Ever wondered which is better, the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon? It’s a commonly asked question when planning a trip to Iceland. After all, there’s a strong bathing culture in the land of fire and ice with natural hot springs, lagoons and heated swimming pools across the island.
From the Hvammsvik Hot Springs near Reykjavik to the Secret Lagoon off the Golden Circle to pools like Sundhollin, Seltjarnarneslaug and Lagafellslaug. Where you decide to visit is typically down to seasonality, duration of your stay, location and budget with personal preference also a factor. As it was our first in Iceland, we opted to try Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon. In this guide, discover everything you need to know about each of these memorable lagoons.
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Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon: Which geothermal spa is best?
We visited Iceland late October on a city break with Jet2holidays and spent a fantastic three days in Reykjavik. With the South Coast and Snæfellsnes Peninsula on our list for next time, this trip saw us discover Iceland’s charming capital, explore the Golden Circle and take a Northern Lights tour. We also experienced two lagoons, Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, with each providing a unique yet different experience.
Blue Lagoon: An iconic otherworldly wonder
Named one of the 25 Wonders of the World, Blue Lagoon is known for its milky-blue water, rich in silica, algae, and minerals. It was formed in 1976 when run off water from the Svartsengi geothermal plant was collected in a pool. Its geothermal seawater was found to have skin-nourishing benefits when a man with psoraris tried it and was able to relieve his skin condition. Blue Lagoon became an instant hit and, with an average of 700,000 visitors a year, it has become one of Iceland’s most popular attractions.
How to get there
Blue Lagoon is nestled on the stunning Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest of Iceland. It is located 23 kilometres (20 minutes) from Keflavik International Airport and 47 kilometres (50 minutes) from Reykjavik. The easiest ways to visit are en route from or to the airport, as part of a tour and direct through the Blue Lagoon which is what we did.
Planning your visit
With the Blue Lagoon such a sought-after destination, we made our booking for 9am which in October was an hour after they opened. This meant being at Bus Stop #2 Tjörnin The Pond in Reykjavik for 7:30am to catch the Destination Blue Lagoon shuttle. The bus was scheduled to arrive anytime between 7:30am and 8am. The one thing we didn’t consider when booking was navigating our way to an unfamiliar bus stop in the dark. Although we missed the bus at our intended stop (it arrived at 7:35am), thanks to the brilliant Blue Lagoon team and a helpful taxi driver, we caught the shuttle from another stop in Reykjavik. The bus was quiet and scenery en route beautiful and otherworldly. We arrived at the Blue Lagoon just before 9am which coincided, albeit unintentionally, with the sun coming up. We pre-booked our return Destination Blue Lagoon shuttle for 12:15pm giving us around 3.5 hours enjoying the lagoon and its facilities.
Blue Lagoon admission types
There are several ways to experience the Blue Lagoon, either as a hotel guest or for a day visit. The Retreat is an award-winning luxury resort with a 60-suite hotel, a subterranean spa with Michelin-starred dining and a private lagoon with the same healing properties as the Blue Lagoon. The Silica Hotel is a ten minute walk from the Blue Lagoon with its own private lagoon available.
Day visitors can experience this geothermal wonder with a Comfort, Premium, or Signature admission. The Comfort package includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, a Silica Mud Mask, the use of a towel and a drink of your choice. We opted for the Premium admission as it provided priority entry, a Silica Mud Mask and two further masks from the Mask Bar, two drinks of our choice from the In-water Bar plus the use of a towel, bathrobe and locker. The Signature package is the same as Premium but with two Blue Lagoon masks to take home – the Silica Mud Mask (30ml) and Mineral Mask (30ml).
Young children are highly sensitive to the elevated mineral content so the minimum age to visit the Blue Lagoon is two. Children aged 8 and younger must wear armbands as the depth is up to 4.7ft and visibility can be low. All children below 13 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult (one adult per two children).
On-site activities
There’s nowhere on earth like the Blue Lagoon and arriving early meant the women’s (and men’s) changing areas were almost deserted. We entered the lagoon at a pretty special time as we caught the sun rise and there was just a small number of people in the lagoon.
Our Premium entry gave us three masks from the Mask Bar – a Silica Mud Mask, a Mineral Mask and an Algae Mask. Each of these stayed on for 10-20 minutes (depending on the mask) and could be washed off with fresh water. We also had fresh smoothies from the In-water Bar where juice, soft drinks, beer or wine was also available. In addition to relaxing in the lagoon, there is also a sauna, steam cave and massage waterfall to experience.
Facilities and amenities
The lockers are a generous size, each secured with a wrist band you pick up on arrival. Everyone has a shower before entering the lagoon and you should protect your hair by covering it in conditioner. Leaving the Blue Lagoon and walking to the changing area can feel chilly (it was the first day of winter) so having a cosy dressing gown proved invaluable. The women’s changing area was busier at 11:30am but not overly crowded and no hanging around for a shower. Complimentary shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are provided along with swimming costume dryers, bags to put wet gear in and hairdryers.
Away from the changing rooms, there are three restaurants (Moss Restaurant, Lava Restaurant and the Spa Restaurant) with snacks and drinks available at the Blue Cafe. The Blue Lagoon shop is immense and offers a wide range of luxury skincare products and gift packs. Our skin felt amazing after we’d been in the lagoon and while the Blue Lagoon products are superb, the shop is on the pricey side. Even with a discount applied, we spent far more than we intended to.
How to book
Tickets for the Blue Lagoon and restaurants must be pre-booked in advance. We found the easiest way is to go direct as the prices are better, you can select your arrival and departure time (important if you want to avoid peak times) and a transfer can be added. It’s easy to edit too within the Blue Lagoon ‘Manage Your Booking’ system. The transfer is operated by Destination Blue Lagoon which options available from/to Keflavik International Aiport and Reykjavik.
Other places to visit nearby
The Blue Lagoon is situated on the Reykjanes Peninsular. This is a UNESCO site of global geological importance providing a blend of breathtaking landscapes and natural phenomena with lava fields, volcanoes and geothermal scenery. One of Iceland’s most geothermally active regions, with the Sundhnúkagígar and Fagradalsfjall volcanoes, it is home to the ‘Bridge Between Two Continents’. This is the plate boundary between Europe and America with the tectonic plates spanning from Reykjanes and the northeast of Iceland across the island. Also in this region is Gunnuhver, known for its hot springs, fumaroles and mud pools, the Seltún Geothermal Area (or Krýsuvík as it’s referred to) and the Kleifarvatn Lake which you can hike to and enjoy incredible sea views from the lighthouse.
Sky Lagoon: A unique bathing experience
Inspired by Iceland’s rich bathing culture, Sky Lagoon is an oceanside geothermal spa. It is authentically Icelandic with the focus on relaxation with breathtaking views across the Atlantic. At the heart of the Sky Lagoon is Skjól – an Icelandic bathing experience like no other to relax the mind, body and soul. It’s a journey of the senses powered by the elements that makes you feel completely rejuvenated.
How to get there
The Sky Lagoon is only a 15-minute drive from Reykjavik, situated on the edge of Kársnes in Kópavogur. It can be reached by car, bus, scooter, bike or if you have time, you could potentially walk. As we wanted a specific time, we booked direct with the Sky Lagoon with a transfer from Reykjavik. The transfer was from the main BSI bus station and operated by Reykjavik Excursions. This bus station is about a 10-20 minute walk from Downtown Reykjavik.
Planning your visit
The recommended time to stay in the Sky Lagoon is around two hours including the Skjól bathing ritual. Opening hours vary depending on the time of year. In October, the lagoon is open from 10am to 11pm. We visited early afternoon as we wanted to experience the lagoon and the Skjól bathing ritual off peak. The Sky Lagoon does tend to get busier in advance of the sun going down as the views across the Atlantic are sublime. Reykjavik Excursions depart from the BSI bus station every hour (midday to 7pm) with the return also hourly from 2:30pm to 9:30pm.
Sky Lagoon packages
Sky Lagoon offers two packages, Sér and Saman, both of which include admission and the unmissable Skjól bathing ritual. The Sér package provides the ultimate experience with the signature Skjól bathing ritual and access to private changing facilities included. Saman is the classic, most popular package which includes the Skjól bathing ritual and access to public changing facilities. Towels are provided so you don’t need to take your own.
On-site activities
The Skjól bathing ritual is the highlight of the Sky Lagoon experience. The Icelandic word Skjól means ‘shelter’, ‘retreat’ or ‘protection’ but it means so much due to the strong bathing culture in Iceland. The 7-step experience begins when you feel the warm embrace of the crystal clear water in the geothermal lagoon (Laug). It’s a wonderful feeling and easy to lose yourself in the calming atmosphere while taking in the North Atlantic Ocean views. If you’re brave enough, the icy outdoor plunge pool (Kuldi) is the second step which awakens your senses before entering the Turf House.
The Sky Lagoon sauna (Ylur) is remarkable offering spectacular ocean views through its vast floor to ceiling window. After walking through the refreshing mist (Súld), it’s time for the Sky Lagoon’s signature Body Scrub (Mýkt). You rub this on yourself, while enjoying the peaceful surroundings, before relaxing in the warmth of the steam room (Gufa). After a fantastic shower, the final step in the Skjól journey is to taste the krækiber berry elixir (Saft).
We felt incredibly relaxed after experiencing the Skjól bathing ritual (which you can do in your own time) and headed back into the lagoon afterwards. Although the outdoor temperature was low, it was a beautifully sunny day with barely a cloud in the sky. Beneath the cave wall cavity is the In-water Gelmir Bar where we purchased drinks which were charged to our wristband.
Facilities and amenities
The entire experience at the Sky Lagoon felt calm and relaxing. We had to take our boots off before entering the spotless public changing rooms. The women’s changing room was spacious and having visited off peak, lovely and quiet. A shower was required before entering the lagoon (this is standard in Iceland) and there was no queuing for a shower afterwards. The wrist band you are provided with when you arrived is used to open your chosen locker and make purchases. The Keimur Café at Sky Lagoon offers sandwiches, soups and bakery products from Sandholt (one of Iceland’s oldest bakeries) with the Smakk Bar providing unique Icelandic tasting platters. The Sky Lagoon gift shop smells amazing and has plenty of products to choose from. Payment was made using our wrist band on departure.
How to book
Tickets for the Sky Lagoon can be purchased direct as we did with or without the Reykjavik Excursions transfer. We found this to be the best option for us as we were on a short break and required a specific time slot. There are plenty of other ways to get there including by car if you’re on a self-drive, public bus or scooter. We had just under two hours at the Sky Lagoon which felt like a good amount of time to enjoy the lagoon and the Skjól bathing ritual which you can do at your own pace.
Other places to visit nearby
As the Sky Lagoon is so close to Reykjavik, there are plenty to things to do in and around the capital. We explored much of the central Miðborg district (Downtown Reykjavik) where many of the city’s landmarks, museums, sights and attractions are located. Perlan is a brilliant interactive nature museum with an ice cave and 360° observation deck. There’s also Skólavörðustígur (Rainbow Street) and Laugavegur, the two main shopping streets, and the Hallgrímskirkja Church and Tower. For more inspiration, have a look at our 3-day Reykjavik itinerary.
We visited the Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon off peak and loved both for different reasons. With each offering a unique experience, we couldn’t pick between the two. We’d highly recommend you experience both. If you have to pick the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon, we hope this post has provided you with enough information to make a decision. Should you need more Iceland inspiration, read our epic adventure in Reykjavik post. This covers flights, accommodation, transfers and what we packed in over a three day period.
