Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool

Seljavallalaug is an outdoor swimming pool located in southern Iceland. Built in 1923, it is considered one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland. The oldest pool is ‘The Secret Lagoon’ in Flúðir, operating since 1891.

The pool is rectangular, measuring 25 meters in length and 10 meters in width, making it the largest pool in Iceland until 1936. Its construction allowed local children to learn to swim. Despite Iceland’s reputation as a nation of fishermen, swimming was not a widespread skill back then. Today, every child learns to swim as part of mandatory school lessons.

Entry to Seljavallalaug is free. The site has changing rooms but no showers. It is maintained and cleaned once a year by volunteers while many people swim in it every day. Sharing the pool with other travelers is essential, and visitors should be considerate. The water is not particularly clean, so those sensitive to bacteria should take note. The water temperature ranges between 30 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Getting to Seljavallalaug takes approximately one and a half hours from Reykjavik. When driving on the Ring Road eastward, turn left onto Route 242 until reaching the parking lot. The pool is about a kilometer north on foot. The southern coastline is stunning, and a few kilometers further from the pool, you can also visit the impressive Skógafoss waterfall.