Iceland Public Swimming Pool Culture Guide

Why Swimming Pools Are an Icelandic Institution

Iceland's public swimming pool culture was recognized on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2025. Icelandic pools, known as sundlaugar, use geothermal water. Icelandic pools use comparatively little added chlorine, relying on the mandatory pre-swim shower and naturally circulating geothermal water to maintain hygiene.

Notable Reykjavik Pools to Visit

Laugardalslaug is Reykjavik's largest pool complex, built in stages between 1958 and 1968 in the Laugardalur valley and later expanded in the 1980s and again between 2002 and 2005. Laugardalslaug recorded about 800,000 visitors in 2010, making it one of Iceland's most visited thermal bathing facilities after the Blue Lagoon. Sundholl Reykjavikur, designed by architect Gudjon Samuelsson, opened on March 23, 1937, and is the oldest purpose built indoor swimming pool in Reykjavik. Sundholl Reykjavikur was among the first buildings in Reykjavik supplied with geothermal water, pumped through a 3 kilometer pipe from Laugardalur by the utility Laugaveitan.

Hot Pots, Steam Baths, and Water Slides

Laugardalslaug includes an indoor Olympic size pool, a 50 metre outdoor pool, a 400 square metre children's pool, 8 hot pots, and a 17 square metre steam bath. Icelandic pool hot pots commonly range from about 38 to 44 degrees Celsius. The cold plunge tub at Laugardalslaug is kept around 6 degrees Celsius. Main outdoor swimming lanes at Icelandic pools are typically kept near 28 degrees Celsius, while children's wading pools run closer to 32 degrees Celsius. Sundholl Reykjavikur's main pool measures 25 by 10 metres with a depth ranging from 0.9 to 4 metres.

Shower Etiquette Before You Swim

Icelandic law requires bathers to shower thoroughly without swimwear before entering any public pool or geothermal lagoon, including commercial lagoons such as the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon. Pool staff at Icelandic facilities are authorized to turn away bathers who skip the required pre-swim shower.

Planning Your Pool Visits

District heating utilities supply hot water to about 90 percent of homes across Iceland, much of it geothermally sourced. Reykjavik Energy, the capital region's utility, serves geothermal hot water to over 190,000 users drawn from 93 wells. Use the Packing List to help plan your trip.