Blue Lagoon vs. Sky Lagoon: Which One is Better?
“Bathing” or swimming culture throughout Iceland is one of the reasons I love to visit Iceland. It revolves around socializing in heated pools or lagoons. The most popular one is of course The Blue Lagoon. But a newcomer, Sky Lagoon, is starting to come up the tourist circles, especially with recent seismic activity near the Blue Lagoon. I have been to both twice and here are my thoughts if you are trying to decide which one to visit.
Blue Lagoon
Obviously, the Blue Lagoon is iconic. There are hot springs and lagoons around the world, but the naturally occurring blue color is one of a kind, produced by the silica and algae in water. But is it the best lagoon to visit in Iceland?
Pros:
The Blue Lagoon is an iconic world wonder. You can’t find naturally occurring water like this anywhere else in the world.
The face masks they offer are a nice experience. The Blue Lagoon produces a skincare line that you can sample while relaxing in the pool. They left my skin feeling wonderful
The swim-up bar is very handy. They have a delicious green juice option and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage selections as well as water stations throughout the lagoon.
The dining options are fabulous. The Blue Lagoon has a casual eatery as well as two fine-dining restaurants on the property all with absolutely stunning views.
You can stay at the Blue Lagoon - for a price. The Blue Lagoon also houses two on site hotels, The Silica and The Retreat.
They offer truly relaxing spa services. Where else can you get an in-water massage?!
Cons:
You have to be careful with your hair. The silica in the water can dry out and harden your hair. You need to coat it in conditioner (which is provided) and try to keep it as dry as possible.
You can’t see through the water. I dropped my sunglasses and had a hard time trying to fish them out.
It’s a little bit away from Reyvavik. The Blue Lagoon does offer shuttles to and from the lagoon but it’s about 45 minutes away.
Sky Lagoon
Sky Lagoon is a newcomer tourism attraction, closer to Reyvavik. With the addition of shuttle buses from the capital city, it is even easier to access the beautiful landscape views that Sky Lagoon offers. But with all of that, is it worth skipping the Blue Lagoon?
Pros:
Sky Lagoon offers private changing rooms. Icelandic rules require you to shower naked before getting in the lagoon. Sky Lagoon has private shower stalls, but here you can pay for a private changing room if you don’t want to change and shower in front of everyone.
They also have swimsuit rentals for a low price. You can rent a swimsuit if you forget like me. Plus sizes included.
The seven-step skincare routine is a lot of fun. You can pay for a seven-step skincare ritual which includes additional cool plunges and sauna access (pictured above).
They have crystal clear blue-green water. You can actually see through the water and can get your hair wet without damage.
The location is better for those staying in Reyvavik. Sky Lagoon is much closer to Reyvavik and they run shuttles as well.
The views are spectacular. The edge of the lagoon is an infinity pool with amazing views of mountain ranges and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cons:
They have fewer dining options. They have a cafe and a casual eatery but not a full-service restaurant certainly not Michelin-star cuisine.
They don’t accept Apple Pay. They are one of the few places in Iceland that don't accept Apple Pay. It was more annoying than anything.
My Decision
My advice would be to try to go to both. They are both different experiences and I don’t think either completely outweighs the other. But… if you are limited to one… my choice is The Blue Lagoon. You can get hot springs, thermal baths, etc. elsewhere in the world, but not the “blue” nature of the blue lagoon. And if you want to dive more into authentic Icelandic culture, you can visit one of Iceland’s local lagoons as well.
