Sky Lagoon

What to expect

Sky Lagoon is a purpose-built geothermal lagoon at the end of the Kársnes peninsula in Kópavogur, the town that borders Reykjavík to the south. Construction started in early 2020 and it opened in 2021. It is not a natural hot spring. The lagoon is filled with geothermal water drawn from deep underground and kept at about 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C, and it is shallow enough to stand in everywhere, at most 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) deep.

The design is built around the view. The lagoon has an infinity edge that seems to spill straight into the sea, with rough rock and turf walls on the land side. On a clear day you look across the bay toward the Reykjanes mountains, Keilir among them, and on the clearest days to Snæfellsjökull far to the north-west. There is an in-water bar, and the ritual is run from a building styled on a traditional Icelandic turf house.

Compared with the Blue Lagoon, it is closer to the city, the water is clear rather than milky, and the visit is built around the ritual rather than mud masks. It is still a busy commercial spa, so if you want empty natural pools, go elsewhere.

The Skjól Ritual

Every pass includes one round of the seven-step ritual, which the lagoon presents as a tour of Icelandic bathing traditions. You do the steps in order, at your own pace.

1. Laug: start in the warm lagoon.
2. Kuldi: a cold plunge pool at about 41°F5°C, modelled on Snorralaug, the medieval pool at Reykholt.
3. Ylur: a sauna with a single large window looking out to sea. The lagoon says it is the largest single window in Iceland.
4. Súld: a cold mist, also around 41°F5°C.
5. Mýkt: rub on the Sky Body Scrub, which contains almond oil and sesame oil. Skip it if you have a nut or sesame allergy.
6. Gufa: a steam room at about 115°F46°C, with the scrub still on.
7. Saft: a small shot of crowberry drink, then back into the lagoon.

You can use the lagoon and cold plunge as often as you like. The ritual and the Gelmir in-water bar close an hour before closing time.

Prices and booking

Book online for a set arrival time. Prices change with the date and time slot. The lagoon’s site showed these starting prices in October 2026 (we converted the site’s foreign-currency display back to ISK at its own rate, so check the ISK price when you book):

• Saman, from ISK 14,990 (youth ISK 7,495): entry, one round of the ritual, unlimited use of the lagoon and cold plunge, the public changing rooms with shower cubicles, shampoo and conditioner, a shared vanity area and a towel.
• Sér, from ISK 17,990 (youth ISK 8,995): the same plus a private changing room and shower, body lotion, a private vanity area and a reusable waterproof bag.
• Couples packages: two passes with a drink each and a platter from Smakk Bar, available from 12:00, cost more per person. There is also a morning package with breakfast from 09:00 to 12:00.

On arrival you get a wristband that opens your locker and works as a payment card for drinks and food. Gift tickets are valid for four years. You can cancel in writing ([email protected]) at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund if your group is 10 people or fewer.

Age rules: the minimum age is 12. Guests aged 12 to 14 must be with a guardian aged 18 or older, and staff may ask for ID. The lagoon suggests the Sér changing rooms for families who want more privacy.

Hours (2026-27):

• Winter, 21 October to 30 April: 10:00 to 21:00
• Spring, 1 May to 20 June: 10:00 to 22:00
• Summer, 21 June to 20 August: 09:00 to 23:00
• Autumn, 21 August to 20 October: 09:00 to 22:00
• Holidays: 24 December 09:00 to 18:00, 25 December 09:00 to 20:00, 26 December 11:00 to 22:00, 31 December 09:00 to 20:00, 1 January 09:00 to 22:00

Guests must leave the lagoon 30 minutes before closing. The lagoon suggests 1.5 to 2 hours for a visit.

Getting there

Sky Lagoon is at Vesturvör 44-48, 200 Kópavogur, on the shore at the far end of Kársnes.

• By car: From Hlemmur, take Kringlumýrarbraut (Route 40) south, continue onto Kársnesbraut and follow it west to Vesturvör. The lagoon puts it at about 13 minutes from the city centre and 45 minutes from Keflavík Airport. Parking is free with no time limit, and there are electric car chargers.
• By bus: Bus 4 from Hlemmur to Hamraborg (about 15 minutes), then bus 35 or 36 to Bakkabraut (about 5 minutes). Walk down Bakkabraut to Vesturvör and along the shore.
• From the airport: The Flybus stops at Hamraborg. From there it is about 30 minutes on foot, a short bus ride on 35 or 36, or about 5 minutes by taxi.
• Shuttle: passes can be booked with a transfer from Reykjavík, run by a partner coach company.
• On foot or bike: about 6 km (3.7 miles) from Hlemmur, roughly an hour and a half on foot.

When to go

Sky Lagoon is open every day of the year. Evenings from September to March bring the chance of northern lights over the bay, though the lights around the lagoon and the city glow reduce your odds. In summer the sun stays up so late that an evening visit means long, low light over the water. Weekend afternoons and summer evenings are the busiest slots and sell out first.

Bathing culture

The lagoon follows normal Icelandic rules. Shower thoroughly without your swimsuit before you enter the lagoon, then put it on. The Saman changing rooms have shower cubicles, so you have some privacy while you wash. Swimsuits are worn throughout. No outside drinks.

Accessibility

The lagoon is wheelchair accessible and has a private accessible changing suite. Lifts take guests into the lagoon, the cold plunge and the turf house, and an on-site wheelchair can be used for the ritual. Guests who prefer a private or gender-neutral changing space can ask at check-in for a private room.

Where to stay nearby

There is no hotel at the lagoon. Most visitors stay in central Reykjavík, about 13 minutes’ drive away, where there is every kind of hotel and guesthouse. Kópavogur itself also has some hotels and guesthouses. Campers can use the Reykjavík Campsite in Laugardalur.

Safety notes

• Heat and drinks: 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C water and drinks from the swim-up bar dehydrate you faster than you expect. Drink water and take breaks.
• Cold plunge and mist: the 41°F5°C plunge is a shock. Lower yourself in slowly, and skip it if you have a heart condition or are pregnant.
• Scrub allergies: the body scrub contains almond and sesame oils.
• Slippery surfaces: rock and wooden walkways get slick and icy in winter.

Nearby stops worth adding

For a cheaper, more local soak, the Reykjavík city pools are close. Sundhöll Reykjavíkur near Hallgrímskirkja and Vesturbæjarlaug in the west of the city both cost a fraction of a lagoon pass. Nauthólsvík, the geothermal beach below Öskjuhlíð, is just across the water from Kársnes.

See also: Blue Lagoon, Sundhöll Reykjavíkur, Vesturbæjarlaug and Laugardalslaug.