Place · Hallgrímskirkja & Skólavörðustígur
Sundhöllin (Reykjavík swimming pool)Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
The city's oldest public pool, near Hallgrímskirkja: 60–90 minutes in the pool and hot pots, the local way to warm up after wind and rain; bring a swimsuit and follow the shower rule.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 60–90 min
- p95 120 min
- Price
- about ISK 1,300–1,800 (≈ US$11–15)
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Best time
- Weekday mornings or early evenings
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Hallgrímskirkja & Skólavörðustígur: painful
- Getting there
- Barónsstígur 45a, a short walk from Hallgrímskirkja
- Local hot pots
- Shower rule
- Cheap warm-up
- Go Weekday mornings or early evenings
- Shoes off inside
- Queue: switch at 20 min
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…In winter, ice and snow make suitcases hard to wheel
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Iceland ↗Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Iceland ↗Driving off marked roads is illegal and fined heavily; F-roads into the highlands open only in summer and require a 4x4.
- Iceland ↗Check the road authority's conditions map and the Met Office forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan on SafeTravel for hikes and remote drives.
- Capital Region Iceland ↗Check the road-condition and weather services before any drive out of the city; winter storms close roads.
- Reykjavík ↗In winter, ice and snow make suitcases hard to wheel: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Reykjavík ↗Check the Icelandic Met Office and the road-condition service on the day; storm warnings can close roads, the tower and tours.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 09:00 or 14:00 · go Weekday mornings or early evenings
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about ISK 1,300–1,800 (≈ US$11–15) (2026 estimate)
- Child: reduced or free (check)
- Time to spend
- 60–90 min · up to 120 min if you linger
Know before you go
- Entry is about ISK 1,300–1,800 (≈ US$11–15) for an adult (2026 estimate, check the official page); towel and swimsuit rental cost extra.
- The pool was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and opened in 1937; it is a 25 m indoor pool with outdoor pools and hot pots added in later years.
- The shower rule is strict: soap and water, no swimsuit, before you enter.
- Hot pots run from about 38 to 42 °C; sit only as long as you feel comfortable.Hot pots run from about 100 to 108 °F; sit only as long as you feel comfortable.
- Bring or rent a towel; a lock is usually included in the locker system (check).
Best time of day
Go Weekday mornings or early evenings. Plan 60–90 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for a weekday; weekends are busier after 10:00; not live data
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
45min
Worthwhile
60min
Typical
90min
p95
120min
Opening hours change with the season and weekdays; check the official Reykjavík pools page before you go.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Adult: Desk in the entrance hall
- Child: Same desk
- Towel rental: Desk
- Swimsuit rental: Desk
- Queues
- Adult: No line outside the after-work peak.
- Dress code
- Shoes: Off in the entrance and changing rooms.
- Bags & lockers
- Lockers in the changing rooms; bring a coin or use the tag system (check).
- Lockers or cloakroom Lockers in the changing rooms.
- Photos
- Not allowed inside the changing rooms or pool area.
- What's closed
- WeeklyOpen every day of the year in most seasons; hours vary.
- HolidayscheckHours are shorter on 24–26 December and 1 January.
- MaintenancecheckSome pools close for a few days for cleaning or repairs.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | about ISK 1,300–1,800 (≈ US$11–15) (2026 estimate) | Desk in the entrance hall | No line outside the after-work peak. |
| Child | reduced or free (check) | Same desk | Same line. |
| Towel rental | about ISK 800–1,200 (check) | Desk | — |
| Swimsuit rental | about ISK 800–1,200 (check) | Desk | — |
Inside, in order
Indoor 25 m pool
20 minLanes for swimming and a warm shallow area.
Outdoor pools and hot pots
30 minHot pots of 38–42 °C; the classic local ritual.Hot pots of 100–108 °F; the classic local ritual.
Steam room and sauna
15 minAvailable in some pool areas (check).
optional
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- busy
- Worst while inside
- busy
- Leave by
- 09:309:30 AM
- Closing buffer
- 630′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 20:00. Closing hours vary by weekday and season; check the official page.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
How to do it well
- 1Pay at the desk, take your wristband or key, and go to the changing room: shoes off in the entrance area.
- 2Shower with soap, without your swimsuit, before you enter the pool area; there are posters showing which areas to wash.
- 3Put on your swimsuit and use the indoor pool and the hot pots; the outdoor pools and hot tubs are a step outside.
- 4Dry off, rinse again if you like, and keep your towel with you when you leave the hot pots.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Barónsstígur 45a, a short walk from Hallgrímskirkja
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- A few steps at the entrance; changing rooms are on the ground floor (check)
- Shoes
- Shoes off in the changing area; leave them in the racks.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Busy after work on weekdays and on weekend afternoons; quiet mid-morning.
- Sensory load
- 2/5
- Exposure
- low
- Queue rule
- Switch if the queue passes 20 min; come back when under 5.
Bailouts
rain
Stay in the indoor pool
heat
The outdoor pool
crowd
Laugardalslaug, the larger pool complex (a taxi ride away)
Nearest rescue anchor: A — north-west block: café row (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: check · checkA few steps at the entrance.
- Lifts: check · check
- Accessible toilet: check · checkAsk at the desk.
- Wheelchair: partly · partlyAsk at the desk for the accessible route and changing room (check).
- Stroller: partly · partlyLeave the stroller at the entrance; children carry through the changing rooms.
- Places to sit: yes · yesBenches at the edge of the hot pots.
The building dates from 1937 and has been renovated; check with the desk for step-free routes and accessible changing rooms.
Step-free route
- 1Call or ask the desk about the accessible entrance and changing room before you go (check).
- 2Use a taxi to the door; the approach is paved.
Combine with
- 3 minLaugavegur — The shopping street.
- 6 minHallgrímskirkja — The landmark church.
- 7 minBrauð & Co · eat — Warm bakery.
- 8 minCafé Loki · eat — Icelandic food.
Walk the Hallgrímskirkja & Skólavörðustígur area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| None inside | — | Photography is not allowed in the changing rooms or pools. |
| The building's white 1930s front from the street | Any time | Keep off the road. |
Red lines
- Shower with soap and without a swimsuit before you enter the pool; staff enforce it.
- Do not wear outdoor shoes past the changing-room line.
More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids
Rules on site
- food
- Not in the pool area.
With kids
- with kids
- Children swim for less than adults; check the age rules and rules for adult supervision and armbands.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | yes | In the changing rooms. |
| Accessible toilet | check | Ask at the desk. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | yes | Lockers in the changing rooms. |
| Café or food | no | Cafés are a short walk away. |
| Drinking water | yes | Tap water is clean. |
| Seating | yes | Benches beside the hot pots. |
| Wi-Fi | check | Not needed in the pool. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov–Feb | Cold and dark | Outdoor hot pots feel especially good; steam rises in the frost. | |
| Jun–Aug | Midnight sun | Quieter mid-morning; tourists fill the pool after breakfast. | |
| 24–26 Dec, 1 Jan | Holiday hours | Short hours or closed. | check |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to Reykjavík | good | The cheap, local alternative to a spa; a real ritual. |
| Photographers | poor | No photography allowed. |
| Families with small kids | good | Shallow areas and warm water; follow supervision rules. |
| Wheelchair users | caution | Check the accessible route with the desk. |
| Visitors who dislike crowds | ok | Go mid-morning or late. |
Skip it if
- You are shy about the naked shower rule: read it first, or choose a spa with private cabins.
- You want a large geothermal lagoon: Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon is a different experience and price.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Is Sundhöllin the same as the Blue Lagoon?
No: it is a public city pool, far cheaper and closer, with no lagoon setting.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Can I wear a swimsuit in the shower?
No; soap and water without the suit are required.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Do I really have to shower naked?
Yes: shower with soap, without a swimsuit, before you enter. Staff enforce it, and posters show the parts of the body to wash.
What do I need to bring?
A swimsuit and a towel, or rent them at the desk. Shampoo and soap are usually supplied (check).
How much is entry?
About ISK 1,300–1,800 (≈ US$11–15) for an adult (2026 estimate, check the official page).
Is it good for kids?
Yes; check the age rules and the supervision requirements.
How long should I stay?
60–90 minutes for the pool and hot pots.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.