Taxi from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon: Prices, Times and Smarter Options

Quick facts

• Distance: about 50 km from central Reykjavík, along road 41 towards Keflavík and then road 43 towards Grindavík.
• Driving time: around 45 to 50 minutes in normal conditions, longer in a winter storm.
• Private transfer with us: 20,500 kr per car for 1 to 4 people, 28,000 kr per van for 5 to 7, one way, fixed price.
• With return: 39,000 kr per car or 55,000 kr per van when you book both rides together.
• From Keflavík Airport: only about 20 minutes; 8,000 kr per car or 8,800 kr per van.
• Entry: the Blue Lagoon works with pre-booked time slots, so book your entry before you book the ride.

Most visitors think of the Blue Lagoon as a trip "out of Reykjavík", but geographically it sits much closer to Keflavík Airport than to the city. That simple fact changes how you should plan it: in many cases the smartest move is not a separate trip from Reykjavík at all, but a stop on the way to or from the airport.

Your options at a glance

Metered taxi

Taxis in the capital area are normally ordered by phone, through a local app or at a taxi rank, and the fare runs on a meter. For a 50 km ride the final price depends on time of day, traffic, weather and any waiting time, so you only know the total at the end. If you want the driver to wait while you bathe, the meter may keep running, which makes a return trip expensive and hard to predict. Read more in our guide to taxis in Iceland.

Pre-booked private transfer

A private transfer is a car and driver booked in advance at a fixed price per car, not per person. You choose the pick-up time, the driver comes to your hotel or apartment, and the price does not change if the road is slow. For two, three or four people travelling together, the cost per person is often close to the bus, with none of the waiting.

Bus packages

Several bus companies sell transport to the Blue Lagoon, often combined with the entry ticket. Buses usually leave from a bus terminal or from set pick-up stops, sometimes with a shuttle from your hotel to the terminal first. It is a good budget option for solo travellers who don't mind fixed departure times.

Rental car

If you already have a rental car, driving is easy: the roads are paved, signposted and the lagoon has a car park. If the Blue Lagoon is the only place you plan to drive to, renting a car just for it rarely makes sense.

Comparison table

• Private transfer: door to door, fixed price per car, your own timing. Best for couples, families and groups.
• Metered taxi: on demand when available, price only known at the end. Fine for spontaneous short trips, less so for 50 km.
• Bus package: lowest price for one person, fixed departures, often a transfer at a terminal.
• Rental car: flexible, but you pay for the car, fuel and parking, and you drive yourself after a hot soak.

The smart way: combine it with your flight

Because the lagoon is so close to the airport, the most popular plan is to visit on your arrival or departure day. You save a full return trip from Reykjavík and use time that would otherwise be lost to waiting.

On arrival

Land, meet your driver in arrivals, go straight to the Blue Lagoon for a soak, then continue to Reykjavík. Our Keflavík to Blue Lagoon to Reykjavík package takes 4 to 5 hours in total and your luggage stays safely in the car.

4–5 hours · private

KEF → Blue Lagoon → Reykjavík

Keflavík Airport → Blue Lagoon (3–4 h) → Reykjavík hotel

Car

1–4 people

31,500 kr

Van

5–7 people

41,000 kr

Book this tour

On departure

Check out of your hotel, bathe at the lagoon and continue to the airport relaxed. Book the Reykjavík to Blue Lagoon to Keflavík package and leave enough margin before your flight: at least 2.5 to 3 hours at the terminal before an international departure.

4–5 hours · private

Reykjavík → Blue Lagoon → KEF

Reykjavík hotel → Blue Lagoon (3–4 h) → Keflavík Airport

Car

1–4 people

31,500 kr

Van

5–7 people

41,000 kr

Book this tour

As part of a day trip

If you are doing the Golden Circle anyway, the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon private tour adds the lagoon at the end of the day, so you finish with a warm soak instead of another hour on the road.

How to time your entry slot

1. Book your Blue Lagoon entry first and note the exact time slot.
2. Choose a pick-up about one hour before the slot from Reykjavík (about 50 minutes driving plus a margin), or about 30 minutes before from the airport.
3. Plan two to three hours in the lagoon. Many people find two hours is enough; others stay longer for the restaurant or spa treatments.
4. Book the return ride for a time after your planned exit; if you book with return, both rides are linked in one booking.
5. On a winter day with strong wind, add some extra margin. Your driver checks the road conditions before leaving.

What it costs per person

Because our price is per car, the cost per person drops quickly when you travel together. One way from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon:

• 2 people: 20,500 kr per car, about 10,250 kr each.
• 4 people: 20,500 kr per car, about 5,125 kr each.
• 6 people in a van: 28,000 kr, about 4,670 kr each.
• Return trip, 4 people: 39,000 kr per car, about 9,750 kr each for both rides.

Compare that with the bus price per person for your group, and remember that a private ride starts at your door and leaves when you are ready.

What to bring

• Swimwear (rental is usually available, but your own is more comfortable).
• A hat for winter: your head stays out of the water and the air can be very cold.
• Conditioner: the silica in the water can make hair dry and stiff; many people tie their hair up and avoid getting it wet.
• A waterproof phone pouch if you want photos.
• Your entry confirmation on your phone.

You do not need to bring towels if they are included in your entry package; check what your ticket includes.

Travelling with Drive Reykjavik

• Fixed price per car, not per person, agreed before you travel
• Economy (Tesla) for 1 to 4 passengers, Van (Mercedes Vito) for 5 to 7, minibus for 8 to 16 on request
• Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign and checks your flight before leaving
• 45 minutes of free waiting at the airport
• Pay 20% to book and the rest in the car by card or cash, or pay everything online
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up

We have been driving travellers around Iceland for ten years, and we go everywhere in the country, not only to Reykjavík. The Blue Lagoon is one of the rides we do most often, in every season and at every hour.

How long is the taxi ride from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon?

How much is a private transfer from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon?

Can the driver wait while I am in the lagoon?

Is it better to go from the airport?

Do I need to book the Blue Lagoon in advance?

What if the Blue Lagoon is closed because of an eruption?