Silica Hotel fact sheet
Named for the Blue Lagoon’s iconic healing element and architected into a vast lava plain, Silica Hotel is a sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation.
With 35 bright and spacious double/twin rooms, terraces with views of the expansive lava fields, and a private lagoon that is sourced from the same geothermal wellspring as the Blue Lagoon, the hotel enables an unforgettable experience of the wonders of geothermal seawater in a setting that is tranquil, intimate, and enchanting.
Origins
Silica Hotel was conceived and built to harmonize with the Illahraun lava plain—a vast horizon of volcanic rock that erupted from the earth 800 years ago and now stands frozen in time.
Until the 1970s, there was nothing here but sprawling fields of moss-covered lava. In 1976, geothermal aquifers were discovered and a power plant took shape, providing electricity and hot water for the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Next to the plant, a small body of water formed. It was expected to seep back into the ground through the porous lava, but the presence of silica prevented proper drainage.
The temptation to bathe in the pristine warmth of this water was irresistible, and as the pond grew into an enchanting little blue lagoon, the site became an open secret, drawing visitors from all over the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Some people came seeking pleasure. Others came seeking comfort from psoriasis. But all who came, left with feelings of relaxation, wellbeing, and rejuvenation.
In the intervening decades, what began as geothermal runoff has blossomed into a wonder of the world. Silica is the Blue Lagoon’s primary element. It forms the white mud that makes the bottom soft and the edges white. It also makes the water blue, owing to the manner that it reflects sunlight. But silica does much more than make the lagoon’s water blue, its edges white, and its bottom soft.
Silica makes the skin smooth, pure, strong, and radiant. To commune with silica is to converse with the history of the Blue Lagoon and to experience its timeless, beneficial powers.
Location
In 2015, Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula was officially given the status of UNESCO Global Geopark. Home of Blue Lagoon Iceland, the Reykjanes Peninsula straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge—the tectonic boundary where the North American and Eurasian plates converge. Owing to its volcanic provenance, the peninsula is a wonderland of geothermal phenomena. The terrain is alive with craters, fissures, mud pools, steam vents, hot springs, and endless moss-covered lava fields
Architecture & Interior design
From concept to creation, Silica Hotel embodies the convergence of the manmade and the natural. Designed to become one with the volcanic frontier, the structure and all of its esthetic choices harmonize with the colors, patterns, textures, and tones of the surrounding landscape.
Hospitality
Informal, cozy, and welcoming, the atmosphere at Silica Hotel creates a reassuring, relaxing environment. Our staff is available to offer advice, guidance, and recommendations on where to go and what to do, ensuring you feel at home from the moment you enter. If your heart is set on seeing the Northern Lights, be sure to ask for a wake-up call in the event that the aurora makes an appearance during your stay at Silica.
Rooms
Conceived for wellness and designed for wellbeing, the hotel’s 35 double/twin rooms come in three types: Lava Deluxe, Moss Deluxe, and Silica Deluxe. Each bright and spacious room is equipped with a veranda and offers stunning views of the surrounding volcanic terrain.
There are 8 Lava Deluxe Rooms, 22 Moss Deluxe Rooms, and 5 Silica Deluxe Rooms.
Inclusions (all rooms)
• Access to the hotel’s private lagoon, Silica Lagoon*
• One Premium admission per guest to the Blue Lagoon* (valid during the stay)
• Breakfast (served 07:30 - 10:30)
• Wi-Fi –Use of fitness center
• Taxes and service charges
*Minimum age for Silica Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon is 2 years
Lava Deluxe Room
Spacious, modern, cozy, and warm, our Lava Deluxe rooms feature enchanting views of the volcanic landscape and expansive lava fields stretching across the Svartsengi Resource Park—a marvel of sustainability that provides heat, electricity, and hot water to Blue Lagoon Iceland.
Room features
• 26 m² / 280 ft²
• Private veranda
• Overlooks volcanic landscapes
Moss Deluxe Room
Spacious, modern, cozy, and warm, Moss Deluxe rooms seamlessly blend with the surrounding terrain. Guests can enjoy remarkable views of the serene moss-covered lava fields, adorned in soothing shades of grey and green.
Room features
• 26 m² / 280 ft²
• Private veranda
• Overlooks moss-covered lava fields
Silica Deluxe Room
Creating an environment of modern simplicity, relaxing comfort, and sublime serenity, Silica Deluxe rooms are enhanced by the enchantment of the mineral-rich waters bordering the terrace. The water, however, is not for swimming. It is purely for esthetic enjoyment.
Room features
• 26 m² / 280 ft²
• Private veranda
• Overlooks mineral-rich waters
Breakfast
A full buffet-style breakfast is served in the hotel’s commons area from 07:30 to 10:30 each morning.
Activities & Adventures
From the leisurely to the thrilling, there are numerous activities available on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Walking paths & hikes
The paths surrounding the hotel lead guests on a remarkable journey through the centuries-old, moss-covered lava fields. The mountain Thorbjörn—a 24,000-year-old extinct volcano—is also very easy to hike and provides spectacular views of the Reykjanes Peninsula and the majestic glacier, Snæfellsjökull.
Tours
Sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Reykjanes Peninsula is a wonderland of geothermal phenomena. It is a place rich with enchantments and ripe for discovery. Horseback riding, ATV excursions, private helicopter journeys, volcano caving—there are endless possibilities for exploring the peninsula’s stunning landscape. The Silica reception staff will gladly assist you with bookings and transfers.
Silica Lagoon
Sourced from the same wellspring of mineral-rich, geothermal seawater at the Blue Lagoon, the hotel’s private lagoon is a place of intimacy, warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Commune with the waters of wonder in a setting that is serene and unique.
• Total square meters: ~900 m²
• Temperature: 35 - 40°C (95 - 104°F)
• Depth: 0.8 - 1.4 m
• Recirculation interval: ~25 hours
The Blue Lagoon
Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 wonders of the world, the Blue Lagoon is a place of geothermal enchantment, bringing guests into harmony with the transformative powers of nature. With a sauna, steam room, in-water facilities for refreshments, a mask bar, and a massage waterfall, the lagoon is filled with possibilities for an unforgettable adventure. Access to the Blue Lagoon is complementary with each booked room night. Just a ten-minute walk from the hotel, the lagoon is an unforgettable element of a stay at Silica.
• Total square meters: around 10,000 m²
• Temperature: 35 - 40°C (95 - 104°F)
• Depth: 1.2 - 1.6 m
• Recirculation interval: ~40 hours
In-Water Massage
Unifying the dynamic pleasures of massage therapy, the revitalizing powers of geothermal seawater, and the otherworldly beauty of the Blue Lagoon’s volcanic landscape, in-water massage unlocks new vistas of wellbeing for your mind, body, and spirit.
Developed nearly twenty years ago when a guest innocently asked if they could have a massage in the lagoon, the in-water treatment experience has become a hallmark of Blue Lagoon’s unique world.
Available in sessions of 30, 60, and 120 minutes, in-water massage is offered at the Blue Lagoon.
Float Therapy
Floating on the mineral-rich warmth of a wonder of the world, you enter a deeply relaxing, highly meditative state as you harmonize with the water, the earth, and the touch of your float therapist. The interplay of weightlessness and light massage soothes the body and calms the mind—alleviating stress, relieving pain, and bringing inner peace.
Available in sessions of 45 minutes, float therapy is offered at the Blue Lagoon for individuals, couples, and groups of up to 5 people.
Beverages & Refreshments
Bistro
The hotel’s self-serve bistro offers a delicious, nourishing assortment of refreshments and beverages
Blue Café
Located in the main Blue Lagoon complex, Blue Café offers an enticing range of refreshments including sandwiches, salads, sushi, smoothies, beer, coffee, and light snacks. The café is open during the lagoon’s hours of operation and features seating with marvelous views of the luminous blue waters.
Lava Restaurant
Built into a magnificent lava cliff on the western shore of the Blue Lagoon, Lava Restaurant combines stunning views, organic architecture, and an a la carte menu featuring classic Icelandic cuisine. Opened in 2007, the restaurant’s voluminous interior and double height, floor-to-ceiling windows create the setting for an unforgettable dining experience on the banks of a wonder of the world.
Open daily, from 11:30-21:00
Advance reservations are recommended.
Moss Restaurant
Seated at a table in Moss Restaurant, looking out at the majestic landscape, you can travel the island by way of the Michelin-starred culinary creations that emerge from the kitchen. With 5 and 7-course tasting menus that move effortlessly from the mountains to the farmlands to the rivers to the oceans, each dish opens the door to the living heritage and diverse delights of Icelandic cuisine.
Complemented by design and architecture calibrated to bring interior and exterior together, highlighting the evershifting colors and tones of the moss-covered horizon, Moss’s menus are likewise mercurial: changing with each season but intimately bound to the land.
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 18:00 - 21:30.
• Total size (interior): 192 m²
• Total size (terrace): 84 m²
• Seating: 60 people
• Menu: Set menus Cuisine: Tradition reinvented
Due to the intimate size and high demand of the restaurant, advance booking is necessary.
The Retreat Spa
Transporting your mind and body to new dimensions of peace and rejuvenation, the Retreat Spa journey moves through subterranean realms of luxurious heat, enchanting geology, and inspiring conceptual design. You proceed ever deeper through an extraordinary concourse of lava that encompasses endless possibilities: dry heat, steam heat, drip ceiling, fire, nesting, relaxation, a panoramic viewing deck, a cold plunge well, a restaurant, and the revitalizing waters of the Retreat Lagoon. The journey culminates with the Blue Lagoon Ritual—an exhilarating cycle of wellbeing where you commune with the Blue Lagoon’s trinity of transformative elements.
While the Retreat Spa is not an inclusion, you are welcome to upgrade the complimentary Blue Lagoon Premium admission that you received with your Silica booking. This will give you five luxurious hours at the Retreat Spa where you’ll have a private changing room (for 1-2 guests), access to all the spa experience areas, and unlimited use of the Retreat Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon.
• Total spa area: 4116 m²
• Total lagoon square meters: 900 m²
• Temperature: 35–40°C (95–104°F)
• Depth: 0.8–1.4 m Minimum reservation: 5 hours
Reservation includes a changing room. Minimum age for the Retreat Spa, Blue Lagoon Ritual, and the Retreat Lagoon, is 12 years. Minimum age for the Blue Lagoon is 2 years.
For further information, please contact us
silicahotel@bluelagoon.is / +354 420 8700 / bluelagoon.com