Sky Lagoon Pure Ritual

Sky Lagoon arrived in 2021 and immediately changed the conversation about geothermal bathing in Iceland. Where the Blue Lagoon trades on its otherworldly lava field setting and mineral-rich water, Sky Lagoon plays a different card: design, ocean views, and a structured wellness ritual that turns a simple soak into something more intentional.

The Setting

Built into the rocky coastline of Kopavogur, just south of Reykjavik, Sky Lagoon features an infinity-edge geothermal pool that appears to merge with the North Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day, you float in 38-degree water while looking out across the sea toward the Reykjanes Peninsula and, on the clearest days, the distant silhouette of the Snaefellsnes glacier.

The architecture is deliberately Icelandic — turf walls, raw concrete, and natural stone — and the facility is built into the landscape rather than sitting on top of it. The effect is intimate and grounded, a deliberate contrast to the Blue Lagoon's sprawling modernism.

The Seven-Step Ritual

The Pure Ritual is what elevates Sky Lagoon from a simple hot pool to a genuine wellness experience. The seven steps are designed to be followed in sequence.

You begin in the geothermal lagoon itself, soaking until your muscles loosen and your mind quiets. Then comes the cold plunge — a small pool of genuinely cold water that shocks your circulation awake. The sauna follows, a wood-lined room with a glass wall facing the ocean where you can watch the waves while your body heats back up.

After the sauna, a cold mist cools you down before you apply the sky body scrub — a salt-and-oil mixture that you rub across your skin. The steam room, infused with herbal scent, is next: a warm fog that softens the scrub and opens your pores. Finally, a thorough shower rinses everything away and you return to the lagoon, your skin tingling and your body deeply relaxed.

The full ritual takes 30 to 45 minutes and is genuinely therapeutic. Regular visitors report improvements in sleep, muscle tension, and overall stress levels.

Versus the Blue Lagoon

The comparison is inevitable, so here it is plainly. The Blue Lagoon has the famous silica water, the larger bathing area, and the longer heritage. Sky Lagoon has better design, ocean views, the bathing ritual, and a more grown-up atmosphere. The Blue Lagoon is closer to the airport; Sky Lagoon is closer to Reykjavik.

If you can only visit one, choose based on what matters to you. For a unique natural phenomenon, go to the Blue Lagoon. For a curated wellness experience with a view, choose Sky Lagoon. If you have time, do both — they complement each other surprisingly well.

Practical Details

Sky Lagoon is a 15-minute drive from central Reykjavik, with free parking on site. The facility is compact and well-designed, with clear signage in English. Bring your own swimsuit — rental is not available. Arrive a few minutes before your time slot to allow for changing and showering before entering the lagoon.

Evening visits are particularly atmospheric, with the ocean views transforming into city lights across the bay and, in winter, the possibility of northern lights above the infinity edge.