt scrub: This begins the treatment with exfoliation.
• Silica Mud Mask: The familiar white silica mask is applied to the skin.
• Algae Mask: This adds the algae stage of the ritual.
• Face and body oil: The final step nourishes the skin after the masks and scrub.

The self-guided format gives you control over the pace. You can take your time, rinse carefully, and continue when ready. It also means you should not book this expecting a quiet treatment room or a therapist to do the work for you.

The ritual is valuable because it gives the lagoon visit more shape. Without it, you might simply soak and rest. With it, the water and skincare products become part of a short wellness routine.

I would keep your expectations practical. This is not a medical treatment, and the package does not claim to provide one. It is a relaxing skincare experience built around silica, algae, minerals, and salt, with products from Blue Lagoon Skincare available for use in the suite and ritual.

The public Blue Lagoon is included too

The Retreat Spa has a private entrance to the main Blue Lagoon, so your booking includes access to the public area as well. This is a useful addition, though it also creates a contrast.

The Retreat Lagoon is the quieter part of the experience. The public Blue Lagoon gives you the chance to see the better-known side of the complex, with a larger shared bathing area. If you want to compare both settings, the private entrance makes that easy.

I would visit the public lagoon after enjoying the Retreat Spa rather than treating it as the main event. The Retreat experience is built around privacy and calm, while the public area is the broader Blue Lagoon experience. Having both included lets you decide how much time to spend in each.

This inclusion strengthens the package for first-time visitors who want the full Blue Lagoon experience but do not want to give up a quieter spa setting. If you have already visited the public lagoon and only want a private treatment, the extra access may matter less.

Eating at the Spa Restaurant

Food is not included, but the Spa Restaurant is available before, during, or after your spa time. It serves light, nourishing meals made with fresh local ingredients.

The restaurant has broad views of the mineral-rich water and old lava around the spa. That makes it more than a practical place to grab food. A meal can extend the visit and give you a comfortable break from the water.

No reservation is needed. Still, budget for the meal separately. The $724 price covers the listed spa services and a drink, not lunch or dinner.

I would use the restaurant if you want to make the outing a half-day occasion. If you are heading straight to the airport or Reykjavík, you may prefer to keep the five hours focused on the spa and eat elsewhere.

Is $724 for two people good value?

At $724 per group of up to two, this is expensive by any reasonable Iceland spa standard. The price works out to $362 per person if two people share the booking, before food and transport.

The value comes from several elements bundled together: five hours, a private changing suite, the Retreat Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon Ritual, the sauna and steam cave, the relaxation rooms, a drink, Blue Lagoon skincare amenities, and public lagoon access.

The private suite is a major part of the difference. If changing in a shared facility does not bother you, a less expensive Blue Lagoon option may suit you better. If privacy, personal space, and a slower pace matter, the suite has real value.

The five-hour duration also helps. You are not paying for a quick soak with a strict exit time. You can use the spa as a full half-day plan, which makes the cost easier to justify for an anniversary, birthday, honeymoon, or final Iceland treat.

I would not book this as a casual add-on if your budget is tight. Iceland already has high costs, and the package does not include food, swimwear, or transport. But for two people marking a special trip, the privacy and unhurried schedule may be worth the splurge.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it most strongly to couples who want a quiet, polished spa day and do not mind paying for privacy. It also suits anyone who wants to disconnect from a phone, camera, and the constant need to document a trip.

The package works well for a five-hour break near Keflavík Airport. It can be a calm start to an Iceland holiday or a final stop before flying home, since the airport is about 20 minutes away by car.

It is less suitable for families with young children because the minimum age is 12. It is also a poor fit if you want a guided treatment, a full meal included, or a low-cost geothermal swim.

The spa is wheelchair accessible, which makes the experience available to a wider range of visitors. You can also ask staff for help storing luggage.

Book only if you are comfortable leaving electronic devices behind. That rule is central to the atmosphere, not a minor technical detail.

Should you book the Retreat Spa?

Book it if you want the most private and leisurely version of a Blue Lagoon visit, especially for a special occasion. The private suite, quiet Retreat Lagoon, self-guided skincare ritual, and five-hour schedule give you far more than a standard soak.

Skip it if your main goal is simply to bathe in geothermal water at the lowest possible price. The public Blue Lagoon already provides that, while this package charges a premium for calm, space, and privacy.

For two people who value a screen-free afternoon and want both the private Retreat Spa and the main Blue Lagoon, this is a strong splurge. Just bring swimwear, set aside money for food, and treat the $724 price as the cost of a complete spa occasion rather than a basic pool ticket.

FAQ

How long does the Retreat Spa experience last?

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

How many people can use the private changing suite?

The private changing suite is for up to two people.

What is included in the Blue Lagoon Ritual?

The ritual includes a salt scrub, Silica Mud Mask, Algae Mask, and nourishing face and body oil from Blue Lagoon Skincare.

Is access to the public Blue Lagoon included?

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

Do I need to bring swimwear?

Yes. Swimwear is required and is not included.

Can I bring my phone or camera into the spa?

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

What is the minimum age?

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

Is food included?

No. Food is not included. The Spa Restaurant serves light meals made with fresh local ingredients, and no reservation is needed.