Iceland was strongly affected by the economic crisis 2008-2011. The banks had been privatized in the early 2000s, and the debt burden was very high when the crisis hit. Beyond the 2000s, the situation has improved. The tourism in particular, has increased a lot, and great efforts are made for the visitors to spend more money in the country. When a tourist is taking pictures by a waterfall, it doesn’t provide much income… Investments are needed!
Sky Lagoon, which opened in 2021, is an ambitious facility. The spa is located at the peninsula Karsnes to the south of Reykjavík. The view is spectacular! From the pool you can spot Reykjavík to the north, Bessastaðir (the presidental residence) to the west and Reykjanes peninsula in the south. The latter might be sending smoke signals to you, if the volcano in Geldingadalur is still having outbreaks. When we visited Sky Lagoon in spring 2021 (only a few weeks after the opening), we enjoyed the view of 8-10 clouds of smoke, from within the hot pool!
The spa is absolutely beautiful, colors chosen from black, grey and brown. On the way to the basin, you descend the stairs surrounded by black lava rocks. It looks – and feels – like leaving a cave. The edges of the basins are also made of black lava rocks, and the massage shower looks like a natural waterfall – with wonderful, warm water. Gorgeous!
The southern part includes hot or cold (!) steam showers and a large sauna where one wall is nothing but panorama windows. Here you can also find a cold pot, to freshen up after the hot sauna.
We would have appreciated the possibility to swim in the cold sea just below the spa, but that was unfortunately unquestionably not an option. Except that: Absolutely fantastic!