Friday, July 6, 2018
I bet you’ve already heard that Icelanders love to swim. We all learn how to swim from a young age and we grow up thinking it’s the most natural thing to go swimming every week – or at least most of us. I always recommend that foreigners try our local swimming pools, since they are pretty amazing, so I thought I’d round up the best swimming pools in Iceland according to the Must See team.
Even though we have our favorites, and therefore can choose the best swimming pools in Iceland, that doesn’t mean that the other pools suck. I think basically almost all swimming pools in Iceland are pretty great, and I think you’d enjoy most of them – especially after a long day of hiking, sightseeing or just enjoying the Icelandic landscape.
Please read our bathing tips before swimming by clicking here.
You can find swimming pools in almost every town in Iceland and it usually costs around 1000 ISK to get in and have a bath. And since we Icelanders love our pools, chances are you will meet some chatty locals in the hot tub that you can ask almost anything about our lovely country. And don’t worry about the inflatable armbands to keep the little ones safe – they are available at almost every pool, free of charge. For a complete list of pools in Iceland, please visit sundlaugar.is.
So here it goes – the best swimming pools in Iceland!
Lágafellslaug
Where? Lækjahlíð 1a, Mosfellsbær
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 14 km / 18 minutes
This is a great pool for the whole family and children especially love to play around in the slides and the kiddy pool. The area is very open and inviting, which means you can have your children in clear view if they decide to spontaneously run off and pretend they all of a sudden can’t hear anything. The locker rooms are also extremely clean and tidy which is a big plus.
Opening Hours
Mondays – Fridays: 6.30 AM – 9.30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8 AM – 7 PM
Kópavogur swimming pool
Where? Borgarholtsbraut 17, Kópavogur
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 5 km / 10 minutes
This is one of the biggest swimming pools in the country, and also one of the more popular ones. On a sunny day it’s usually packed with families and swimmer, but given the size of the pool you will have no problem finding a spot to sit and relax or swim away your worries. There are fun slides for the kids, hot and cold tubs for the grown ups and indoor pools for those who feel a bit cold. It’s simply perfect.
Opening Hours – summer (1st of May – 30th of September)
Mondays – Fridays: 6.30 AM – 10 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8 AM – 8 PM
Opening Hours – winter (1st of October – 30th of April)
Mondays – Fridays: 6.30 AM – 10 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8 AM – 6 PM
Laugardalslaug
Where? Sundlaugarvegur, Reykjavík
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 2,5 km / 5 minutes
You can easily walk to Laugardalslaug pool if you are staying somewhere central in Reykjavík and I truly recommend that you do. It’s located in a beautiful area in Reykjavík and it’s right by a gym and a hot dog stand. It’s a big pool with lots to do for young and old alike, and got a really good make over a few years ago, making it one of the top destinations in Reykjavík.
Opening hours
Mondays – Fridays: 6.30 AM – 10 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8 AM – 10 PM
Breiðholt swimming pool
Where? Austurberg 3, Reykjavík
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 9 km / 15 minutes
I guess I’m a bit biased since I grew up in this part of Reykjavík, but I just have to put the Breiðholt swimming pool on my list. It’s one of my absolute favorites, the main attraction being the hot tubs which are sheer perfection in my opinion. It’s also a good pool for kids, and the area is very open so you can keep your eyes on the little ones if they wander off.
Opening hours
Mondays – Fridays: 6.30 AM – 10 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 AM – 10 PM
Vatnaveröld
Where? Sunnubraut 31, Reykjanesbær
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 50 km / 48 minutes
The name translates to Water World, an awesome homage to the Kevin Costner hit, and even though many don’t find the movie all that great, the swimming pool in Reykjanesbær truly is. It’s an indoor swimming extravaganza with loads of activities and toys for children of any age. It’s warm and cozy, but don’t expect to relax for a minute – it’s just so fun!
Opening hours – summer (1st of June – 31st of August)
Mondays – Thursdays: 6.30 AM – 9.30 PM
Fridays: 6.30 AM – 8.30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 AM – 6 PM
Opening hours – winter (1st of September – 31st of May)
Mondays – Thursdays: 6.30 AM – 8.30 PM
Fridays: 6.30 AM – 7.30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 AM – 5.30 PM
Þorlákshöfn swimming pool
Where? Hafnarberg 41, Þorlákshöfn
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 52 km / 45 minutes
This pool is perfect for families and I know many people that live in the capital area but take day trip to Þorlákshöfn during the weekends, just for the pool. Yep, it’s just that lovely and wonderful. So if you are traveling around Iceland with children and need a good place to shower, this pool is the place. And the indoor area is amazing!
Opening hours – summer (1st of June – 31st of August)
Mondays – Fridays: 7 AM – 9 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 10 AM – 6 PM
Opening hours – winter (1st of September – 31st of May)
Mondays – Fridays: 7 AM – 9 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 10 AM – 5 PM
Lýsuhóll pool
Where? Snæfellsnes peninsula
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 165 km / 2 hours and 10 minutes
This pool used to be a bit down and out but now it’s been completely renovated into this gorgeous water paradise on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, an area which is one of my favorites in Iceland. An added bonus is that the water in the Lýsuhóll pool is told to have healing powers, being rich in green algae and various minerals. So relaxing, especially for the grown-ups!
Opening hours
Every day of the week: 11 AM – 8.30 PM. Only open in summer.
Hofsós swimming pool
Where? Suðurbraut, Hofsós
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 325 km / 4 hours
This is one of the most pristine and beautiful pools in Iceland, and it’s actually an infinity pool with an amazing view of the ocean, rugged mountains and its surroundings. This is definitely a grown-ups pool, perfect for relaxing and enjoying life. Oh, and the sunset while bathing is absolutely exquisite – something to really remember.
Opening hours – summer (until the 21st of August)
Every day of the week: 9 AM – 9 PM
Opening hours – winter
Mondays – Fridays: 5 PM – 8 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 11 AM – 3 PM
Sólgarðar í Fljótum
Where? Sólgarðar school in Fljót
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 355 km / 4,5 hours
My mother actually hails from this area of the country so my childhood memories are filled with visits to this pool. It’s sort of in the middle of nowhere and you will hardly ever find big crowds in this remote part of the country. But the pool is very nice, even though it’s much more basic than the other pools I’ve mentioned. I guess that’s part of the appeal. A place to find total serenity.
Open during summer
Akureyri swimming pool
Where? Þingvallastræti 21, Akureyri
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 390 km / 4 hours and 40 minutes
This is one of Iceland’s most spectacular pools and is like a wonderland for children. It was recently renovated and is in pristine condition accordingly. The locker rooms are great and the whole atmosphere in and out the water is simply fun, fun, fun.
Opening hours – summer (5th of June – 28th of August)
Mondays – Fridays: 6.45 AM – 9 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8 AM – 7.30 PM
Opening hours – winter (29th of August – 4th of June)
Mondays – Fridays: 6.45 AM – 9 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 AM – 6.30 PM
Eskifjörður swimming pool
Where? Dalbraut 3a, Eskifjörður
Distance from down town Reykjavík: approx. 700 km / 8,5 hours
This is a great pool for adults and children alike, offering entertainment for the kids and relaxation for the adults. It’s not a super fancy pool, but it’s cozy and clean, located in a beautiful town in the Eastfjords. It’s well worth the visit.
Opening hours – summer (1st of June – 31st of August)
Mondays – Fridays: 6 AM – 9 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 10 AM – 6 PM
Opening hours – winter (1st of September – 31st of May)
Mondays – Thursdays: 6 AM – 8 PM
Fridays: 6 AM – 6 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 11 AM – 4 PM
