Neighbourhood picks
Iceland's Summer Pools and Outdoor Swimming Spots: A Traveller's Guide
Geothermal pools, heated lanes and cold-water dips across Iceland, with realistic entry prices, distances from Reykjavík and the spots worth your time.
Reykjavík's Pools: Where Locals Actually Swim
The city's pool culture runs through Laugardalslaug in Laugardalur, the largest complex in Reykjavík, with a 50-metre outdoor lane pool, hot pots, a steam room and a children's area. Entry is roughly ISK 1,100–1,400 for adults, and it stays open late into the summer evening. Bus 14 stops nearby; driving from downtown takes about ten minutes. Bring a towel and expect to shower before entering, as changing-room attendants enforce the rule firmly.
Sundhöllin, the art deco pool by Hallgrímskirkja on Barónsstígur, is smaller and quieter, with an indoor pool and a modest outdoor hot pot. Vesturbæjarlaug near the university is a favourite for a reason: an outdoor 25-metre pool, several hot pots and a relaxed crowd, roughly ISK 1,000–1,300. Ásvallalaug in Hafnarfjörður is also worth the 20-minute drive if you have a car. Of these, I would book a Laugardalur-area hotel and use Laugardalslaug as the base.
The West and North: Hot Pots Along the Ring Road
Heading north on Route 1, you pass a string of roadside pools that cost little and ask only that you rinse off first. Hofsós in Skagafjörður has an infinity-edge pool looking over the fjord to Drangey island, entry around ISK 1,000–1,500, open in summer from morning until late evening. Grettislaug near Reykhólar in the west is a pair of small stone pools by the sea, fed by geothermal water, with a modest charge and changing huts.
Akureyri's Sundlaug Akureyrar is the north's best civic pool, with outdoor lanes, slides and hot pots, roughly ISK 1,200–1,600, a short drive from the town centre. Húsavík has a small geothermally heated pool with views towards the harbour. These are practical stops between long driving days rather than destinations in themselves; I would plan one pool per two or three hours of driving, and skip any pool that appears closed or unstaffed rather than guessing. July and early August are the best months for warm water and long daylight.
The East and South: Fjord Pools and Highland Springs
In the Eastfjords, Seyðisfjörður has a compact outdoor pool and hot pot near the town centre, and Eskifjörður's Sundlaugin is a local favourite with a 25-metre pool and fjord views, entry around ISK 1,000–1,300. Farther south, Vík í Mýrdal has a small pool and hot pots by the sports ground, useful after a day on the black-sand beaches. Höfn í Hornafirði has a swimming complex with outdoor hot pots, roughly ISK 1,000–1,500, and is a sensible overnight stop between the Eastfjords and the south coast.
The south coast's big-name geothermal sites are outside the village pools. The Blue Lagoon near Grindavík and the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir are commercially run, priced well above a municipal pool (expect several thousand krónur), and best booked ahead in July and August. The Fontana pool at Laugarvatn is smaller and quieter, and the town's steam baths are a short walk away. For a family on a budget, I would skip the big-ticket lagoons and put the money into a Laugardalslaug or Akureyri visit instead.
Practicalities: Opening Hours, Weather and What to Expect
Most Icelandic pools open between 06:00 and 10:00 and close between 20:00 and 22:00 in summer, with shorter hours on weekends and in smaller towns. Bring a swimsuit, a towel and a bag for wet clothes, and know that the shower-before-swimming rule is not optional. Water temperatures in outdoor pools sit around 27–29°C, while hot pots run 38–42°C; children's pools are warmer. Do not leave valuables in the changing rooms, and if a pool has a locker system, use it.
Weather changes quickly, and even in July the air can be 10–12°C with wind, so a warm layer over your swimsuit is sensible. The summer months, roughly June through August, give the longest opening hours and the most reliable conditions, though a pool in a small town may close without much notice. Book accommodation near a pool you actually want to use: a hotel in Laugardalur for Reykjavík's lanes, or one in Akureyri for the north. Check our Iceland hotel listings for current availability rather than assuming walk-in space in July.
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Hotels in Reykjavik
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Questions, answered
How much does a public swimming pool cost in Iceland?
Municipal pools typically charge around ISK 1,000–1,600 for adults, with lower rates for children, students and seniors. Commercially run geothermal lagoons such as the Blue Lagoon or the Secret Lagoon cost considerably more, often several thousand krónur, and usually need advance booking in summer.
Do I need to shower before swimming in Iceland?
Yes. Icelandic pools require a thorough shower without a swimsuit before entering the water, and attendants enforce it. Most changing rooms have open communal showers with soap provided. Bring a towel and a bag for wet clothes, and use lockers for valuables rather than leaving items in the changing area.
Which months are best for outdoor swimming in Iceland?
June through August offer the longest opening hours, the most reliable staffing and the warmest air. July is the busiest month, so book accommodation and any commercial lagoon tickets ahead. Pools stay open year-round, but smaller town pools may have reduced hours outside summer.
Are Iceland's pools suitable for children?
Yes. Most municipal pools have shallow children's pools, slides and warm hot pots. Laugardalslaug in Reykjavík and Sundlaug Akureyrar in the north are especially family-friendly. Supervise children around hot pots, which run 38–42°C, and check opening hours before travelling to smaller towns.
How far is Laugardalslaug from central Reykjavík?
Laugardalslaug sits in Laugardalur, about ten minutes by car from downtown and reachable on bus 14. It is the largest pool complex in the city, with a 50-metre outdoor lane pool, hot pots, a steam room and a children's area, and it stays open late into the summer evening.
Can I visit Iceland's pools without a car?
In Reykjavík, yes: Sundhöllin, Vesturbæjarlaug and Laugardalslaug are all reachable by city bus. Outside the capital, pools in towns such as Akureyri, Höfn and Seyðisfjörður are walkable from the centre, but roadside hot pots in the west and north generally require your own transport.
What should I bring to an Icelandic swimming pool?
Bring a swimsuit, a towel and a bag for wet clothes. Soap is provided in the showers. A warm layer over your swimsuit helps on cool, windy days, even in July. Leave jewellery and valuables at your hotel or use a locker rather than leaving them in the changing room.
Are the Blue Lagoon and Secret Lagoon worth it compared with local pools?
They are memorable for their settings and warm water but cost far more than a municipal pool and need booking ahead in summer. For families and budget travellers, a Reykjavík or Akureyri pool offers better value. I would choose one commercial lagoon at most, and put the rest of the budget into local pools.
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