Every town in Iceland, no matter how small, has a public swimming pool: a sundlaug. These are not tourist attractions. They are community spaces where locals go multiple times a week to swim, soak in the hot pots, and talk. If you are comparing this with the famous lagoons or wild pools, read the full hot springs in Iceland overview. This guide is about the local pool experience.
If you only do one bathing experience in Iceland, make it a sundlaug. It costs roughly the price of a coffee, you sit alongside actual Icelanders, and you walk out understanding why this country is the way it is. The lagoons are pretty. The sundlaug is the real thing.
At every sundlaug in Iceland you must shower without a swimsuit before entering the water. There are signs in the changing rooms telling you exactly which body parts to wash. This is enforced — staff will turn you away if you skip it. It is a public health rule, not a quirk. Just do it. Everyone else does, no one is looking, and you will be respected for following the routine.
Laugardalslaug — Reykjavík's flagship
The largest public pool in Iceland, and the one most Reykjavík residents use. It has a 50-metre outdoor pool, several hot pots at different temperatures (37°C up to 44°C), a steam room, a cold plunge, and a waterslide. It is exactly what an Icelandic public pool looks and feels like — unpretentious, affordable, and full of locals.
Go on a weekday evening between 5 and 8 pm and you will be soaking alongside Reykjavík residents of all ages — kids before bed, retirees catching up on news, parents decompressing after work. It is the social fabric of the city in pool form.
Vesturbæjarlaug — the writer's pool
Smaller than Laugardalslaug and located in the west end of Reykjavík near the university, Vesturbæjarlaug has a reputation as the pool where writers, journalists, professors and intellectuals soak. The hot pots can be a great place to overhear conversations about politics, books, and gossip. The vibe is friendly and low-key.
If Laugardalslaug feels too big or you want a more neighbourhood-y experience, this is the better choice in Reykjavík.
Hofsós — the most beautiful pool in Iceland
Hofsós is a tiny village in north Iceland with a population of around 200 people and one of the country's best pool views. The pool sits on a cliff above Skagafjörður and the infinity edge looks directly out across the fjord to the mountains and the island Drangey beyond. On a clear day the whole fjord opens up in front of you. On a misty day it feels quieter and more local.
It is far from Reykjavík (about 4.5 hours), but if you are travelling the north or driving the Ring Road, it is worth planning around. The contrast between the small village setting and the wide fjord view is the whole point.
Laugarvatn Fontana — the polished version
Technically a spa rather than a sundlaug, but worth mentioning because it sits on the Golden Circle route and is genuinely good. Laugarvatn Fontana is built directly on a geothermally active lakeshore — you can bathe in pools fed by natural springs while steam rises from the ground around you, and then plunge into the cold lake. The contrast is completely addictive. They also bake geothermal rye bread underground here, which you can try fresh.
It is more expensive than a public pool but cheaper than the lagoons, and a good stop on the Golden Circle that most tour buses skip.
Pool etiquette — what locals expect
Icelanders take their pool etiquette seriously. A few things to know before you go:
- Always shower naked before entering — non-negotiable
- Keep noise levels reasonable — hot pots are for conversation, not parties
- Do not hog the hot pot — if it is busy, be aware of others waiting
- No phones or cameras inside the changing rooms or pool area — ever
- Rinse off before re-entering after a break is expected
- Do not wear flip-flops in the pool area — barefoot from the shower onward
How it actually works
Walk in, pay (a few hundred krónur), receive a wristband. Go to the changing room of your gender. Strip completely, lock your stuff, walk to the showers. Wash with soap. Put on your swimsuit. Walk to the pool. Soak. When you leave, reverse the process: shower again, change, drop your wristband at reception on the way out.
See spa & lagoon packages on GetYourGuide → Bring your own swimsuit, towel, and flip-flops if you like (most pools rent them but it is cheaper to bring your own). Goggles are useful in the lap pool. That is it.
The bottom line
The sundlaug is the most underrated travel experience in Iceland. It costs almost nothing, is open year-round, and you walk out feeling exactly the way Icelanders feel after their evening soak — warm, calm, slightly philosophical, and ready for whatever the weather throws at you next. Skip the lagoon for one evening and try a sundlaug instead. Then thank me.