The Most Notable Swimming Pools in Iceland

The tiny and unassuming village of Hofsós in North Iceland has an incredible, hardly mentioned infinity pool which was opened in 2010. Overlooking Skagafjörður, the geothermally-heated lap pool and hot tub sit high above the fjord and very close to the steep edge. The pool seemingly flows straight over into the North Atlantic Fjord. It can also be rented for private parties.

Built in 1937, Sundhöllin is Reykjavík’s oldest swimming pool. Its architect, Guðjón Samúelsson, also designed Hallgrímskirkja among other iconic Reykjavík structures. Located in downtown Reykjavik, the pool features an indoor-heated lap pool in an iconic Art-Deco interior as well as a rooftop hot tub and a sauna.

The Akureyri Pool is one of the larger pools in Iceland. It includes two 25 meter pools, pummeling water jets, water slides, a splash pool, an indoor pool, four hot pots of varying temperatures, a steam bath, sauna, and an area for sunbathing. The pool has the added luxury of being able to swim from indoors to outdoors via a plastic door so no having to endure walking through the cold.

Located in Iceland’s West Fjords’ small-fishing town of Drangsnes, these three small-public-geothermal hot tubs rest right on the shoreline. They lie just below the road running next to them. Only the white changing rooms across the road mark their location. Enjoy three different temperatures of cold, medium, and hot while gazing at the fjord—especially a treat during the midnight sun or with the Aurora Borealis overhead.

Drangsnes Hot Pots, Drangsnesvegur, Drangsnes, Iceland

Side of the road geothermal pools in Drangsnes | © Shannon Dosemagen/Flickr

Laugaskarði Pool in Hveragerði, an hour drive southeast of Reykjavik, has a lovely setting in which to relax. Sitting just on the edge of town and nestled against a hillside, the pool has great facilities, a few hot pots of various temperatures, a sauna, and a fitness center. The 50-meter-length swimming lanes were once the longest in Iceland. Hveragerði is known for its abundance of geothermal water, which is why the town itself is full of greenhouses. Laugarskarði pool, of course, is also geothermally heated.

Sundlaugar Laugarskarði, Reykjamörk, Hveragerði, Iceland, +354 483 4113

Courtesy of Sundlaugin Laugaskarði-Hveragerði

The parking lot for the gem of a pool is located between Hella and Fossvogar Campsites. There will be a small sign on the road for the turn-off leading to a parking lot, and the pool is a 20-minute easy hike into a valley. Perhaps Iceland’s most picturesque outdoor pool, the surrounding mountains reflecting in the pool’s surface like glass. Built in 1923 for swimming lessons. Seljavallalaug also has changing rooms and is free of charge.

Seljavallalaug Parking, Seljavellir, Iceland

Seljavallalaug | © Chris Johnston/Flickr

This pool is the prototypical-neighborhood pool. Situated in the cozy West Reykjavik area of Vesturbær, the pool features both an indoor and outdoor changing facility, a lap pool, five hot tubs of varying temperatures, a hot and dry sauna, and an exercise room. There is also ample room for sunbathing when the weather permits. Conveniently located across the street is the cozy Kaffiwest coffee shop and bistro.

The Stykkishólmur Pool is set in the middle of the quaint-fishing village on Snæfelsness Peninsula. The indoor pool, 57 meters in length, is the second longest in the country. There are also two hot tubs and a lounging pool as well as an indoor pool of 12 meters used for physical therapy. The geothermal water supplying the pool has been certified for its quality by the German Institut Fresensius, who specialize in hydrology and environmental certifications.

Stykkishólmurlaug, Borgarbraut, 340 Stykkishólmur, Iceland, +354 433 8150

Courtesy of Sundlaug Stykkishólms

Located directly on the beach in Krossnes, in the northern part of the Westfjords, Krossneslaug is a quaint pool built by local farmers in 1954. The water supplying the pool comes from directly from hot springs located nearby. There are also small and efficient facilities to use. The beautiful ocean view is what makes this pool really special as well as the active bird life that can be enjoyed while relaxing.

This fascinating volcanic island that offers great bird watching probably has the most exciting swimming pool for kids in all of Iceland. This pool in the Westman Islands, located off the South Coast of Iceland, has a variety of slides as well as a climbing wall. The Jacuzzis have various-massage functions and there is also a waterfall that acts as a great shoulder massage. There is an inside pool as well as three hot tubs of varying temperatures, a sunbathing pool, and a play pool. The water is composed of 0.9% salt, just as in the human body, making it pleasantly buoyant.