In case you’ve heard a phrase about Iceland, you have heard concerning the well-known Blue Lagoon or a minimum of photographs of its milky blue waters on social media. However be careful, Blue Lagoon: There’s one other geothermal pool that must be in your listing in the event you’re heading to Iceland.
The Sky Lagoon opened in 2021, and that is perhaps a part of its enchantment. It is not a hidden gem by any means – you will discover loads of advertisements for it the second you land in Iceland – however it would not but have the identical stage of notoriety or crowds because the Blue Lagoon. Very similar to different thermal swimming pools, Sky Lagoon leans right into a schtick: the seven-step ritual, a wellness routine you possibly can (and will) partake in, impressed by conventional Icelandic bathing tradition. Nevertheless it works.
I visited each on a latest journey to Iceland and let me let you know: In case you can solely squeeze one thermal pool into your itinerary, Sky Lagoon must be the one. Here is why.
The place is Sky Lagoon?
The Sky Lagoon is situated about quarter-hour from the middle of Reykjavik and about 45 minutes from Keflavik airport. That makes the Blue Lagoon a extra handy possibility for a fast go to throughout a layover, whereas Sky Lagoon is straightforward to work right into a keep in Reykjavik.
To get to Sky Lagoon, you possibly can take a taxi or rideshare from Reykjavik. In case you’ve rented a automobile, there is a free parking zone accessible.
The geothermal spa is situated proper on the tip of a peninsula. The view of the fjord as you stroll in is breathtaking.
Sky Lagoon Tickets
It is not a more sensible choice as a result of it is cheaper.
Price-wise, it is on par with the Blue Lagoon – plus, your ticket would not include a free first drink or mud masks. However the expertise greater than makes up for it.
Just like the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon makes use of dynamic pricing to account for busy journey occasions. There are three packages you possibly can select from, however solely two of the three embrace the seven-step ritual. The overall admission ticket begins at $65, however if you wish to partake within the seven-step ritual you will find yourself paying about $22 extra.
Right here’s what you get with every ticket:
Pure Lite: The overall admission ticket
- Costs begin at round $65
- Sky Lagoon admission (and limitless visits to the chilly plunge pool)
- Contains towel
Pure: The marginally upgraded bundle, contains the seven-step ritual
- Costs begin round $87
- Sky Lagoon admission (and limitless visits to the chilly plunge pool)
- One journey by the seven-step ritual
- Contains towel
Sky: The most costly bundle
- Costs begin round $110
- Sky Lagoon admission
- One journey by the seven-step ritual
- Non-public altering room
- Contains towel
Thrifty Tip: Costs are typically cheaper within the first and previous few hours of the Sky Lagoon’s open hours. In case you’re seeking to save, select the most cost effective time to go to! There is not a most time restrict, so choosing a morning time can get you extra bang to your buck.
Whereas you should purchase tickets on the entrance desk, you possibly can save 10% by reserving forward on-line, which is what we did. We booked a 7 p.m. time slot in the course of the peak summer season journey season, paying about $99 for the Pure bundle as a result of it included the seven-step ritual.
It was positively the priciest thermal pool we visited, however understand that Iceland is a notoriously costly nation.
What to Count on on the Sky Lagoon
After checking in, you are given a wristband that locks and unlocks your locker and acts as a bank card for any meals or drinks you buy throughout your keep.
The locker rooms have been the nicest I encountered at any of the thermal swimming pools I visited throughout my time in Iceland. They have been spacious and upscale, with delicate wooden and stone accents.
You first enter the pool by a cave tunnel, then observe the twists and turns of the excessive lava rock partitions by the pool till you are met with an unimaginable vista of the ocean and close by mountains. The pool’s infinity edge makes it straightforward to overlook you are simply minutes from the middle of Iceland’s largest metropolis.
On one finish of the spacious pool, there is a waterfall you possibly can swim below. On the opposite, there is a chilly plunge pool and a constructing the place you will undergo the seven-step ritual, constructed within the model of an Icelandic turf home. There is a swim-up bar and loads of underwater benches to loosen up on all through.
Personally, the chilly plunge pool was one in every of my favourite options of the Sky Lagoon. Leaving the heat of the thermal pool and submerging your self within the icy water for a brief time period is meant to stimulate your immune system and cut back irritation along with giving a pure endorphin rush, in accordance with the Sky Lagoon web site. We most likely did the chilly plunge three or 4 occasions throughout our keep, and it made the nice and cozy pool really feel even higher.
Once we arrived, the pool was pretty crowded and there was no scarcity of individuals filming movies or taking photographs with their cell telephones. Nonetheless, there have been loads of quiet alcoves to tuck into if you’d like just a little privateness.
We arrived at 7 p.m. and stayed till shut, which was nice because the pool emptied out in direction of the tip of the evening and we had it virtually to ourselves. That made the expertise even higher. Plus, we visited in the course of the midnight solar, when Iceland sees practically 24 hours of daylight. This was our view at 10:30 p.m.
We had spent many of the day driving the Golden Circle, so just a few hours on the Sky Lagoon was the right method to unwind after a protracted day within the automobile.
Sky Lagoon Meals & Drinks
The swim-up bar had wine, beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. Company are restricted to 3 drinks, no matter how lengthy they spend within the pool.
I opted for a glass of glowing white wine and a few of my buddies ordered one of many Icelandic beers on faucet. Costs have been on par with what you’d discover at most bars and eating places in Iceland, starting from about $12 for beer and wine to $18 for a cocktail.
There are a number of meals choices on the Sky Lagoon – the Smakk Bar and the Sky Café, each situated exterior the pool space. We did not eat at both, however they provided some conventional Icelandic dishes and treats in addition to espresso and drinks.
Sky Lagoon Seven-Step Ritual
In case you booked the ticket that features the seven-step ritual, you will get a second wristband that can get you into the turf home. A workers member will take your wristband earlier than you enter, as you will solely get to undergo the ritual as soon as (though all visitors are welcome to make use of the chilly plunge pool as many occasions as they want).
The seven-step ritual contains:
- Calm down within the thermal pool
- Chilly plunge
- Sauna
- Chilly mist
- Cleaning sea salt scrub
- Steam
- Bathe
You’ll be able to undergo the ritual at any time. We spent about an hour within the thermal pool earlier than beginning the subsequent step: the chilly plunge.
The workers would not offer you many directions on what to do at every step, however we requested a workers member they usually advisable spending a minimum of 30 seconds within the frigid water. Within the sauna, a large floor-to-ceiling window lets you look out over the fjord as you loosen up within the warmth.
After cooling down with the chilly mist, we utilized the cleaning sea salt scrub and entered the steam room. The steam is meant to open your pores and permit the scrub to seep in. You end the ritual with a fast bathe to rinse off the scrub earlier than leaving the turf home and reentering the principle pool space.
At occasions, each the sauna and steam room felt a bit crowded. I do not know whether or not Sky Lagoon limits how many individuals can undergo the seven-step ritual at a time, however it’s value maintaining a tally of what number of visitors you have seen go contained in the turf home and timing your personal ritual accordingly.
You’ll be able to take as lengthy (or as little) time to undergo the steps as you prefer to, however you possibly can’t redo any of them. I would advocate going by slowly to actually get the complete impact.
General, I felt the seven-step ritual was value it. I returned to the principle pool feeling each relaxed and invigorated.
Sky Lagoon vs. Blue Lagoon: Which is Higher?
Iceland is thought for its sizzling springs and geothermally-heated swimming pools, none extra recognizable than the Blue Lagoon. It is one of the well-liked points of interest in Iceland, largely attributable to its proximity to the airport and distinctive milky blue waters wealthy in silica, algae, and different minerals.
The 2 have some clear similarities. For starters, neither the Blue Lagoon nor the Sky Lagoon is a pure sizzling spring: They’re each man-made lagoons with geothermally heated water.
The Blue Lagoon is greater and has way more onsite facilities than the Sky Lagoon, together with a lodge, spa packages, and several other onsite eating places. And even a basic admission ticket for the Blue Lagoon features a free first drink of your selection and a complimentary silica mud masks in addition to limitless entry to the sauna and steam room.
However the Blue Lagoon has its drawbacks. At the beginning: It is crowded.
Once we arrived at 9 p.m. in late June, the parking zone was nonetheless fully full and the locker rooms felt a bit chaotic. And whereas the nice and cozy, blue waters of the Blue Lagoon itself are a sight to behold, the environment behind you resembles extra of a theme park than a calming spa.
Learn extra: Is the Blue Lagoon in Iceland Value it?
The Sky Lagoon pool, by comparability, is far smaller. But it would not but see the identical crowds because the Blue Lagoon. The Sky Lagoon can be newer and felt extra upscale. And whereas the seven-step ritual comes with an added price, it was one in every of a number of issues on the Sky Lagoon that felt extra like an genuine Icelandic expertise.
However the Sky Lagoon’s finest promoting level is perhaps the views. The Sky Lagoon is situated on a peninsula overlooking the ocean, permitting you to take views of the ocean as you loosen up within the heat, thermal waters.
However there isn’t any cause you possibly can’t go to each! We frolicked at each the Sky Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon, in addition to one other thermal tub, Geosea, in north Iceland. Every gives a distinct expertise and I discovered all three to be pleasurable and stress-free – crowds or not.
I am glad I skilled the Blue Lagoon … however I do not really feel a powerful want to return. But when (learn as: when) I’m going again to Iceland, I’d positively pay the Sky Lagoon one other go to.
Backside Line
From the upscale locker rooms to the distinctive Icelandic design of the pool to the seven-step ritual that was properly well worth the cash, the Sky Lagoon stood out as my favourite of the three thermal swimming pools I visited throughout my latest journey to Iceland.
In case you’re spending any time in Reykjavik – or anyplace in Iceland, actually – the Sky Lagoon must be in your listing.