Sky Lagoon Cliffs and Street Art Walls in Reykjavik

Warm geothermal steam drifted across the pool as the ocean breeze carried a faint scent of salt through the air. Sailing into Reykjavik cruise port gave me a perfect excuse to start the day in the warm waters of Sky Lagoon, where the infinity edge faces the North Atlantic and the surrounding rock walls make the whole place feel like a carved fjord.

The city itself soon revealed its personality once I headed back toward town. Reykjavik (Reykjavík – Pronounced [ray-kya-veek]) mixes colorful buildings, modern architecture, and creative street art in a way that feels both playful and relaxed. Even simple walks around the harbor can reveal murals, sculptures, and unexpected corners that feel uniquely Icelandic.

My first stop in 2023 was Sky Lagoon, a geothermal spa built to look like it sits between volcanic cliffs. The mineral rich water was the perfect way to unwind after time at sea. I also tried the Skjól bathing ritual, a seven step sequence of hot steam, cold plunges, and salt scrubs that left me feeling refreshed and surprisingly energized. Later that same day I visited the Lava Show, where real molten lava is heated and poured into a theater demonstration area. I booked the VIP experience which included upper level seats and a behind the scenes look at how the magma is heated before flowing down the ramp toward the audience.

Watching the lava glow bright orange just a few feet away was unforgettable. The heat radiates through the room and you quickly understand how powerful Iceland’s volcanic forces really are. As part of the VIP package I also took home a small piece of volcanic glass created during an earlier demonstration since the current lava was still far too hot to handle. It felt like a fitting souvenir from a country built by fire and ice.

On later visits I spent more time wandering Reykjavik itself. In 2024 I rode the Hop On Hop Off bus around the city and even stopped at a local mall just out of curiosity. That same day I visited the Icelandic Phallological Museum which turned out to be far more educational than expected and surprisingly entertaining. In 2025 I explored near Harpa Concert Hall on foot, spotted colorful murals, and even stepped into a neighborhood barber shop for a haircut and beard trim while chatting with a local about places I should visit next time.

Reykjavik grew from a small Viking settlement founded by Norse explorer Ingólfur Arnarson around the year 874. Today it remains Iceland’s cultural and political center while still feeling compact and approachable. The city sits on a volcanic island shaped by geothermal energy, which explains why hot pools, lava fields, and dramatic landscapes are such a natural part of daily life here.