Sky Lagoon

The seven-step ritual is the centrepiece, and it is an upgrade on standard entry. It moves through hot water, a cold plunge, sauna, steam and a body scrub, and finishes with a purifying elixir. It runs one way: you pass through the sauna and steam room once. In the lagoon there is a bar you can swim up to, crowberry martini included. The water carries no strong sulphur smell, which is not true of every geothermal site in Iceland. Sky Lagoon is smaller than the Blue Lagoon and far nearer Reykjavík, and the two are direct competitors. The architecture borrows from Icelandic turf houses — turf walls, and the grey-blues and deep greens of the landscape.

• Children: the spa is not set up for young children.
• The ritual: the seven-step ritual is an upgrade on standard entry, and it runs one way — you pass through the sauna and steam room once.
• Changing rooms: showers and changing rooms are on site, so an early visit works straight from the airport, before hotel check-in.
• Food and drink: a bar in the lagoon serves drinks, and food is served on site.
• Payment: cards and contactless payments are accepted.

Sky Lagoon stands on the Kópavogur waterfront at Kársnes Harbour, among the workshops and boatyards of the harbour district. Drivers park on site: the asphalt car park is about 80 m from the entrance, and a second, unpaved area sits at about 100 m. Both are for customers of the spa. The nearest bus stop, Bakkabraut, is around 430 m away. The way in from the entrance runs through a tunnel before the lagoon opens up.

Better: first thing, at opening. The lagoon is quietest then, and an early slot works well straight off a morning flight — you can soak, shower and change before hotel check-in.

Avoid: arriving late in the evening if you want the seven-step ritual. It runs through seven stages, and the spa closes for the night.

The open edge faces the sea to the west, so late afternoon and evening light comes in low across the water.