Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon? If you are planning a short stopover in Iceland, you might be wondering which Icelandic spa is best. Here’s an honest opinion from a real human who tried both lagoons and the Golden Circle Tour.
Location, Location, Location
Sky Lagoon is on the outskirts of the capital city, Reykjavik. Blue Lagoon is closer to KEF airport, about an hour’s drive from the city. Whether you choose Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon may depend on whether you’re planning a quick visit from the airport, or staying longer in Reykjavik. Read about the top things to do in Reykjavik here.
To reach Sky Lagoon, you can book a ticket including a scheduled shuttle bus to and from the city center. It’s a ten minute ride by taxi, costing the equivalent of about $30 each way. I liked having maximum flexibility to enjoy the Sky Lagoon on my own time without watching the clock. So I split the taxi fares with a friend to enjoy almost three hours of bliss.
Blue Lagoon was the first stop on my Golden Circle tour. The tour guide pointed out that recent volcanic eruptions have closed the main road to the Blue Lagoon and a nearby town. Our bus took a newly paved alternate route through the lava fields. You must arrive on a tour bus or present your Blue Lagoon ticket to access the road. The tour guide told us to stay on schedule so as not to miss the rest of the full day tour. That meant changing, enjoying the Blue Lagoon and showering to return to the bus in under two hours.
Bonus points: seeing some of Iceland’s most spectacular sights on the Golden Circle Tour after the Blue Lagoon experience.
Where to Stay near Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon
There’s no hotel at the Sky Lagoon, but it’s only a short cab or shuttle bus ride away from a wide choice of hotels in Reykjavik. I stayed at Hotel Holt – the Art Hotel. I was able to book all my excursions and airport transfers through their website at no additional cost. The front desk helped me out when a minor issue came up and answered all my questions.
There’s a hotel called The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, which gets good reviews from spa enthusiasts who are willing to pay for 5-star luxury.
Booking Tickets to Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon
Sky Lagoon: The Sky Lagoon website offers a choice of packages. I bought the most popular Saman or “Pure” package. It included access to public women’s or men’s changing rooms and the traditional Icelandic spa ritual (Skjól) for the equivalent of about $95. The premium Sér package with access to a private changing room is $30 to $40 more. Ticket prices fluctuate depending on the date and time of your visit and how far in advance you are booking. A cheaper ticket without the ritual (Pure Lite) no longer appears on the website. Drinks at the bar or food in the lounge are extra. Children under 12 are not admitted.
Drinks at the Sky Lagoon are extra but no need to bring money or card. Tap the bracelet that opens your locker to order at the bar, then pay when you check out.
Blue Lagoon: You can book directly on the Blue Lagoon website. The website is also the best source of info on the latest volcanic activity or pollution that can close the lagoon. The basic “Comfort” package starts at the equivalent of about $73, so it’s slightly cheaper. It includes admission, men or women’s public changing areas, a facial silica masque and one drink from the bar.
Upgraded Blue Lagoon packages can include use of a bathrobe, more drinks and masques, or spa products to take home. You can also book in-water massages and other spa treatments. Blue Lagoon is more kid-friendly. Teens 14 and up need a ticket. Children ages 2-13 are free, but little ones under two are not admitted. Children 7 and over are not allowed in the changing room of the opposite gender.
Make your way through the steam to the Blue Lagoon bar. A generous plastic glass of sparkling wine was included with my ticket. Besides wine and beer there are non-alcoholic options including a blue slushie with the unfortunate name of Krap.
What to Bring to the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon
Whether you choose Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon, a bathing suit is required. However, you are also required to shower in the buff before putting on your suit to enter both lagoons. Towels are provided, so no need to bring one of your own. I ended up not using the flip-flops that I brought. All the floor surfaces and the lagoon bottoms were quite friendly to my bare feet.
The man-made Sky Lagoon is filled with geo-thermally heated mineral water. No one seems too concerned about getting their hair wet. It’s a different story at the Blue Lagoon, which cautions visitors to avoid immersing their hair in the murky geothermal seawater. The silica, sulfur and magnesium may be great for your skin, but not your hair. If your hair does get wet, plan to rinse it immediately when you return to the showers. You can buy a shower cap, but I didn’t see anybody wearing one.
Taking pictures at the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon
I recommend leaving your phone/camera in your locker to enjoy the ritual at the Sky Lagoon. You can photograph yourself or the view, but not other customers in the lagoon without their consent, so I’ve blurred faces in my photos or used an image from the press kit. No cameras allowed in the changing areas for obvious reasons.
Bird’s eye view of Sky Lagoon in a publicity image. Although it’s unlikely you’ll have the place to yourself, there was plenty of room to enjoy the view and the waterfall without feeling crowded. Just watch out for the rocks below the surface. Photo credit: Sky Lagoon by Pursuit
The Blue Lagoon is much more photo-friendly and only asks you to respect the privacy of others when composing your shots. Frankly, it’s hard to get any pictures without someone in the background at this very public and popular tourist attraction. Again, no pictures in the changing areas.
Looking through the steam at the Blue Lagoon and seeing the reflection of my face covered in a creamy silica masque. Definitely bring a waterproof bag for your phone — or buy one at the bar like I did. While washing off the masque or juggling a drink, you are very likely to get your device wet — or even drop it.
What to Expect at the Sky Lagoon
Checking in to the Sky Lagoon, you’ll get an electronic bracelet that opens and closes your locker. I put all of my valuables inside, including my phone because of the photo policy mentioned above. After rinsing off naked in a shower stall, put on your swimsuit and step down into the entrance to the lagoon. The geothermal water is like a giant hot tub: 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit. Make your way through the man-made rocky alcoves to reach the panoramic infinity view of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Then, brace yourself for the cold plunge! This is the second step in the Sky Lagoon ritual. It’s a circular tub on the left side of the picture. After the hot-tub-like lagoon, the 50-degree (10 C) water is a shock. The lifeguard is there to make sure you don’t stay in longer than the recommended one minute. No worries, mate. I couldn’t wait to get out of there and warm up in the sauna!
Step 3 is perhaps the most beautiful sauna in the world with a panoramic sea view. I had to tap it to make sure there was glass in the window. Like me, many visitors are inspired to silently enjoy the warmth and beauty. Unfortunately, a couple of loud, chatty guys from a large tour group kind of spoiled the mood.
Step 4 is a cold mist. You can go back in the sauna as many times as you want before moving on to Step 5, the salt scrub. I really admired the patience of the young lady handing out the small dishes of salt scrub and answering the same questions over and over again. Basically you massage it all over your skin and step into Step 6, the steam room. The wet heat opens your pores and allows the scrub to work its magic on your skin.
Again, you’re sharing the space but it’s so steamy won’t see anyone else in there. When you can’t take the heat anymore, step out and shower off. That’s Step #7. I felt rejuvenated and loved the scrub so much that I bought a jar to take home.
No, it’s not a digital screen. This is the view from the Sky Lagoon sauna. I have no idea how they keep the glass so clean. Of course, in real life you’ll have to share the experience with other visitors. Photo credit: Sky Lagoon by Pursuit.
Sky Lagoon Ritual Update
Shortly after my visit, Sky Lagoon added two more steps and renamed the ritual “Skjól.” They’ve added a second sauna and a drink. The elixir is infused with crowberries that thrive on Iceland’s lava fields. Of course, you are welcome to buy more beverages at the lagoon bar and linger for a while, and there’s a limit of 3 alcoholic drinks. Most guests stay two to three hours. You can stand up anywhere in the lagoon, but watch out for the decorative rocks so you don’t stub your toe.
What to Expect at the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon has more of a Disneyland feel. Our tour guide handed out the locker bracelets. Arriving mid-morning, the locker room was busy but I managed to find a free locker and an unoccupied shower stall for the mandatory naked rinse-off.
I stepped into the milky mineral water, heated to a temperature of 98-104 degrees Fahrenheit by a nearby power plant. The maximum depth is only about 4 feet, so I didn’t need to swim as I walked around. What impressed me most was the sheer size of the Blue Lagoon, surrounded by black lava rock walls.
I made my way to the left, where a staff member was ladling out dollops of mineral masque. I asked for the mildest formula, smeared it onto my face and neck, and realized that I must have looked as ridiculous as everyone around me. The masque quickly soaked into my skin and I waited my turn at a water tap to rinse off. There had to be a bar somewhere in all of the steam! Armed with a generous glass of sparkling wine, I kept an eye on the clock so I’d have enough time to shower and not miss the bus.
Perhaps feeling the need to compete with Sky Lagoon, The Blue Lagoon experience is getting some upgrades including a sauna and a cold plunge.
Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon: Which Is Better?
As an adult female traveler, I much preferred the Sky Lagoon. I loved the view and the ritual, especially the sauna and salt scrub. The only downside was the loud talking in the otherwise peaceful sauna by a couple of guys in a large group who complained they were only doing the spa thing at the behest of their wives. Visiting first thing in the morning to beat the crowd, I wasn’t motivated to hang out at the bar so early in the day. Even the non-alcoholic drinks weren’t cheap.
On the other hand, the Blue Lagoon is best for families with kids. Those expecting a mindful spa ambience might be disappointed. It feels more like an amusement park where people come to enjoy the Icelandic lagoon tradition together. If you have enough time, there’s no reason to decide between the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon. I’m glad I tried both. And I’ll give some extra points to the Blue Lagoon because I got to experience some of Iceland’s natural wonders on a Golden Circle tour. Book it here.
Blue Lagoon Bonus: Golden Circle
I expected the Blue Lagoon to be the last stop on an 11-hour tour in a small van. There was never an explanation for why we went there first. Feeling clean and relaxed, our group moved on to the immense Kerid Crater, formed about 6,500 years ago when a volcano cone collapsed.
Underground water fills the lake of the Kerid crater and the blue color comes from the high mineral content. Our group had time for a quick photo opportunity at the bottom of the crater but there’s more to explore in the surrounding area.
Even though I was bundled up in a winter jacket, warm pants, a sweater and long underwear, I wasn’t prepared for the almost-freezing rain that started to fall about mid-day. There isn’t a lot of outdoor walking on the Golden Circle tour, but by the time we arrived at the Geysir hot spring area I was chilled to the bone in mid-July! I found the occasional bursts of steam from the geothermal pools to be underwhelming.
While Iceland is a very safe country, signs warn tourists to be aware of pickpockets who take advantage of visitors distracted by the natural beauty. We pulled into a roadside food court for lunch, where I tried one of the country’s most popular dishes — fish and chips Iceland style. The final two stops were only a taste of what a longer trip to Iceland might offer nature lovers.
The magnificent Gulfoss Waterfall dwarfs a line of visitors on the nearby path. The name translates to Golden Falls and it is spectacular from every angle. From the lower level parking lot, we had the option of climbing up to the visitors center or hitching a ride in the van. The water plunges into a deep crevasse. Heroic efforts by the landowner’s daughter saved this natural wonder from being destroyed to build a power plant.
Thingvellir: A Game of Thrones Location in Iceland
It was perhaps fitting that we ended the tour at Thingvellir National Park. This is the place where Iceland formed its open-air representative government in the year 930. The rift valley marks the divide between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. I shivered as a trudged along the path through the craggy rock walls. I imagined the hardy Icelandic settlers who came here to engage in feats of strength — and punish those who broke the law by drowning them.
Fans of the TV series Game of Thrones might recognize the majestic crags of Thingvellir National Park as the Bloody Gate, which was added with CGI. For my Golden Circle tour group, it was a freezing walk to meet the van for the ride back to Reykjavik. It was a long, 11-hour day but in my opinion the Golden Circle tour is definitely worth it.
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