The Best Swimming Pools in Reykjavik
Iceland is famous for its geothermal hot springs, which can be enjoyed through various hot spring tours. However, the local swimming pools offer an affordable and unique experience that visitors won’t want to miss. Iceland’s pools are mostly outdoor and open year-round, allowing guests to enjoy warm, geothermal waters even during snowy winters or rainy days. These pools are a central part of Icelandic culture, used for exercise, relaxation, and social gatherings.
If you're staying in hotels in Reykjavik, exploring the swimming pools nearby is a great activity. Please note that some of the pools listed below are not within walking distance from downtown Reykjavik, so you might want to consider renting a car.
One essential part of Icelandic swimming etiquette is showering thoroughly and naked before entering the pools. This helps maintain the water’s cleanliness, as Icelandic pools have low chlorine levels.
Icelandic pools often have lap pools, hot tubs of varying temperatures, steam rooms, and sometimes saunas. In Reykjavik alone, there are 18 pools to explore, each with its own charm, from historic pools to family-friendly options with water slides. The affordable pools make them a fantastic and budget-friendly way to relax and connect with locals.
Whether you’re visiting to swim laps, unwind in a hot tub, or chat with locals, Icelandic pools offer a glimpse into an essential part of Icelandic life. Read on to discover the best pools in Reykjavik and what to expect during your visit.
- Read about the Best Swimming Pools in Iceland
- Find out more about showering at pools and Getting Naked in Iceland
Icelandic Swimming Etiquette
Going to an Icelandic swimming pool is a unique experience. Most of them are outdoor swimming pools and open all year round, so in the dead of winter, you’ll have to tiptoe barefoot and dripping wet across icy or snowy patches to move between hot tubs. Yes, visiting swimming pools is not an activity reserved for the Icelandic summer. For some, the best time to go swimming in Iceland is during a rainstorm or a blizzard.
Filled with geothermal water, the pools usually have one or two lap pools at about 28°C and hot tubs at temperatures ranging from 38°C up to around 45°C. Most pools also have a steam room, and some have a dry Finnish sauna.
Make sure you shower naked with soap before you put on your swimsuit and enter the pool. The amount of chlorine in Icelandic swimming pools is low, and to keep the water clean, people need to wash thoroughly. You shouldn’t feel body conscious; everybody there will also be naked, and there is an unspoken rule of no unnecessary looking.
Frequenting swimming pools is an essential aspect of Icelandic culture. The pools are ideal places to exercise, but in the hot tubs, you can relax and relieve stress or aching muscles.
The hot tubs are also one of Iceland's most important social venues. In the warm water, everybody is dressed in swimwear, so judging people by their appearance is hard. Be they teachers, artists, or politicians, in the hot tub, everyone is equal, and this is the place where people meet to openly discuss everything from the weather to politics.
The greater Reykjavik area has 18 swimming pools, so you should be able to find one in every neighborhood. They vary in size and age; some are over 50 years old, others were built in this century, but all of them have the essential hot tub where you can find out what is going on in Icelandic society. Additionally, there is a beach area in Reykjavík called Nautholsvik and a small foot bath by Grotta, perfect for relaxing while enjoying a view out to sea.
Below is our list of the best swimming pools in Reykjavík and the city's surrounding towns and villages.
9. Sundholl Reykjavikur
This pool is located in downtown Reykjavik, a short walking distance from the main shopping and nightlife street, Laugavegur.
The oldest pool in Reykjavík, Sundhollin, was opened in 1937. The building was designed by noted architect Guðjón Samúelsson, who also designed buildings such as The University of Iceland, The National Theatre of Iceland, The Church of Akureyri, and the famous Hallgrimskirkja church, which can be seen from the sundeck.
Sundhollin is unique among Reykjavik's swimming pools as it boasts an ample indoor pool (most are primarily outside) as well as two diving boards; one is only about 3 feet (1 meter) above the water, and the other is almost 10 feet (3 meters). The diving boards are closed during the week but open on weekends.
This Reykjavik favorite has enjoyed recent renovations, including an 82-feet (25-meter) outdoor lap pool as well as an adjacent hot tub, which is nearly just as long and fitted with jacuzzi jets. There is also an outdoor sauna as well as shallow hot tubs well suited for children or those wishing to catch some elusive Icelandic sunshine on good days.
Sundholl Reykjavikur
Address: Baronsstigur 45a, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Weekends from 8 AM to 9 PM
8. Seltjarnarneslaug
Not far from Reykjavik's city center is the quiet little town of Seltjarnarnes. Like the town, the local pool, named Seltjarnarneslaug, is quiet and cozy (although the gym beside it can get quite busy!).
The pool itself is 82 feet (25 meters) long, and at its end is a children's area, which is a little warmer than the larger one. There are four hot tubs there, a cold bath, a steam room, and a water slide.
What sets this pool apart from others is the water itself, which comes from the town's reservoir and is filled with minerals that are supposed to be good for your skin.
Seltjarnarneslaug
Address: Suðurstrond, 170 Seltjarnarnes
Opening hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Weekends from 8 AM - 7:30 PM
- Visiting a pool is not expensive. Learn about other affordable activities in 9 Best Cheap Things to do in Reykjavík
7. Asvallalaug
Asvallalaug, located in Hafnarfjordur, is one of Iceland's largest swimming centers, covering approximately 6,000 square meters. Opened in 2008, this indoor facility features a 164 feet (50 meters) pool, often divided into two 82 feet (25 meters) sections, catering to both serious swimmers and casual visitors. For families, Asvallalaug offers a 56 feet (17 meters) children's pool with depths ranging from 3 feet (0.9 meters) to 3.6 feet (1.1 meters), as well as a 33 feet (10 meters) wading pool equipped with toys for younger children. The water temperature is maintained at 89°F (32°C) in the children's pools and 82°F (28°C) in the main swimming pool, with the indoor air temperature around 86°F (30°C).
Additional amenities include three indoor hot tubs, two outdoor hot tubs, a water slide, and a steam bath. The facility is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring an elevator for wheelchair users to access the pool. Asvallalaug also houses a Reebok Fitness gym and serves as a base for the swimming club "Sundfélag Hafnarfjarðar".
Asvallalaug
Address: Asvellir 2, 220 Hafnarfjordur
Opening hours: Mondays - Thursdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Fridays from 6:30 AM - 8 PM
Saturdays from 8 AM - 6 PM
Sundays from 8 AM - 5 PM
6. Lagafellslaug
Amongst Iceland's most family-friendly pools is Lagafellslaug in the town of Mosfellsbaer. It's a bit far from the city center, but if you don't have a car, you can take a bus (which can be a fun little adventure).
Lágafellslaug is ideal for children. The tiles around the pool are made from a soft, rubbery material, which is great in an environment that is overrun by little, wet feet. There is also a shallow pool with a small slide for the youngest children.
For the older children (and parents), there are three big slides ranging from 40 feet (12 meters) long to 140 feet (43 meters). There is also an indoor pool there, as well as numerous hot tubs, a cold bath, and a Finnish sauna.
Lagafellslaug
Address: Laekjarhlid 1a, 270 Mosfellsbaer
Opening hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Weekends from 8 AM - 7 PM
5. Arbaejarlaug
In the Reykjavik suburb of Arbaer, you'll find the Arbaejarlaug swimming pool, one of the most scenic pools in Reykjavík. In this area, you'll also find the open-air museum Arbaejarsafn.
The pool overlooks the Ellidarardalur valley, a gorgeous green area in the middle of Reykjavík, which is popular with hikers and cyclists alike. The Ellidara river runs through the valley with many little waterfalls and is ideal for salmon fishing. After hiking the valley, a dip in the Arbaejarlaug pool is a great way to relax.
An indoor pool is located in a beautiful solarium, where you can swim through a little opening to the larger outdoor pool. The outdoor area also has a children's pool, a big slide, a water fountain, a water bridge, and a great hot tub area, making this one of the most impressive pools in Iceland.
Arbaejarlaug
Address: Fylkisvegur 9, 110 Reykjavik
Opening Hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Weekends from 9 AM - 9 PM
4. Sundlaug Kopavogs
Another great pool for families is Sundlaug Kopavogs. The town of Kopavogur lies immediately south of Reykjavik. Its name translates to 'baby seal bay,' and in this pool, you can swim like a seal (yes, I said it).
Kopavogur's swimming pool has been one of the most popular swimming pools in Iceland in the last few years. It consists of three swimming pools ranging from 32 to 165 feet in length (50 to 10 meters).
There are also seven hot tubs. One of them is a jacuzzi hot tub, and another is specially designed for children. There are three big water slides for children of all ages (and adults of all ages), a small slide for the youngest children, a cold bath, and a very popular steam room.
Sundlaug Kopavogs
Address: Borgarholtsbraut 17, 200 Kopavogur
Opening hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Summer weekends from 8 AM - 8 PM
Winter weekends from 8 AM - 6 PM
- Find out about other healthy activities in Health in Iceland
3. Vesturbaejarlaug
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Emstrur. No edits made.
The local's favorite pool, Vesturbaejarlaug, is one of the coziest and most charming pools in Reykjavik. It is located close to the University of Iceland, so it is usually filled with both local and international university students (and teachers).
The pool is on Reykjavik's west side, and a walk from the city center is ideal on a beautiful day. You can walk along the Aegisida seaside path, where you can see all the way to Bessastadir (where the president lives) on the Alftanes peninsula.
Vesturbaejarlaug pool is a local hub of activity. Most (if not all) of Reykjavik's citizens have fond memories of coming to the pool when they were younger, and many still make their way west just for a soak in the tub. This is where Icelandic people meet to discuss politics, culture, the weather, and life in one of the pool's four hot tubs. It also has a fantastic outdoor pool, a cold tub to cool you down, and a gorgeous round steam room.
Vesturbaejarlaug
Address: Hofsvallagata 54, 107 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Weekends from 9 AM - 9 PM
2. Alftaneslaug
Alftaneslaug is a modern and family-friendly swimming facility located in Alftanes, Gardabaer, just a short drive from Reykjavik. This pool complex offers a range of amenities suitable for visitors of all ages. One of its highlights is an indoor pool, measuring 39 by 26 feet (12 by 8 meters), which is ideal for parents with young children to play or practice swimming in a comfortable setting.
Alftaneslaug also features an outdoor pool that spans 82 feet (25 meters), along with two hot tubs, a children’s pool, and a sauna for relaxation. A standout feature is Iceland's only wave pool, providing a unique and playful experience for all visitors. For thrill-seekers, the facility includes two exciting water slides: one that is 33 feet (10 meters) high and another that stretches 279 feet (85 meters) long.
The pool is open year-round, allowing guests to enjoy its amenities in any season. Alftaneslaug is also designed to be accessible, with facilities accommodating individuals with disabilities. Whether you're looking to relax, swim, or enjoy fun activities with family, Alftaneslaug offers a welcoming environment for everyone.
Alftaneslaug
Address: Breidumyri, 225 Gardabaer
Opening hours: Weekdays from 6:30 AM - 10 PM
Weekends from 9 AM - 6 PM
1. Laugardalslaug
The Queen of Icelandic swimming pools has to be Laugardalslaug. It is the most popular swimming pool in Reykjavik as its size and location are ideal for those who are in Reykjavik for a short time.
The pool is located near the only campsite in Reykjavik, in the Laugardalur valley. It's just a short walking distance from Reykjavik's center (or an even shorter bus ride). There are numerous cafés and restaurants in the area, as well as the Reykjavik Botanical Garden and Husdyragardurinn, a small amusement park and zoo with farm animals.
The Laugardalslaug pool has two outdoor pools and one indoor, seven hot tubs (one filled with saltwater), a sauna, water slides, and a beach volleyball court. It's the perfect place to go on a sunny or snowy day.
Laugardalslaug
Address: Sundlaugarvegur, 104 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Weekdays from 06:30 AM to 10 PM
Weekends from 8 AM to 9 PM
- There are other activities to do in Iceland, check out Top 12 Things to do in Iceland
Summary
Iceland’s pools are a huge part of local culture, with Reykjavik offering plenty of options for visitors to dive into. Geothermal pools are open year-round, even in winter, letting you soak in warm water no matter the weather. Each pool has its unique vibe, from historic spots like Sundholl Reykjavikur to family-friendly choices like Lagafellslaug and popular places like Laugardalslaug with multiple hot tubs, slides, and even a saltwater tub. Please remember that showering before entering is part of Icelandic etiquette to keep water clean since pools use low chlorine. These pools are perfect for relaxing, chatting with locals, and enjoying a true Icelandic experience. Now, you’re all set to dive into Reykjavik’s best swimming pools!
Have you been to these swimming pools in Reykjavik? What are some of your favorite swimming pools in Iceland? How was your experience? Did you talk to the locals in the hot tubs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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