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 a few 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. On a sunny, windless summer day this place can draw crowds…

In Nautholsvik you will find a pool and a hot jacuzzi (about 38 °C / 100°F), but the 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 (about $5) to use the pools, tubs and amenities.

You can rent a towel for 600 ISK (about $5), and a bathing suit/trunks for 850 ISK (about $7).

How to get to Nauthólsvík

The Nautholsvik beach lies on Fossvogur, the bay closing off the center of Reykjavik from the south. It sits just south of 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 Öskjuhlíð, 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 on the far shore.

Map: driving route from Reykjavik to the Nautholsvik geothermal beach — click to open the interactive map

It is best to reach Nauthólsvík by bus: route 8 from the BSÍ/Landspítalinn stop (the hospital building is beyond Hallgrimskirkja, but the bus stop with its name is 700 m farther southwest). 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 toward 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 the whole family

The Laugardalslaug complex consists of a 50-meter 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) is 28 °C (82°F), while in the smaller thermal tubs it ranges from 39 to 44 °C (102 to 111°F).

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. Reykja 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 northeastern part of Reykjavik, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of Hallgrimskirkja.

Map: driving route from Reykjavik to the Laugardalslaug pool — click to open the interactive map

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 1937, which makes it the oldest public pool in the country. There are, admittedly, older swimming pools in Iceland (The Secret Lagoon in 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 (82 ft) long. Water temperature is 28 °C (82°F). 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-meter (9-foot) 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 northeast of the pool.

Map: driving route from Reykjavik to the Sundhollin pool — click to open the interactive map

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 toward Hallgrimskirkja).

Sundhollin is open Monday-Friday 6:30 am – 10:00 pm, and on weekends 8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Reykjavik City Card holders enter for free, while without it an adult pays 900 ISK (about $8) and children aged 6-17 pay 140 ISK (about $1).

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.

Map: driving route from Reykjavik to Sky Lagoon — click to open the interactive map

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 am – 10:00 pm, weekends 8:00 am – 7:30 pm;
– it has a 25-meter pool with 29 °C (84°F) water, a large paddling pool for kids with 35 °C (95°F) water, a shallow pool with 37 °C (99°F) water and 4 hydromassage tubs with temperatures ranging from 37 °C to 44 °C (99°F to 111°F);
– 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 Sundlaug Seltjarnarness, is in the west of Reykjavik.

– the building covers 850 m² (about 9,150 sq ft);
– it has a large pool (27-30 °C / 81-86°F), a kids’ pool (32 °C / 90°F), a paddling pool (37 °C / 99°F), 5 hydromassage tubs (39 °C / 102°F), a 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 descriptions above, 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 above on one common map below.
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.

Map: swimming pools and hot pools in Reykjavik — click to open the interactive map