Lady’s Review of Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik

Today I want to bring you an advertising feature in partnership with Pursuit about Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik, Iceland. This spa is the perfect place to relax, indulge, and soak up the traditional Icelandic bathing culture.

Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik Review

I’ve traveled to Reykjavik for a few days to do some sightseeing and experience two of Pursuit’s new experiences: Sky Lagoon and FlyOver Iceland.

Given they’ve both been popular with locals and visitors since they opened, I’m looking forward to discovering what they have to offer.

Sky Lagoon

My press group leaves our accommodation, the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina, and takes a 20-minute taxi ride to Sky Lagoon.

The spa is conveniently located right in the city, making it easy to get to and convenient to visit as part of our time in the Icelandic capital.

We arrive in time to get a private tour of Sky Lagoon before it opens for the day. First we notice the exterior, which features unique lava rocks in a nod to Iceland’s volcanic landscapes.

Entering the spa, we pass the ticket counters and get a glimpse of the Sky Cafe and Smakk Bar by Sky Lagoon. They offer a great blend of traditional and contemporary atmosphere, and I can’t wait to try their food and drinks.

From the restaurants we head into the locker rooms. Everything from the lockers to the wood-paneled changing rooms features great Icelandic design.

But the real treat is outside. The Sky Lagoon sits right on the waterfront, and there are views of fjords and glaciers from the steaming lagoon. We can even see the president’s house on the horizon.

As we take in everything from waterfalls to plunge pools, we learn about Sky Lagoon’s Seven Step Ritual. The process starts with a soak in the lagoon and a dip in a cold outdoor plunge pool.

From there it continues indoors with a trip to the sauna, a cold mist shower, a sea-salt body scrub with sesame, grape, and almond oils, a steam room, and an outdoor shower.

After the tour we sit down for lunch at Sky Cafe. It serves both hearty and light meals made with fresh ingredients. From pastries to bread from one of the oldest bakeries in Iceland, there’s a lot on offer.

We order at the counter and enjoy everything from soup with wild rice to bagels with gravadlax in the rustic-chic dining room.

Afterwards, we change into our bathing suits and experience the Seven Step Ritual. The lava rock-lined lagoon is the perfect place to relax and get acclimated to the spa. There’s a swim-up bar, too.

From there we brave the cold plunge pool before seeking warmth in the sauna. The latter features wall-to-wall windows with views across the water. It’s a great place to dry off, reheat, and be dazzled by Iceland’s magical landscapes.

We continue the ritual with the mist shower, which is in an outdoor space with high walls and an open roof. It feels great to cool off and feel the water on our skin as we look up at the clouds.

Back inside, we massage the body scrub into our skin and let it get to work. The mix of rough exfoliation and nourishing oil feels amazing.

Bodies scrubbed, we relax in the steam room. It’s so misty we feel like we each have our own private space within the place.

Back outside, we finish the ritual with a cold shower.

But we’re not done yet. Back into the lagoon we go, some of us for a second round of the ritual, others for a long, leisurely soak.

At the end of the day we’re rewarded with a spectacular sunset over the water. The orange orb takes its time to sink into the sea, and we watch the sky go from orange to purple and blue.

After sunset, we head back into the main building to shower and change. There are hairdryers in the changing rooms, but I wish I’d known there wouldn’t be hairbrushes and other items I’m used to finding in British spas. I’ll remember to bring my own next time.

After changing, we enjoy dinner at Smakk Bar by Sky Lagoon. It offers a range of Icelandic specialties and drinks, including five unique tasting plates.

We tuck into heaping platters of seasonal local produce for our meal. Everything from reindeer pate to smoked lamb and Icelandic cheese impresses us.

By the time we leave, we feel relaxed and satisfied. It’s been a great day, and a fun way to experience the local culture.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Reykjavik, but this has been one of my favorites (and I’ve been to the city three times). If you get a chance to come to Sky Lagoon yourself, I’m confident you’ll agree.

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