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Sky Lagoon
Worth it if you want a polished, low-effort Reykjavik spa night with ocean views and the ritual. Not worth it if you are hunting the cheapest geothermal soak or a rough, local experience.
Sky Lagoon is the slick oceanside geothermal lagoon in Kópavogur, a 10 to 15 minute drive from central Reykjavik. It opened on April 30, 2021, and the pitch is short: hot water, an infinity edge that drops off toward the North Atlantic, and a paid 7-step bathing ritual. It costs a lot. It is also about the easiest way to get a high-comfort geothermal soak into a Reykjavik trip without losing half a day.
Worth it for
- Couples, solo travelers, and adults who want a calm lagoon close to Reykjavik
- Travelers weighing Blue Lagoon against something easier to reach from the city
You can skip if
- You are on a tight budget and would be just as happy at a public pool
- You mostly want to photograph the exterior or want to avoid curated tourist spas
Our pick for Sky Lagoon
Book the lagoon entry with the ritual if you want the cleanest version of Sky Lagoon: timed access, the ocean-edge soak, and the full hot-cold-steam sequence that makes the visit feel special. Choose the transfer option if you want the same spa payoff without sorting taxis or buses from Reykjavik.
If our pick doesn't fit
The lagoon books admission and its ritual packages on its own site, so you pick your time slot and pay no reseller fees.
Official ticketsThe same ritual experience with a return transfer from Reykjavik included, useful if you are not renting a car.
Gives access to the lagoon without the hot-cold-steam sequence, if you prefer a simpler soak.
See all options for Sky Lagoon
What travelers flag about Sky Lagoon
We weighed recent Reykjavik traveler opinion on the Sky Lagoon against the provider reviews. These are the themes that came up again and again.
- The ocean-edge ritual, book aheadReported by many
Sky Lagoon is the slick, in-Reykjavik geothermal spa, and the draw is the infinity edge looking out to the sea plus the seven-step sauna-and-cold-plunge ritual. It is timed and popular, so book ahead. Fair warning that comes up a lot: it is the priciest of the spas and you get the ritual only once, where cheaper spas let you loop it.
- Icelanders say do the local poolsReported by many
The tip locals repeat: the famous lagoons are, in their words, expensive pools with great marketing, and the same geothermal soak plus hot pots and saunas is at the neighbourhood swimming pools (Laugardalslaug, Vesturbaejarlaug, Sundholl) for a few dollars, where Icelanders actually go. Do a lagoon once for the experience, but do not miss a community pool for the real, cheap version.
Sourced from recent traveler discussions, not provider reviews. We only flag what several visitors independently reported, and the bars show how widely each point came up.
Which ticket should you buy?
What It Is
This is a built spa, not a wild hot spring you stumbled onto. The water stays warm all year, the changing rooms feel like a hotel spa, and the main pool is shaped around a sea-facing infinity edge instead of the milky mineral water people picture when they think of Iceland.
The headline extra is the Skjól 7-step ritual: lagoon soak, cold plunge, sauna, cold mist, body scrub, steam, then a final rinse or recovery step. Nothing runs on a clock. You pick an arrival slot and then drift through the lagoon and the ritual at whatever speed suits you.
Is It Worth It
Yes, with a few honest caveats. This is not cheap, and I am not going to pretend it is some local bargain. The current official ticketing splits into a standard package with shared changing and a premium package with private changing, though plenty of travelers still call them by the older Pure and Sky pass names. Look at the official booking page before you commit, since names, prices, and time-slot pricing all move around.
Go for it if you want a relaxed evening close to the city without committing to the full Blue Lagoon expedition. The argument against is just as legitimate. This is a curated tourist spa with a bar, timed entry, and views that have been carefully staged for you. If what you actually want is a rough, cheap, genuinely local pool, skip it and go to a public swimming pool instead.
How It Compares
Next to Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon sits closer to Reykjavik, slots in more easily after a day of sightseeing, and feels more grown up. Blue Lagoon is the famous one: the pale blue water, the handy airport route, the bigger resort, and the photo everyone recognizes. It is also busier and more of a hassle if you are based in the city.
Next to Reykjavik public pools, Sky Lagoon costs far more and feels much less local. The public pools win on price and on actual everyday Icelandic bathing culture. Sky Lagoon wins on the sea views, the mood, and the ritual. Secret Lagoon and Hvammsvik are the better pick if you want something rougher or more about the landscape, but both take more planning to reach from Reykjavik.
Planning The Visit
Book ahead, particularly for sunset and any busy stretch of the travel calendar. If you can land a sunset slot, take it. You get the ocean in daylight first, then the darker, moodier evening soak. Bear in mind that Icelandic winter sunsets come absurdly early, so look up the real sunset time for your date rather than guessing.
Pack swimwear. You have to shower before you get in the water, and swimwear is required in the lagoon. The main paid packages include a towel, but double-check what your package covers before you book. Children under 12 are not allowed in, and ages 12 to 14 need an adult with them. Do not bother with a special trip just to see the outside for free. You can glance at the turf-roofed exterior and the harbor, but everything that matters is inside the paid lagoon.
Sky Lagoon: FAQs
Sky Lagoon opened on April 30, 2021. It is a modern, purpose-built spa in Kópavogur, just outside Reykjavik, rather than some old natural bathing spot.
Yes, booking ahead is the smart move. Entry runs on arrival slots, and the popular evening and sunset times do sell out. Check the official booking page first, since ticket names, what is included, and prices all change from time to time.
Put simply, the standard pass covers lagoon entry, the 7-step ritual, towel use, and shared changing facilities. The premium Sky-style pass adds private changing and a more comfortable arrival and shower setup. The official naming on the Sky Lagoon site has shifted over time, so compare the current standard and premium packages before you book.
Give yourself roughly 2 to 3 hours. Nothing is timed once you are in, and the ritual moves at your pace, but you really do not want to rush the sauna, steam, cold plunge, and the main lagoon.
You can, though it is fiddlier than a taxi or a transfer. The official route from Reykjavik takes Strætó bus 4 to Hamraborg, then bus 35 or 36 toward Bakkabraut, then a short walk. Reckon on roughly 30 to 50 minutes depending on the transfers, and check Strætó on the day.
That depends on your trip. Sky Lagoon is closer to Reykjavik, calmer in feel, and better for an adult evening soak with sea views. Blue Lagoon is more iconic, larger, better known, and easy to pair with Keflavik Airport, but it can feel busier and more packaged.
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Worth it, or skip it?
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