5 Reasons to Add the Sky Lagoon to Your Iceland Trip

Even if you've never visited Iceland, chances are you've still heard of their many incredible geothermal hot springs. Dotted throughout the entire island of Iceland but primarily located on the western coast near Reykjavik, the Icelandic bathing culture is one thing you won't want to miss during your stay. If you look up which hot springs to visit, chances are your results will either lead you to the Blue Lagoon or to the Sky Lagoon. So, why do we recommend the Sky Lagoon over the others? Keep reading. ;)

Other posts you might be interested in :

• Ultimate 24 Hour Layover Itinerary - Reykjavik Iceland
• 3 Days in Northern Ireland Itinerary
• Best Hot Springs in Canada

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What is the Sky Lagoon?

The Sky Lagoon is an oceanside, geothermal hot spring spa open year round. With multiple amenities onsite, there's multiple reasons we recommend booking an experience here over some of the other hot spring options near Reykjavik. Although we go into more detail below, we promise you'll leave the Sky Lagoon feeling completely renewed and refreshed!

​It's worth noting that passes to the Sky Lagoon sell out in advance, and it's highly recommend to secure your spot at the Sky Lagoon before your trip - we arrived when they opened at 10 am and they were already sold out for the day. If you purchase the Sky Pass, you'll even have your own private changing and shower room!

Looking for a place to stay near the Sky Lagoon? We loved our stay at Hilton Reykjavik Nordica!

An Icelandic Necessity

1. The Seven Step Ritual
The Seven Step Ritual at the Sky Lagoon is the highlight of the experience for sure, and it's well worth paying extra money for. You'll begin in the Lagoon itself, warming up before making your way into the Cold Plunge. From there, you'll head inside to an area only open to those with access to the Seven step Ritual (which is why we recommend getting the Sky Pass). Inside, you'll experience a sauna with the most incredible views, a cold mist, a special Sky Scrub, a steam room, and a rejuvenating shower before heading back into the Lagoon. Make sure to take your time enjoying each step, you only get to go through one time!

2. The Views
The views at the Sky Lagoon are truly incredible. Even though chances are the Lagoon will be sold out the day you visit (just like it was during our visit) we still felt like we had plenty of privacy in the Lagoon, and were able to find many places to sit and just unwind. Basically, it never felt too crowded - so kudos to the design layout for providing lots of little nooks to relax. Not to mention, the Lagoon itself overlooks the ocean - and with an infinity edge we even saw a seal right in front of us while we were enjoying the geothermal water! We've even heard that in the winter months you have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights from here!

3. The Food
Unfortunately with our 24 hour layover we didn't have time to enjoy the cafe onsite before heading off to the airport, but after a bit of research we've found that the consensus is...drumroll please...YUM. With the renewed energy of relaxing at the Lagoon and making your way through the Seven-Step Ritual - you'll most likely want to make a quick stop at the Smakk Bar or Sky Cafe. Both are only available to guests who have completed their Sky Lagoon experience, and it's a great way to share some local cuisine and light snacks with your group! Inside the Lagoon, there's also the "In Water Lagoon Bar" where you can order a classic Icelandic Beer, cocktail, or glass or wine to enjoy during your geothermal experience!

4. The Location
Unlike many other popular geothermal hot springs, the Sky Lagoon is located right in town, making it an easy stop for visitors without having to stray too far from Reykjavik! For example, the Sky Lagoon is only a 13 minute drive from the Reykjavik City Center, whereas the Blue Lagoon is 50 minutes from the city center. Located at Vesturvor 44, Karsnes Harbour, Kopavogur - you can either drive yourself (there's plenty of parking), take this tour that happens to includes transportation, or take the public bus!

5. A Pass for Everyone
The Sky Lagoon offers three different pass options for visitors. The Pure Lite Pass includes the Lagoon & Cold Plunge Experience with public changing rooms and is the cheapest option at 6,790 ISK (about $49 USD). The Pure Pass is said to be the most popular, and it the middle tier option that includes the Lagoon and entire Seven-Step Ritual with public changing rooms, and comes to 9,790 ISK (about $70 USD). The last option is the Sky Pass, which includes the Lagoon and entire Seven-Step Ritual and even upgrades you to private changing and shower rooms. The Sky Pass comes to 12,790 ISK (about $92 USD). We experienced the Sky Pass admission to the Lagoon and couldn't genuinely recommend the other two over this one!

Watch our Sky Lagoon Experience here!

Other Iceland Blog Posts :

• 24 Hour Layover Itinerary (Reykjavik)
• Sky Lagoon - Why You Need To Go

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