Geothermal water is one of Iceland’s greatest natural resources. It’s used to heat houses and produce electricity, but most importantly, Icelanders love to swim in it. Pools and spas have been a huge part of the Icelandic lifestyle, ever since the country’s settlement. One of the most famous hot tubs of history belonged to Snorri Sturluson in the 12th century but bathing in the country’s natural pools is mentioned even earlier, in the Sagas of the Icelanders, set in the 10th century.
The public pool is the heart of almost every town in Iceland and Reykjavík is no exception. People get together to relax, exercise, or just to catch a little sun. Perhaps most importantly, the hot tubs are a place where people get together to chat about any subject you can imagine. The pool is the great equaliser and people from all walks of life come together to enjoy the luxury of these public baths.
Opening hours for the pools vary but since the city has plenty of great pools to choose from, you can go swimming from the early morning until late into the night. Everybody is required to shower in gender-segregated but communal showers before entering the pool for hygienic reasons but some pools also have privacy cubicles.
The facilities at each pool also vary but most swimming complexes include a lap pool, a hot tub or five, and maybe a steam room. The biggest pool is Laugardalslaug, with six hot tubs and a cold tub, a wading pool, a children’s pool, and an indoor as well as outdoor pool. The most recently renovated pool is the oldest pool in the city, Sundhöll Reykjavíkur in the city centre, right by Hallgrímskirkja.
THERMAL POOLS IN REYKJAVÍK
Árbæjarlaug
Fylkisvegur 9, 110 Reykjavík | 411 5200
Open: M-F 6:30-22, Sat-Sun 9-22
Breiðholtslaug
Austurberg 3, 111 Reykjavík | 557 5547
Open: M-F 06:30-22:00, Sat-Sun 9-22
Dalslaug
Úlfarsbraut 122-124, 113 Reykjavík | 411 5650
Open: M-F 06:30-22:00, Sat-Sun 9-22
Grafarvogslaug
Dalhús 2, 112 Reykjavík | 510 4600
Open: M-F 06:30-22:00, Sat–Sun 9-22
Klébergslaug
Kjalarnes, 116 Reykjavík | 566 6879
Open: M-T 15-22, F 15-19, Sat-Sun 11-18
Laugardalslaug
Sundlaugarvegur, 104 Reyk. | 411 5100
Open: M-F 6:30-22, Sat-Sun 8-22
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
Barónstígur, 101 Reykjavík | 411 5350
Open: M-F 6:30-22,
Sat-Sun 08-22
Vesturbæjarlaug
Hofsvallagata, 101 Reykjavík | 411 5150
Open: M-F 6:30-22, Sat-Sun 9-22
OTHER THERMAL POOLS IN THE Reykjavík CAPITAL AREA
Sundhöll Hafnarfjarðar
Herjólfsgata 10, Hafnarfjörður | 555 0088
Ásvallalaug
Ásvellir 2, Hafnarfjörður | 512 4050
Suðurbæjarlaug
Hringbraut 77, Hafnarfjörður | 565 3080
Kópavogslaug
Borgarholtsbraut 17, Kópavogur | 570 0470
Salalaug
Versalir 3, 201 Kópavogur | 570 0480
Lágafellslaug
Lækjarhlíð 1a, 270 Mosfellsbær | 517 6080
Varmárlaug
270 Mosfellsbær | 566 6754
Garðabæjarlaug
Ásgarður, 210 Garðabær | 565 8066
Álftaneslaug
Bjarnastaðir, 225 Álftanes | 550 2350
Sundlaug Seltjarnarness
Suðurströnd, 170 Seltjarnarnes | 561 1551
Loftleiðalaug
Loftleiðir hotel, 101 Reykjavík | 444 4085
Nauthólsvík
Nauthólsvegur, 101 Reykjavík | 511 6630
For a complete listing of Iceland’s pools, visit www.sundlaugar.is
