BLUE LAGOON VS. SKY LAGOON: WHICH ICELANDIC SPA SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Perks and Price Value
Quick Comparisons
Which Should You Choose?
Iceland is famous for geothermal bathing, and two world-class spa experiences attract visitors from all over the globe. In this post, we’ll compare the iconic Laguna Azul with the newer but hugely popular Sky Lagoon: two unforgettable ways to unwind in Iceland’s soothing geothermal waters.
Northern Lights over Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Overview: The Classics vs. The Contemporary
- The Blue Lagoon has been an Icelandic staple since the 1980s. Located in a geothermically active area and surrounded by ancient lava fields, this geothermal spa is known for its striking milky-blue waters rich in silica, algae, and minerals: elements said to have therapeutic benefits for the skin.
- Sky Lagoon, just outside Reykjavik, offers a fresh take on the Icelandic bathing tradition. Its design and experience leverage modern luxury and a deep connection to Nordic wellness culture, including an immersive 7-Step Ritual inspired by local bathing customs.
Quick Comparison: Blue Lagoon vs. Sky Lagoon
The Laguna Azul is Iceland’s most famous geothermal spa and feels iconic, expansive, and social, making it especially appealing to first-time visitors and families. It offers a larger bathing area, includes signature silica mud masks, and features extensive amenities such as restaurants and even on-site luxury accommodation. Its setting in a dramatic lava field creates a surreal, otherworldly atmosphere that many travelers associate instantly with Iceland.
In contrast, Sky Lagoon delivers a more modern and intimate experience with a strong focus on relaxation y wellness. It is best known for its immersive wellness experience, which combines hot and cold therapy. Located closer to Reykjavik, Sky Lagoon offers an infinity-edge pool y sauna overlooking the North Atlantic—an especially memorable setting at sunset.
Piscina infinita junto al océano en Sky Lagoon
Visitors soaking in the milky-blue waters of the Blue Lagoon
Experience & Atmosphere
Laguna Azul
Steeped in history and instantly recognizable, this destination feels otherworldly. Surrounded by rugged lava fields and wide open skies, the lagoon’s milky blue waters are warm year-round and perfect for a long, soothing soak.
Signature features:
- Silica mud mask included with all tickets.
- Larger overall pool area (about 8,700 m²) with plenty of space to spread out.
- On-site luxury lodging options for an exclusive wellness retreat.
- Multiple restaurants y dining experiences with views over the lagoon.
Sky Lagoon
Sky Lagoon prioritizes immersion y reflection. The experience centers around the 7-Step Sky Ritual, a structured sequence of warm dips, cold plunges, saunas, steam rooms, and more. The lagoon’s oceanfront infinity design gives the impression that you’re bathing at the edge of the North Atlantic, especially spectacular at sunset.
Signature features:
- The 7-Step Ritual, a wellness journey with alternating heat and cold experiences.
- Epic ocean views from the infinity edge pool y ocean-facing sauna.
- Modern Nordic design that emphasizes serenity and connection to nature.
- Slightly smaller but intimate pool layout with varied spaces to explore.
Silica face masks at the Blue Lagoon
Pricing & Value: Blue Lagoon
Ticket packages include perks like silica masks, towels, drinks, etc. Premium packages can stretch into a full wellness day with extras.
Why choose Blue Lagoon:
✔ Classic, iconic Iceland experience
✔ Great for first-time visitors and families
✔ Larger area with more dining and accommodation options
Pricing & Value: Sky Lagoon
This lagoon often offers slightly more flexible pricing tiers (including the signature 7-Step Ritual)
Why choose Sky Lagoon:
✔ More immersive wellness focus
✔ Closer to Reykjavik
✔ Stunning ocean views and sunset potential
Expert’s Tip: Advance booking is strongly recommended for both, especially during peak travel months, as spaces can fill up quickly.
Choose admission to Laguna Azul or Sky Lagoon with transportation from Reykjavík included for a hassle free experience.
Huésped disfrutando de un baño en Sky Lagoon
Why not choose both?
If your trip allows, doing both can give you two uniquely Icelandic spa experiences: one rooted in history and geothermal mystique, and the other built around modern luxury and ritual.
Join a combo tour, including a day tour + spa experience, and get the best out of your Iceland stay.
Our recommended Blue Lagoon Combo Tours
- Visita Iceland’s top natural landmarks in one convenient, time-saving tour.
- Relax in the Blue Lagoon’s Disfruta de cálidas aguas geotérmicas after a full day of sightseeing.
- Enjoy stress-free travel with transport, planning, and entry all included.
- Soak in the Blue Lagoon’s warm geothermal waters surrounded by Icelandic scenery.
- Chase the stunning La danza de las Auroras with expert guides on a night tour.
- Enjoy a seamless experience with transport and planning included.
Our recommended Sky Lagoon Combo Tours
- See Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle sights in one efficient, guided day trip.
- Relax with stunning ocean views at Sky Lagoon’s signature infinity edge.
- Enjoy a seamless experience with transport and planning included.
- Explore Iceland’s dramatic South Coast waterfalls, black sand beaches, and glaciers in one tour.
- Unwind with sea views at Sky Lagoon’s relaxing infinity-edge geothermal spa.
- Enjoy a hassle-free experience with transport and planning taken care of.
Expert’s Tip: Planning a short weekend stay? Check out our perfect two-day itinerary, inclusive of a visit to our favourite geothermal lagoons.
Plan your visit wisely: each lagoon offers something special, and both show Iceland’s geothermal magic in very different lights!
Northern lights over the Blue Lagoon
Únete a un tour guiado para ver Auroras Boreales
Skip the stress of winter driving in the dark and join a group of like-minded adventurers on a guided Northern Lights hunt.
FAQ about the Northern Lights
¿Cuándo puedo ver las Auroras Boreales en Islandia?
During this long period, Iceland experiences sufficient darkness for the Aurora to be visible at night.
However, chances of experiencing the northern lights vary depending on the time of year. Find out which months are the best for seeing the Aurora aquí.
Why can't I see any northern lights in the summer ?
Want to know more about light conditions in Iceland? Check the sun graph and learn about twilight and dusk in Iceland.
What time do the northern lights show up?
During the winter months, when the hours of light are limited, the northern lights can often appear as early at 7:00pm.
As the exact time of an Aurora display cannot be predicted, keep your eyes at the sky. And remember, patience is key!
How long do the northern lights last?
Each northern lights display is different, and varies in duration. Furthermore, the northern lights are not always visible for the entire duration of a single Auroral episode: they often change in intensity throughout a single display, and can go from very bright to incredibly faint, to the point they are hardly visible at all any more.
Learn more about how the northern lights behave duration-wise aquí.
Can I see the northern lights when it is cloudy?
As long as we can find some gaps in the cloud cover, some windows of clear sky – there’s hope.
And, even when it’s cloudy, keep in mind that not all clouds are the same. For example, high clouds are often see-through and do not necessarily disrupt our view. Rule of thumb: if you can see the stars, you can potentially see the northern lights too.
Once again, keep your eyes at the sky y check the forecast regularly for the most reliable prediction.
Do the northern lights only appear when it is cold?
As you can imagine, this means that you don’t need cold temperatures to see an Aurora (although you should not expect t-shirt weather at night in Iceland, not even in August).
The northern lights happen way above the weather systems, and are not influenced by weather systems and temperature fluctuations in the lower atmosphere.
Find out more aquí.
Are the northern lights visible all over Iceland?
In the Arctic region, the belt extends between 60°N and 70°N latitude. As Islandia in its entirety is included between 63°N and 67°N, and therefore well within the aurora belt, chances of seeing the northern lights are virtually the same everywhere around the island – if weather allows.
That said, the likelihood of witnessing the northern lights is higher away from the city lights, and some areas around the country are especially scenic. Here are our favourite locations for northern lights spotting in Iceland.
Are the northern lights really colourful?
The northern lights happen in a variety of colours. Green is by far the most common, but the Aurora can also appear in vibrant shades of pink, purple, red, violet and blue.
To the naked eye though, the northern lights can look quite faint, and at times be perceived as white or grey-ish. This is due to limitations in our night vision.
Camera devices instead can capture a more truthful version of the colours, as, in most cases, it possible to adjust the device settings in order to better adapt to the night time conditions.
Find more about how to improve your night vision and learn how to take great Aurora shots aquí.
Are the northern lights going to disappear in future?
No, the northern lights are not going anywhere!
The Aurora has been visible in the Arctic for centuries, and that is not going to change any times soon.
What is true is that the solar activity, which is responsabile for the occurrence of the northern lights on our planet, changes over time, following an eleven-year cycle.
During each solar cycle, the Sun goes from a peak to a minimum of activity. During the peak, the so called “solar maximum“, we can expect enhanced activity and, potentially, stronger northern lights visible from unusual latitudes (in the northern hemisphere, this means Auroras being spotted further south than usual). While, during the solar minimum, such unusually strong occurrences become rarer.
Still, at Arctic latitudes the northern lights can be see clearly throughout the whole cycle. And Islandia, being well within the “Aurora belt”, is and will remain the perfect destination for northern lights hunting!
What is the BZ value?
The Bz value is part of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), which is the magnetic field carried by the solar wind coming from the Sun.
Why does it matter for the Northern Lights? Earth’s magnetic field points north. If the solar wind’s magnetic field (Bz) points south (a negative Bz), it connects with Earth’s field and lets charged solar particles into the atmosphere. This interaction helps create the northern lights. If instead, Bz is positive (northward), the fields don’t connect well, and fewer particles get in — meaning weaker or no aurora.
Think of Bz like an ON/OFF switch: negative Bz (south) = ON, good chance of Aurora soon. Positive Bz (north) = OFF, Aurora less likely.
Learn more about Bz and how the forecast works aquí.
Which are the best forecast apps and websites for Northern Lights hunting?
Chasing the Northern Lights is all about timing, clear skies, and up-to-date aurora forecasts. These tools help you know when and where there’s a good chance of seeing the aurora — so you can plan your night the smart way. For the best results, we recommend using more than one source, as different forecasts interpret data differently.
WEB FORECASTS
- Official AURORA REYKJAVÍK Aurora Forecast 👉 https://aurorareykjavik.is/aurora-forecast/
Our 6-step expert forecast combines geomagnetic activity, cloud cover, and viewing tips — designed for real-time Northern Lights planning. - SpaceWeatherLive
A detailed global space weather site with auroral activity maps and solar parameters. - NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
The official US space weather forecast model that many aurora apps base their data on.
TOP MOBILE APPS
- My Aurora Forecast – Offers real-time KP index, global aurora maps, push alerts and multi-day forecasts — great for travelers and serious aurora watchers alike.
And don’t forget to unable notifications, so you’ll get alerts when aurora activity spikes.
📍App Store
📍 Google Play
By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to experience one of nature’s most magical displays. Whether you’re planning your trip or already in Iceland, the Aurora awaits!
