The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland

"A stylish high-end hotel with private thermal waters, allowing guests to bathe in semi-privacy, and a lavish spa utilizing Iceland’s volcanic resources." - The MICHELIN Guide

"The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most illustrious attractions, with a constant stream of visitors enjoying a dip in the steamy blue water bordered by black lava on Reykjanes Peninsula. Its popularity also splits Iceland travelers firmly into two camps: those who want to stay away from the well-trodden tourist attractions, and those who embrace them wholeheartedly. Should you visit the Blue Lagoon, or give it a miss? That is the question. Perhaps an easier question to answer is whether to stay at the upscale hotel attached to Iceland’s famed hot spring. Enigmatically named The Retreat, this hotel takes all the geothermal wonder of the Blue Lagoon and instills it into an uber-luxurious wellness establishment. The sleek and minimalist suites mirror the mossy-covered lava fields outside, while floor-to-ceiling windows welcome in the ethereal light of the Reykjanes Peninsula, inciting the stark grey and subdued black interiors into a heady and otherworldly Icelandic spectrum. Inside, all roads lead to the underground spa, a cavernous space offering the patented Blue Lagoon Ritual, a wellness cleanse using the silica, algae, and array of minerals all found in the geothermal waters. Access to a more exclusive section of the Blue Lagoon is also included, and there’s a world-class restaurant to boot."

"The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most illustrious attractions, with a constant stream of visitors enjoying a dip in the steamy blue water bordered by black lava on Reykjanes Peninsula. Its popularity also splits Iceland travelers firmly into two camps: those who want to stay away from the well-trodden tourist attractions, and those who embrace them wholeheartedly. Should you visit the Blue Lagoon, or give it a miss? That is the question. Perhaps an easier question to answer is whether to stay at the upscale new hotel attached to Iceland’s famed hot spring. Enigmatically named The Retreat, this hotel takes all the geothermal wonder of the Blue Lagoon and instils it into an uber-luxurious wellness establishment. The sleek and minimalist suites mirror the mossy-covered lava fields outside, while floor-to-ceiling windows welcome in the ethereal light of the Reykjanes Peninsula, inciting the stark grey and subdued black interiors into a heady and otherworldly Icelandic spectrum. Inside, all roads lead to the underground spa, a cavernous space offering the patented Blue Lagoon Ritual, a wellness cleanse using the silica, algae, and array of minerals all found in the geothermal waters. Access to a more exclusive section of the Blue Lagoon is also included, and there’s a world-class restaurant to boot." - James Taylor

"Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland, so why not stay right on property to ensure that you get the best experience while there? The 60-suite hotel is home to a subterranean spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and, of course, a private, more intimate lagoon that hosts geothermal seawater from the same wellspring as the Blue Lagoon. This retreat lets you reap all the same benefits of the tourist hotspot without having to deal with the crowds."

"A swim at the iconic, restorative, and utterly Instagrammable Blue Lagoon has been an essential to-do for Iceland’s visitors for years, but the addition of The Retreat Hotel has turned it from bucket list stopover to one-of-a-kind destination. The Retreat is enveloped in a calm hush that relaxes the senses, dark but refined decor, attentive staff, and architecture in harmony with the surrounding environment. Guests drift towards the star-spangled ingress of the spa in their robes, the unofficial uniform of The Retreat." - Ali Wunderman