We skipped the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and went to its competitor instead — it was less crowded and way easier to get to

• I went to Sky Lagoon in Iceland — a geothermal spa that cost me $222 for two people.

• The lagoon was less crowded than the more popular Blue Lagoon Spa.

• I loved going through the intricate seven-step ritual at the relaxing spa.

I recently went to Iceland and spent three days in the capital city of Reykjavik.

The country is known for its geothermal spas, so I knew I wanted to visit one on the trip. Although Blue Lagoon is probably the most famous spot — it was all over social media while I was planning — I ended up booking a day at Sky Lagoon.

One big selling point was that it's not located too close to an active volcano, which can sometimes result in closures or evacuations. Just last week, Blue Lagoon guests had to be evacuated when one erupted nearby for the sixth time since the end of 2023.

Sky Lagoon's highest-level day pass for two people cost me $222. Here's everything it included and why I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

The drive from Reykjavik to Sky Lagoon was short.

My travel buddy and I were staying in the middle of downtown Reykjavik. Even though Sky Lagoon looks close on the map, walking was not an option.

Instead, my hotel called me a taxi, and the drive took about 15 minutes.

The one downfall was that taxis in Iceland are pretty expensive — the short drive cost me about $45. But Blue Lagoon is closer to an hour away and would've been much pricier to get to.

From the outside, Sky Lagoon didn't look like much.

A small sign welcomed us to the property, and a short walking path led to a panoramic ocean view.

The main building was dark and covered in green and brown dirt and moss. It didn't look that luxurious to me, but I kept an open mind.

Upon entering, I was surprised at how luxurious the space felt.

The Sky Lagoon lobby felt like the entrance to a luxury spa, with deep colors, inspirational quotes on the wall, and hushed tones from the staff.

The check-in process was easy since I booked my visit online weeks prior. I purposefully got one of the early entry times so we'd be able to spend most of the day here.

When we visited, Sky Lagoon's most expensive day pass started at $124 an adult. It included access to private changing rooms and showers, a dedicated entrance into the lagoon, and a seven-step ritual.

I found a discount code online that gave me 10% off, so we decided to spring for the luxury package.

The private changing rooms were spacious.

I was surprised by how nice the locker rooms were. Each hallway had a ton of lockers that could be opened with the touch of a wristband.

The locker rooms also had multiple changing rooms, which were refreshed after each guest. The changing rooms featured a stand-up shower with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash to use after your time in the lagoon.

There was also a dry area with towels, a basket for clothes, a hair dryer, and a large countertop.

Sky Lagoon is known for its seven-step ritual.

Once I had my swimsuit on, I was ready to enjoy Sky Lagoon's famous seven-step ritual.

The process started with a deep soak in the warm man-made lagoon followed by a cold plunge, a lounge in a sauna, a cold-mist shower, a body scrub, a steam room, and a final rinse before returning to the warm lagoon.

My favorite part of the ritual was the sauna, which had a massive window overlooking the ocean. Even though the small room was fairly full, I still found a spot to sit, which was nice.

The lagoon had plenty of nooks and crannies, so it never felt too crowded.

The rockwork around the lagoon was stunning, it was designed to look like the lava flow that can be found all around Iceland.

I also loved that the main lagoon had lots of little spaces to hang out, so no area ever felt too crowded.

The main area had an infinity edge that overlooks the ocean.

The largest part of the lagoon — where most people were hanging out — had an infinity edge overlooking the ocean.

The view was incredible, the water was warm, and even in this popular area, I never felt like I was getting too close to others.

I loved the waterfall feature in the lagoon.

The lagoon even had a waterfall feature.

The sound of the falls was very relaxing, and having the water hit the back of my neck felt great after a long flight to Reykjavik.

The on-site bar had some great local beers and nonalcoholic drinks.

A swim-up bar in the lagoon served local beers, cocktails, and various nonalcoholic drinks. I tried the rhubarb lemonade and loved the mix of sweet and tart flavors.

It was nice to have something cold to drink while soaking in the warm water.

Overall, I loved my day at Sky Lagoon and would recommend it to anyone visiting Iceland.

After doing a lot of research before my trip and spending the day at Sky Lagoon, I think it might be a better geothermal-spa option than the tourist-favorite Blue Lagoon.

The spas are fairly similarly priced, but Sky Lagoon was easy to get to, peaceful, and spacious. I've seen photos of the crowds at Blue Lagoon, and they weren't nearly as bad at Sky — even in peak tourist season.

If I come back to Iceland, I'd definitely book another day pass here.

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