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.