Sundhöll Reykjavíkur

What to expect

Sundhöll Reykjavíkur (the Reykjavík Swimming Hall) is the oldest public pool in the capital and one of the best-known buildings in the city centre. It opened on 23 March 1937 after years of delay. Work began in 1929 and stalled when the money ran out. The architect was Guðjón Samúelsson. His first plan, in the style of a turf farmhouse with three pools (one for children, one for athletes and one for seawater), was dropped, and building started on the present design in 1929. That building still faces Barónsstígur today.

For decades it was an indoor pool only. On 3 December 2017 an extension by VA arkitektar opened on the south side, adding an outdoor pool, outdoor tubs and new changing rooms while keeping the old street front much as it was. The result is two pools in one: a high, tiled 1930s hall with diving boards, and a modern outdoor deck one level below the entrance with hot tubs on the terrace above.

It is a working city pool. Expect lap swimmers early in the morning, schoolchildren during the day and a mixed crowd of locals and visitors in the evening.

The pools

The city lists:

• Indoor pool: 25 by 10 m, up to 4 m deep, 84°F29°C, with diving boards at 1 m and 2.75 m above the water.
• Indoor children’s pool: 7.2 by 10 m, up to 1.1 m deep, 86°F30°C.
• Outdoor pool: 25 by 10 m, 0.9 to 1.8 m deep, 84°F29°C.
• Outdoor wading pool: 100°F38°C, with a mushroom-shaped water feature.
• Upper terrace: a massage tub at 102°F39°C and a hot tub at 108°F42°C.
• Outdoor massage tub: 104°F40°C.
• Cold tub: round, by the sauna, around 50°F10°C.
• Sauna and steam bath: shared by men and women.

The chlorine is made on site from salt. There is a café, swimwear for sale and accessible changing facilities.

Changing-room repairs and current hours

Sundhöll closed for maintenance from 26 May to 21 June 2026 and reopened on 25 June. The changing-room renovation turned out to be larger than planned and was still going on in October 2026. Men are using the old changing room on the lower floor, and women are using the two outdoor changing rooms. Together these hold about 60 people, so the city caps the number of guests in the pool at that figure.

When school swimming started again on 25 August 2026, the city cut weekday hours until the women’s changing room is finished. The city’s opening-hours page in October 2026 listed:

• Monday: 06:30 to 22:00
• Tuesday: 06:30 to 10:00 and 12:00 to 22:00
• Wednesday: 06:30 to 22:00
• Thursday: 06:30 to 08:30 and 15:00 to 22:00
• Friday: 06:30 to 10:00 and 15:00 to 22:00
• Saturday and Sunday: 08:00 to 22:00

An earlier city notice from 24 August gave slightly different weekday gaps, so check the city site on the day. The city said it hoped to reopen the women’s changing room in the autumn, after which normal hours should return. Expect a queue at busy times while the cap applies.

Getting there

The pool is at Barónsstígur 45a, 101 Reykjavík, about 350 m (a quarter of a mile) east of Hallgrímskirkja.

• On foot: From Laugavegur, the main shopping street, walk uphill on Barónsstígur for about five minutes. From Hallgrímskirkja, it is a short walk east along Egilsgata.
• By car: The building has about 30 parking spaces. Street parking in the centre is paid, so check the signs.
• By bus: Hlemmur, the city’s main bus hub, is a few minutes’ walk north-east.

When to go

The pool is open all year. Because school swimming takes the indoor pool on weekdays until about 14:00 or 15:00, evenings and weekends are the best time to see the old hall. The outdoor pool and tubs are the draw on a winter night.

Holiday hours in 2026: 11:00 to 17:00 on most public holidays, 13:00 to 17:00 on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Over Christmas: 06:30 to 18:00 on 23 December, 08:00 to 13:00 on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, closed on Christmas Day, 11:00 to 17:00 on Boxing Day and 13:00 to 17:00 on 1 January 2027.

Prices and booking

No booking. Pay at the desk. Reykjavík’s price list in force from 5 May 2026:

• Adult single entry: ISK 1,500
• Children aged 10 to 17: ISK 400
• Children under 10 with an adult: free
• 10-visit adult card: ISK 7,000
• Towel rental ISK 860, swimsuit rental ISK 1,270, or ISK 2,770 for both plus entry

Multi-visit and annual tickets go onto Reykjavíkurkortið, the city’s access card (ISK 1,000 to issue). Visitors who also want buses and museums can buy the Reykjavík City Card from Visit Reykjavík, which covers Sundhöll.

Bathing culture

The same rules apply here as at every Icelandic pool.

• Wash without your swimsuit first. Take your shoes off at the changing room, shower naked with soap, then put your swimsuit on. Staff will send you back if you skip it.
• Swimsuits on in the pools and tubs.
• Children under 10 must be with a swimmer aged 15 or older.
• No phones or cameras in the changing rooms.
• Dry off before you go back to the lockers.

Where to stay nearby

You are in the middle of the city. Hotels and guesthouses line Laugavegur, Skólavörðustígur and the streets around Hallgrímskirkja, all within a 10-minute walk. The Reykjavík Campsite is in Laugardalur, about 2 km (1.2 miles) east, beside Laugardalslaug.

Safety notes

• Deep water and diving: the indoor pool is 4 m deep under the boards. Only dive where staff allow it, and keep non-swimmers in the children’s pool.
• Hot tubs: the 108°F42°C tub is hot. Keep it short and drink water.
• Cold tub: brief plunges only.
• Slippery decks: the outdoor deck and stairs can ice up in winter.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hallgrímskirkja is a few minutes away, and its tower gives the best view over the city. For more hot water, Vesturbæjarlaug is the neighbourhood pool of west Reykjavík, and Laugardalslaug is the city’s largest. The Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur is the nearest commercial lagoon.

See also: Vesturbæjarlaug, Laugardalslaug, Sky Lagoon and Seltjarnarneslaug.