Hot Pools in Reykjavik

You may not (yet!) feel psyched about local hot pools just after arriving in Iceland, however, if time allows and you prefer pools to museums, here are three places I recommend. If you are hesitating between sitting in your rooms versus hitting a hot pool – the choice seems obvious 🙂

Nauthólsvík — city beach with golden sand and warm water

Nauthólsvík is a geothermal beach in Reykjavik. What makes it different from other beaches on the island is the golden sand and the fact that you can bathe in the nearly open ocean but in pleasantly warm water.

Tourists coming to Reykjavik rarely have the time or the idea to visit such places but if you want to see how local people spend their time, do find the time to come here and soak in this warm cove. One a sunny windless day this place can draw crowds….

In Nautholsvik you will find a pool and a hot jacuzzi (about 38 ºC), but most exciting thing is that this hot water is also released into a specially designed lagoon. This way the cold ocean is heated by the hot stream coming from geothermal springs right beneath the beach so the lagoon gives you the feeling of swimming in the open ocean, while the water is still nice, let’s say “Baltic” temperature.

Nauthólsvík — practical tips

Out of season it costs 650 ISK (4-5 EUR) to use the pools, tubs and amenities.

You can rent a towel for 600 ISK (approx. 4 EUR), and a bathing suit/trunks for 850 ISK (approx. 5-6 EUR).

How to get to Nauthólsvík

The Nautholsvik beach is on the Kopavegur (bay) closing off the center of Reykjavik from the south. It neighbors on the south with the city airport (not to be mistaken for the international airport of Keflavik!) and the Perlan multimedia exhibition. Nautholsvik is nestled at the foot of Öskuhlíð, a sprawling, wooded hill with plenty of walking and cycling paths. The beach is beautifully set on the bay with a view of the Kopavogur neighborhood (that shares its name with the bay).

It is best to reach Nauthólsvík by bus: route 8 from the BSÍ/Landspítalinn stop (the hospital building is beyond Hallgrimskirkja, but the bust stop with its name is 700 m farther south-west). On weekends there is a bus service number 5, for instance from the main city stop Hlemmur (the ride will take you about 10 minutes). With either of the bus services you need to get off at Nauthóll – HR and cover the remaining 500 m on foot.

Of course, you can walk all the way from the center to the beach, which will take about 45 minutes; go towards Perlan and continue south.

You can drive up here as well — there is a large parking area close to the beach.

Laugardalslaug – the largest thermal bath and pool complex in Reykjavik

Laugardalslaug is a public thermal pool complex in Reykjavik’s district of Laugardalur. If you have your Reykjavik City Card, you can get in for free.

Laugardalslaug — fun for whole family

The Laugardalslaug complex consists of an outdoor pool, a 50-meter indoor pool, a paddling pool for kids, two slides, several jacuzzi tubs, a steam room, a pool with cool seawater, a minigolf course and in the summer – a volleyball court. Average temperature in the larger pools (both indoor and outdoor one) is 28°C, while in smaller thermal tubs it ranges from 39 to 44°C.

The whole place is accessible for persons with disabilities. It has snack bars, a shop with towels, swimsuits and swimming accessories. There is free Wi-Fi available in the entire Laugardalslaug.

History of Laugardalslaug

Laugardalslaug is located on top of the hot springs that gave Iceland’s capital city its name. Reyjka means smoky, and Vík — a bay. The place was built in 1958-1968, originally designed by a city architect Einar Sveinsson, who is also behind most of Reykjavík’s look. Even though he was criticized for his costly designs, his buildings have withstood the test of time and require only regular maintenance. Between 1981 and 1986 as well as in 2002-2005 Laugardalslaug was extended and improved to better cater to the needs of visitors.

Laugardalslaug — practical tips

How to get to Laugardalslaug

The Laugardalslaug pools are located in the north-eastern part of Reykjavik, about 2.5 km east from Hallgrimskirkja.

There is a convenient parking area right next to the pool, but you can get here on the 14 bus – getting off at the Laugardalslaug stop.

Those who stay at the Reykjavik Campsite (main city campsite) or the HI Reykjavik City hostel, are practically neighbors with the Laugardalslaug pools, no more than 250 m away.

Laugardalslaug is adjacent (from the south) to the City Botanical Garden – Grasagarður Reykjavíkur, the Húsdýragarðurinn Zoo & Park, and the Fjölskyldugarðurinn family park.

Sundhöllin – hot pool right in the city center

Sundhollin (Sundhöllin) is the oldest public pool in Iceland. It may not be the most appealing at first glance but it is in the very city center.

It was first opened in this location as early as in 1937, which makes it the oldest public pool in the country. In fact, there are older swimming pools in Iceland (Ukryta laguna we Fludir, Seljavallalaug), but they are privately owned, while Sundhollin has always been a public facility.

The place was designed by the famous architect Guðjón Samúelsson. Its outer wall is in minimalist white, with tall, narrow rectangular windows. In 2017 the building was renovated, a new outdoor pool was added, along with several new tubs and an ice bath.

There is both an indoor and outdoor pool here – both 25 m long. Water temperature is 28°C. You can also enjoy jacuzzi tubs, a sauna and an ice bath.

For many visitors, especially children, the most exciting part of Sundhöllin is a 2,7 meters high springboard. It is meant for jumping and diving and it can be a great way to face your fear.

Sundhöllin — practical tips

The Sundhollin pool is in a building at 45a Barónsstígur street, in the very city center. Hallgrimskirkja is just some 300 m west, and Hlemmur – 350 m north-east from the pool.

The nearest bus stop is Barónsstígu /Egilsgata (routes 5 and 15), but from the Hlemmur terminal (where all the buses stop) it will take you no more than 10 minutes to walk to Sundhollin (go towards Hallgrimskirkja).

Sundhollin is open Monday-Friday 6:30-22:00, and on weekends – 8:00-22:00.

Reykjavik City Card holders enter for free, while without it an adult pays 900 ISK (approx. 7 EUR) and children aged 6-17 pay 140 ISK (approx. 1 EUR).

Sky Lagoon – SPA not far from the center

. On the southern shore of Fossvogur Bay, almost opposite Nautholsvik Beach, a new SPA opened in spring 2021: Sky Lagoon. It is the perfect place for those seeking comfort, quiet and relaxation amid hot pools, saunas and beautiful views of the Atlantic.

Sky Lagoon is much more expensive than the other facilities described here, but it is located practically in the city and is certainly a very attractive offering. You can find more about it in a separate article: Sky Lagoon – Iceland’s new geothermal attraction.

Kvika footbath — unique foot spa

Kvika footbath is a small (200 x 200 x 80 cm) hot pool, carved in a massive rock by artist Ólöf Nordal. It became available for use in 2005, and has become a popular place to visit, both among tourists and Icelanders. When creating it, the artist wanted to refer to ancient Icelandic bath traditions and invite everyone to experience the amazing warmth and power of Earth.

The place is unique in that it was not naturally created, but Kvika footbath also offers breathtaking vistas of the ocean and mountains. It is one of the favorite spots to watch the sunset and northern lights.

Designed for… soaking feet, a great place to relax and… see amazing views. The water here has about 39 ºC. There is electric lighting inside with a nice soft glow. Next to the footbath you will find a small fountain, which may be rather hard to drink from on a windy day.

You can enjoy Kvika footbath for free. Because it is meant to be for foot baths only, the place has no changing rooms.

If you are here, it is good to visit the nearby Grótta lighthouse.

Next to the fountain and pumping station there is a parking area.

Other pools in Reykjavik

Apart from the places I mentioned above, there are at least 10 other pools and baths farther away from the center and on the outskirts of Reykjavik. And two more in the center:

Sundlaug Seltjarnarness

– address: Hrólfsskálavör 13 (northwest Reykjavik, beyond the docks);
– getting there: bus 11 up to the Ithrottamidstod (Íþróttamiðstöð) Seltjarnarness stop;
– open: Mon-Fri 6:30-22:00, weekends 8:00 – 19:30;

– it has a 25-meter pool with 29 ºC water, a large paddling pool for kids with 35 ºC water, shallow pool with 37 ºC water and 4 hydromassage tubs with temperatures ranging from 37 ºC to 44 ºC.
– Additionally, there is a steam room, a large sledge track and a play area.

The specialty of Sundlaug Seltjarnarness is the water – rich in minerals, straight from the borehole of the Seltjarnarnes heating system, great for sensitive skin.

Vesturbæjarlaug

Vesturbaejarlaug, like Seltjarnerness is in the west of Reykjavik.

– The building is 850 m²
– It has a large pool (27-30 ºC), kids’ pool (32 ºC), paddling pool (37 ºC), 5 hydromassage tubs (39 ºC), steam room and sauna, fitness machines and a few play structures.
– In 2014 a double bathtub was added.

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon – outdoor pool

Krauma SPA

Krauma is a natural geothermal spa opened in late 2017. It is among the newest and most elegant facilities of its kind in Iceland.

The Krauma complex lies right next to the most powerful hot spring in Europe – Deildartunguhver – and it is from this that it draws its hot water. When mixed with cold water from the glacier, it creates the perfect temperature for warm baths.

This is a very interesting place for those looking for a real spa and not ‘just’ a pool. Thus, it is an alternative primarily to Sky Lagoon and, in a way, to Blue Lagoon. It is farther from the city, but in an interesting area that is worth a visit anyway. It’s also noticeably cheaper than the competition and certainly less crowded than the Blue Lagoon.

You can read more about Krauma SPA here: Krauma – natural geothermal spa

Pools in Reykjavik – comparison

As you can surely see from the above descriptions in Reykjavik you can enjoy a very wide range of pools and spas. And you should really choose something for yourself, because hot pools are one of the main features, and attractions, of both Iceland and its capital.

Choosing the perfect pool, depending on your preferences, should be no trouble. Below you will see once again a comparison of their basic features in the form of a table.

Map of swimming pools in Reykjavik

For your convenience, we have gathered the pools discussed below on one common map.
You can find the location of pools outside of Reykjavik in the articles dedicated to those specific pools, as well as in an overview article on Iceland’s most important and interesting hot springs: Iceland’s Best Hot Springs and Pools [Top 10]

You can easily save the map to your own Google account (click the little asterisk to the right of the map title) and return to it at any time right from your own account, computer or phone.