Hot Pools
13/01/17 17:19
One of the most famous features of Iceland is its geothermal hot pools. Many of them are naturally occurring, and driving through the countryside (especially in the SW of the country) you can see steam rising from the hills here and there. Around the town of Hveragerði you can see lots of geothermal activity.
There is an excellent short film about some of the natural hot pools in which you can bathe in Iceland called Thermal Pools in Iceland. As you can see in the film, most of them are fairly remote and hard to find. Luckily there are several manmade thermal pools, the most famous of which by far is the Blue Lagoon. Almost all travellers to Iceland visit the lagoon although I haven't been there yet myself. It is very expensive, with basic packages ranging from around €60 to €100, but it is often said that everyone should go try it at least once. It is near Keflavík, the international airport, so many people stop there on the way to their flight home. Note you normally need to book your online ticket well in advance. The Secret Lagoon is a much more low-key version on the Golden Circle tourist route near Flúðir.
My favourite kind of hot pool is in the municipal baths in each town, or in Reykjavík in each suburb. Although these always feature an actual swimming pool, the main reason most Icelanders "go swimming" is to chill out in the outdoor hot pots. Usually there are four or five hot pots ranging from warm (35℃) to hot (42℃). Each can take up to 8 people or more, and this is where many people get their social fix and catch up on all the local gossip. In fact most Icelanders will hop from pot to pot without actually doing any swimming at all. Soaking in the hot water is especially pleasant in winter, watching the steam rise like mist into the freezing air. I always think of the baths as performing the same social function as the pub in rural Ireland, although in a much more healthy manner.
There are about ten pools in the Capital Region around Reykjavík, the biggest of which is Laugardalslaug. This one is sited next to the main camping area in Reykjavík, and so is where you are mostly likely to meet other tourists. For a more local experience, Vesturbæjarlaug is set in a trendy part of town called Vesturbær (West Town) near the university, and Árbæjarlaug is a large facility in a suburban residential area. Access to these pools is fairly cheap (€6 to €8 or so), especially in comparison to the Blue Lagoon. You can hire towels and swimming costumes at the pools, but bringing your own is much cheaper. Don't forget to shower thoroughly before entering the pools, Icelanders get really upset with people who don't respect this protocol.
Some of the pools are within walking distance of downtown Reykjavík, but you can always take the bus using the Strætó smartphone app to plan your journey and buy tickets.
There is an excellent short film about some of the natural hot pools in which you can bathe in Iceland called Thermal Pools in Iceland. As you can see in the film, most of them are fairly remote and hard to find. Luckily there are several manmade thermal pools, the most famous of which by far is the Blue Lagoon. Almost all travellers to Iceland visit the lagoon although I haven't been there yet myself. It is very expensive, with basic packages ranging from around €60 to €100, but it is often said that everyone should go try it at least once. It is near Keflavík, the international airport, so many people stop there on the way to their flight home. Note you normally need to book your online ticket well in advance. The Secret Lagoon is a much more low-key version on the Golden Circle tourist route near Flúðir.
My favourite kind of hot pool is in the municipal baths in each town, or in Reykjavík in each suburb. Although these always feature an actual swimming pool, the main reason most Icelanders "go swimming" is to chill out in the outdoor hot pots. Usually there are four or five hot pots ranging from warm (35℃) to hot (42℃). Each can take up to 8 people or more, and this is where many people get their social fix and catch up on all the local gossip. In fact most Icelanders will hop from pot to pot without actually doing any swimming at all. Soaking in the hot water is especially pleasant in winter, watching the steam rise like mist into the freezing air. I always think of the baths as performing the same social function as the pub in rural Ireland, although in a much more healthy manner.
There are about ten pools in the Capital Region around Reykjavík, the biggest of which is Laugardalslaug. This one is sited next to the main camping area in Reykjavík, and so is where you are mostly likely to meet other tourists. For a more local experience, Vesturbæjarlaug is set in a trendy part of town called Vesturbær (West Town) near the university, and Árbæjarlaug is a large facility in a suburban residential area. Access to these pools is fairly cheap (€6 to €8 or so), especially in comparison to the Blue Lagoon. You can hire towels and swimming costumes at the pools, but bringing your own is much cheaper. Don't forget to shower thoroughly before entering the pools, Icelanders get really upset with people who don't respect this protocol.
Some of the pools are within walking distance of downtown Reykjavík, but you can always take the bus using the Strætó smartphone app to plan your journey and buy tickets.