Golden Circle & Sky Lagoon Tour

This Golden Circle and Sky Lagoon tour brings together two of the best things to do near Reykjavík in a single, well-paced day: Iceland’s most famous sightseeing route by daylight, and a long, restorative soak at the oceanfront Sky Lagoon once the coaches head home. You spend the daytime hours among waterfalls, geysers and the rift valley of Þingvellir, then trade your walking boots for warm geothermal water on a clifftop in the evening. It is an easy, satisfying way to see the highlights and still feel rested for the rest of your trip.

Why pair the Golden Circle with the Sky Lagoon

The Golden Circle is a daytime drive — most of the walking and photography happens between mid-morning and late afternoon. The Sky Lagoon, by contrast, is at its best in the evening, when the low Icelandic light sits on the water and the day-trip crowds have thinned. Booking the two together means your day never has an awkward gap: you finish the sightseeing loop, return to Reykjavík, and head out again for a couple of hours of warm water and sea air. Because the lagoon sits just a few minutes from the city in Kópavogur, you are not adding a long drive to an already full day.

The Golden Circle by day

We run this leg as our Golden Circle Classic day tour. The route covers three landmarks within easy reach of the capital, all on good roads and suitable for every fitness level.

Þingvellir National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home of Iceland’s first parliament, Þingvellir sits in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. You can walk the Almannagjá gorge directly between the two continents.

Geysir and Strokkur

The Haukadalur geothermal field gave the world the word ‘geyser’. The original Geysir is mostly dormant now, but its neighbour Strokkur performs reliably, firing a column of boiling water 15 to 20 metres into the air every few minutes.

Gullfoss

Gullfoss, the ‘golden falls’, drops in two dramatic steps into a rugged canyon. On a bright day the spray throws up rainbows; in winter the surrounding rocks are sheathed in ice.

The Sky Lagoon by evening

After the day tour returns to Reykjavík, our Sky Lagoon Spa Evening with Transfer collects you for the second half of the experience. The Sky Lagoon is a geothermal lagoon built into the shoreline of Kársnes, with a 70-metre infinity edge that appears to spill straight into the North Atlantic. Sterna provides the return evening transfer and your admission; the lagoon itself is operated by Sky Lagoon.

The seven-step Skjól ritual

Sky Lagoon’s signature is the Skjól ritual, a seven-step wellness circuit you take at your own pace: the warm lagoon, a cold plunge, a sauna with a picture window over the sea, a cool mist, a salt body scrub, a steam room and a final return to the water. It is a relaxed, unhurried way to round off a day on the road — there is no schedule to keep beyond your own.

How the day fits together

A typical day starts with a Reykjavík pick-up in the morning, three to four hours exploring the Golden Circle with stops at each landmark, and a return to the city in the late afternoon. After a short break to eat and freshen up, the evening transfer takes you to the Sky Lagoon for two to three hours before bringing you back. Allow around ten hours from first pick-up to final drop-off. The combination runs year-round; on a clear winter evening you may even catch the northern lights over the lagoon.

Frequently asked questions

Is this one tour or two separate bookings?

It is built from two real Sterna products — the Golden Circle Classic day tour and the Sky Lagoon Spa Evening with Transfer — designed to be done on the same day. Booking them together is the easiest way to plan the full experience.

Where does the tour start?

Both legs use central Reykjavík pick-up points, with Harpa Concert Hall as the main meeting point. You can also be collected from designated stops near most city-centre hotels.

Do I need to bring a towel and swimwear?

Bring your own swimwear. Towels can be hired at the Sky Lagoon if you would rather not pack one. Admission and the Skjól ritual are included; food and drinks at the lagoon are not.

Is the Sky Lagoon suitable for children?

The Sky Lagoon admits guests aged 12 and over, so the evening leg is best for adults, couples and families with teenagers. The Golden Circle day tour itself suits all ages.

Does the combination run in winter?

Yes — it operates year-round. Winter brings shorter daylight, so the Golden Circle stops are timed around the light, and a clear winter evening at the lagoon can come with a chance of northern lights.

How much walking is involved?

The Golden Circle involves easy walking on paths and boardwalks at each stop, with the option to go as far as you like. The Sky Lagoon is relaxed and low-effort. Sturdy footwear for the day and an unhurried mood for the evening are all you need.