Best Of Reykjavík 2018: Best Pool

So, you’ve shopped in the shops, drank the drinks, and eaten all the food you can manage. And whilst those things are all super fun, activities and culture are the missing pieces of the puzzle for a perfect trip to Iceland. Whether it a gleaming museum or a grimy artist-run gallery, a springtime hike or a trip to try and glimpse the aurora, presenting our Best of Reykjavík 2018: Activities winners. Here, we’ll dive into the not-to-miss pools.

Best Pool

Sundhöllin

Barónsstígur 45a

After being out of the running last year due to lengthy renovations, 101’s iconic swimming palace Sundhöllin is back, and better than ever. There’s a new outdoor pool, a new reception area, refreshed changing facilities, and a corridor-like hot pot with lots of space for chilling and chatting. “I used to trek from 101 to Vesturbæjarlaug, but the renovations put Sundhöllin on top,” said the panel. “The changing rooms are beautiful—like Wes Anderson meets M. C. Escher. And it’s downtown, so when you come out of the pool with wet hair, there are plenty of bars and cafés around.”

Runner-Up:

Vesturbæjarlaug

Hofsvallagata 107

West-side bathing haven Vesturbæjarlaug has a large communal outdoor hot pot, indoor and outdoor pools, and a great steam room. “It’s still dominated by locals rather than tourists,” said the panel.” It’s also good in all seasons: “It has a sunlamp with a chair, so you can catch some rays in winter, and in summer you can sunbathe in the hot pots.”

Runner-Up:

Árbæjarlaug

Fylkisvegur 9

Suburban swimming pool Árbæjarlaug breaks into the top three this year because of the views, and people-watching potential. “It looks right over the city,” said the panel. “You enter the water indoors, then swim outside—perfect for the winter. All the people who go there are suburbanites rather than 101 barflies.”

Previous Winners

2017: Lágafellslaug

2016: Neslaug

2014-15: Vesturbæjarlaug

2012-13: Laugardalslaug

Other Activities Categories

Best Pool

Best Art Museum

Best Museum

Best Artist-Run Space

Best Gallery

Best Place For Aurora Spotting

Best Place To Take The Kids

Best People-Watching Spot

Best Hike

Best Cinema

You can buy a copy of the full Best Of Reykjavík 2018 magazine—an essential guide to having fun in Reykjavík—here, posted worldwide. We also have a Special Offer double-pack that also includes our Best Of Iceland magazine, about places to eat, see, swim, shop and stay, all around the country, here.