Reykjavik thermal pools: prices, hours, rules and the best pools to visit

💡 The Short Version: Communal geothermal bathing (sundlaugamenning) forms the backbone of daily social life in Iceland. The City of Reykjavik manages eight public geothermal pool complexes, featuring lap pools heated to 28°C and communal hot pots (heitir pottar) ranging from 38°C to 44°C. Adult entry is 1,500 ISK, and all eight pools are completely free for holders of the Reykjavik City Card. Most facilities open by 06:30 on weekdays and stay open until 22:00. The three standout pools are historic Sundhöllin downtown, the vast sports complex at Laugardalslaug, and the neighbourhood hub of Vesturbæjarlaug. Or book a tour: if you prefer a luxury spa experience with ocean panoramas, reserve entry and transfers to Sky Lagoonad or the famed Blue Lagoonad.

Unlike commercial wellness resorts that cater primarily to tourists, Iceland’s public pools serve as vital neighbourhood meeting grounds. Here, government ministers, carpenters, university professors, and retirees sit shoulder-to-shoulder in steaming outdoor basins, debating domestic politics, local gossip, and international current affairs. In recognition of its singular role in community wellbeing and social equality, Icelandic pool culture was officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Sundhöll Reykjavíkur nameplate, 1937. Photo: Börkur Sigurbjörnsson from Barcelona, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Admission prices and rental fees

The City of Reykjavik sets one set of prices for all eight municipal pools (in force since 5 May 2026).

All ticketing counters accept credit cards, debit cards, and contactless mobile options (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Cash is rarely used, as detailed in our guide to money in Reykjavik.

The golden rule: mandatory naked shower etiquette

For first-time international visitors, the shower protocol is the most talked-about aspect of Icelandic bathing culture. It is not an informal custom; it is a strictly enforced public health requirement.

Because Icelandic geothermal water is sourced directly from clean subterranean aquifers and continuously cycles through the pools, municipal authorities use almost no chemical chlorine or harsh disinfectants. Maintaining sanitary pool conditions relies entirely on every bather entering the water impeccably clean.

The four-step changing room routine

1. Remove your shoes: At the entrance to the locker room, you will encounter a shoe rack or bench. Remove outdoor footwear immediately and place them on the racks; walking in street shoes across the changing room floor is considered disrespectful.
2. Locker and undress: Proceed to the lockers. In older pools you receive a physical wrist key; modern pools use electronic wristbands or token coins. Strip down completely and place all clothing, jewellery, watches, and personal belongings inside your locker.
3. The naked scrub: Walk naked into the communal shower area holding your towel, toiletries, and dry swimwear. Leave your towel and swimwear on the dry shelving racks outside the shower stalls. Lather your entire body thoroughly with soap under hot running water. Prominent instructional posters on the shower walls illustrate the critical hygiene zones that require concentrated scrubbing:
   • Head and hair
   • Underarms
   • Groin and genital areas
   • Feet and between the toes
4. Suit up and dry off: Only after rinsing away all soap may you put on your clean swimsuit and walk through the footbath into the pool area. When returning after your swim, reverse the process: shower, dry off completely in the shower area, and step into the carpeted locker room entirely dry to keep the floors clean.

Locker rooms are segregated by gender. While traditional facilities feature open communal showers, all eight city pools now provide at least one private curtained or frosted-glass shower cubicle for bathers requiring extra privacy.

The stand at Laugardalslaug. Photo: Gunnar Klack, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Tour options and spa alternatives

If you want to experience Icelandic geothermal waters in a luxurious resort environment with ocean panoramas, consider combining a public pool visit with a day trip to an oceanside spa.

Reykjavik: Sky Lagoon Admission with Transferad

From 18,000 ISK · 4.8 stars from 2,841 reviews · 2.5 hours · Pickup & drop-off included

Sky Lagoon, on the Kópavogur shoreline, has an infinity-edge pool facing the North Atlantic and a seven-step Skjól ritual. This package includes return transport from central Reykjavik, locker access, and use of luxury towels and amenities.

From Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon Admission with Transfersad

From 26,700 ISK · 4.6 stars from 5,156 reviews · 4 hours · Mobile voucher

The Blue Lagoon is a silica-rich mineral pool set in a lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula. This transfer-and-entry package guarantees your hourly entry slot, round-trip coach transport, a silica mud mask, and one drink at the in-water bar.

Reykjavik: Sky Lagoon Entrance Pass With 7-Step Spa Ritualad

From 14,600 ISK · 4.8 stars from 8,099 reviews · 2–3 hours · Mobile voucher

For bathers travelling by rental vehicle or local taxi, this ticket provides direct smartphone barcode entry to Sky Lagoon’s thermal waters, cold plunge pool, oceanfront sauna, and steam rooms.

The three premier central pools

Three of the eight pools stand out for their history and central location:

1. Sundhöll Reykjavíkur (Barónsstígur 45a, 101 Reykjavik)

Located just three blocks behind Hallgrímskirkja, Sundhöllin is the oldest public swimming pool in Iceland. Designed in the neoclassical Art Deco style by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson (who also designed Hallgrímskirkja and the National Theatre), the complex opened its doors in 1937.

In December 2017, Sundhöllin completed a major modern expansion that doubled its size. Key features include:

• A heritage 25-metre indoor lap pool beneath arched white concrete balconies.
• A 25-metre heated outdoor pool with dedicated swimming lanes.
• Four outdoor hot pots ranging from 38°C to 42°C.
• A circular stone cold plunge basin chilled to 4°C to 6°C.
• A modern rooftop viewing terrace equipped with sun loungers and a shallow warm relaxation tub overlooking the city rooftops.
• Finnish dry saunas and aromatic steam chambers.

Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday 06:30 to 22:00; Tuesday 06:30 to 10:00 and 12:00 to 22:00; Thursday 06:30 to 08:30 and 15:00 to 22:00; Friday 06:30 to 10:00 and 15:00 to 22:00; Saturday and Sunday 08:00 to 22:00.

2. Laugardalslaug (Sundlaugavegur 30, 105 Reykjavik)

Set within the verdant Laugardalur recreational valley (easily accessible via Strætó bus route 14), Laugardalslaug is the crown jewel of Iceland’s public aquatic facilities. The site has deep historic roots: 19th-century women walked from the city centre to wash household linens in the geothermal springs of Þvottalaugarnar (The Wash Springs), preserved just outside the pool fence.

Today, Laugardalslaug features:

• An Olympic-sized 50-metre heated outdoor swimming pool (28°C) open in all weather conditions, even during heavy snowstorms.
• A dedicated 50-metre indoor pool utilized for swimming competitions and training.
• Multiple geothermal hot pots graded from 38°C to 44°C.
• A specialized mineral-rich seawater hot pot filled with heated ocean brine.
• An 86-metre twisting outdoor waterslide (vatnsrennibraut), children’s splash lagoons, and paddling pools.
• Spacious steam baths, saunas, and hot-stone relaxation rooms.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 06:30 to 22:00; Saturday and Sunday 08:00 to 22:00.

Vesturbæjarlaug in west Reykjavik. Photo: Jabbi, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

3. Vesturbæjarlaug (Hofsvallagata 107, 107 Reykjavik)

Situated in the residential west end (Vesturbær), a 15-minute walk from the National Museum of Iceland, Vesturbæjarlaug is the neighbourhood’s meeting place. If you want to experience authentic local life away from tour groups, this is the pool to choose.

The facility features an outdoor 25-metre swimming pool, a shallow children’s wading area, five circular geothermal hot pots, a cold plunge tub, a eucalyptus steam bath, and two Finnish dry saunas. Across the street, the artisan bakery Brauð & Co and the cosy bistro Kaffi Vest make the perfect post-swim refreshment stops.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 06:30 to 22:00; Saturday and Sunday 09:00 to 22:00.

The suburban community pools

If you have a hire car or wish to venture beyond the city centre with your public transport pass, five additional municipal pools offer uncrowded waters:

• Árbæjarlaug: Perched on a hillside overlooking the Elliðaárdalur river valley, this family-favourite pool features an indoor waterfall grotto that lets swimmers float outside into the open-air pool.
• Breiðholtslaug: A large suburban leisure centre offering two waterslides, lap lanes, and extensive hot pot facilities.
• Dalslaug: The city’s newest swimming complex, opened in 2021 in the Úlfarsárdalur district, boasting ultra-modern sustainable heating design.
• Grafarvogslaug: Located in north-eastern Reykjavik, equipped with outdoor slides, hot tubs, and an indoor training pool.
• Klébergslaug: A rustic, tranquil coastal pool located 30 kilometres north in the seaside village of Kjalarnes beneath the slopes of Mount Esja.

Practical pool tips for visitors

• Photography prohibition: Digital cameras, smartphones, and smart watches are strictly prohibited in all changing rooms, shower facilities, and pool decks. Leave your phone locked securely in your locker.
• Cold plunge technique: Alternate between a 15-minute soak in a 40°C hot pot and a 20-second immersion in the 5°C cold plunge. The vascular contraction and dilation cycle stimulates the immune system and leaves you deeply relaxed.
• Winter swimming: Bathing in an outdoor hot pot while fresh snow falls onto your hair is one of Iceland’s supreme pleasures. Keep your body submerged up to the chin to stay comfortably warm.

To incorporate a daily morning swim into your broader travel plans, browse our recommended 3-day Reykjavik itinerary and explore our comprehensive Reykjavik travel guide.