Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon: Which to Book, Prices and What's Included (2027)

Book Sky Lagoon if you are staying in Reykjavík and want an easy, ocean-view soak with a proper sauna ritual. Book the Blue Lagoon if you want the famous milky-blue water in a lava field and can fit it around your airport transfer. Both cost about the same in 2026, but they feel very different. Here is how they compare on price, setting, what is included and practical details, including the Blue Lagoon's closures during the Reykjanes eruptions.

Which is better, the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon?

Neither is better for everyone. The Blue Lagoon is bigger, more dramatic and more famous, with silica mud masks and bright blue water among black lava. Sky Lagoon is calmer and closer to the city, with a sea view and a structured seven-step ritual of hot and cold.

• Choose the Blue Lagoon if it is your first trip, you are flying in or out of Keflavík, you are travelling with young children, or the landscape matters most.
• Choose Sky Lagoon if you are based in Reykjavík without a car, want a sunset or evening visit on a short trip, or love saunas and cold plunges.

How do the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon compare?

Prices are dynamic at both lagoons, so the same ticket can cost more at peak times. Book directly on the operators' sites for the current rate.

What is included in a Blue Lagoon ticket?

The Blue Lagoon sells three main day packages, all with timed entry. Each includes the lagoon, the steam bath, the sauna, a colder lagoon, a silica mud mask, a towel, shampoo and conditioner, and a locker.

• Comfort, from about ISK 11,990: the basics above plus one drink from the included menu.
• Premium, from about ISK 14,990: adds a bathrobe, two extra masks and a drink of your choice at the in-water bar, plus a small skincare gift.
• Signature, from about ISK 18,490: adds a second drink and a larger skincare gift.

The separate Retreat Spa costs much more, from about ISK 79,000. Children aged 2 and over are allowed, and under-15s must be with an adult. Bathrobes and swimsuits can be rented if you forget yours.

What is included in a Sky Lagoon ticket?

Sky Lagoon has two main passes, and both include the lagoon, a towel and one journey through the Skjól ritual. The difference is the changing room.

• Saman, from about ISK 13,000–14,000: shared public changing rooms.
• Sér, from about ISK 16,000–17,000: a private changing suite, plus Sky Lagoon's body lotion.

The Skjól ritual runs in a fixed order: a warm soak in the lagoon, a cold plunge, a sauna with a sea view, a cold mist, a body scrub, a steam room, and a final shower before you go back into the lagoon. It is the main reason many people choose Sky Lagoon. Drinks are extra, from the in-water bar. The minimum age is 12, strictly enforced, and ages 12–14 must be with an adult.

Is the Blue Lagoon open after the volcanic eruptions?

Yes, as of October 2026 the Blue Lagoon is open. There has been no eruption since the one on the Sundhnúkur crater row from 16 July to 5 August 2025. But the Icelandic Met Office reported on 30 September 2026 that magma is still building up under Svartsengi, and it considers a new intrusion or eruption the most likely scenario, possibly with short warning.

The lagoon has closed several times since late 2023. It shut as a precaution from 9 November 2023 into December, closed again after eruptions in January, February and March 2024 (the March closure lasted until 7 April), and was evacuated when eruptions began in May 2024 and on 16 July 2025. In November 2024 lava flowed over its car park. Closures often last days to weeks.

If you book the Blue Lagoon, read the cancellation terms, keep a back-up plan, and check vedur.is, safetravel.is and the lagoon's site on the day. Our Reykjanes volcano guide explains the eruptions and how to view them safely.

Tip: if a Reykjanes eruption closes the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon is the easiest swap. It is in the capital area, well away from the eruption zone.

Which lagoon is easier to get to?

Sky Lagoon is easier from Reykjavík. It is about 15 minutes by car or taxi, and shuttle transfers can be added to a booking. The Blue Lagoon is 45–50 minutes from the city but only about 20 km from Keflavík Airport, so many people visit on the way in or out. See getting around Iceland for transfers and car hire.

Are there good alternatives to the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon?

Yes. If the big two are full, too expensive or closed, these are worth a look:

• Hvammsvík: eight shoreline pools on Hvalfjörður, about 45 minutes north of Reykjavík, from about ISK 7,900. Some pools rise and fall with the tide. It feels wilder than either big lagoon.
• Forest Lagoon: a woodland lagoon just outside Akureyri in the north, from about ISK 7,500, with pools around 37°C and a swim-up bar. Under-12s are not allowed after 8 pm.
• Local pools: Reykjavík's public pools cost ISK 1,500 for an adult in 2026, with hot tubs and steam rooms. Learn the shower routine first in our swimming pool etiquette guide.

For all 19 pools on the map, see our pillar guide to hot springs in Iceland.

How do you get the most out of your lagoon visit?

• Book a time slot early. Both lagoons use timed entry, and evening and summer slots sell out first.
• Protect your hair. The Blue Lagoon's silica water can leave hair stiff. Use the conditioner provided and keep your hair out of the water if you can.
• Shower first. At both lagoons you shower without your swimsuit before getting in. Divided shower cubicles are available.
• Go late in winter. Short winter days mean you can soak in the dark, with a small chance of northern lights on a clear night.
• Add a day nearby. Pair Sky Lagoon with a Golden Circle day to Þingvellir, or the Blue Lagoon with the Reykjanes coast.

Facts checked October 2026. Both lagoons use dynamic pricing, and the Blue Lagoon can close at short notice during volcanic unrest; check the Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) and safetravel.is before you travel.