Laugardalslaug — Attraction in Reykjavik

Here's a guide for tourist use! We really enjoyed our time here, but were a bit apprehensive about the process since it's quite a different experience to bathing in other parts of Europe! So here are some quick notes:

1. There's loads of free parking outside.
2. Pay at reception, our children were free, prices are VERY reasonable. About £10 per adult. Free locker wrist bands.
3. Using your locker wrist band you'll get through the entry gates, our children got a ticket with a bar code to scan themselves in.
4. You'll come to an area with benches to remove your shoes, there are small shoe lockers, but nobody seemed to be using them, plenty storage racks.
5. Keep your socks on and walk into the separate male/female changing rooms.
6. Once undressed, take your towel and move into the shower area. There are metal racks to keep your towels neatly stored until after your swim. There's an attendant in the shower area in a little booth making sure the rules are followed.
7. In the mens area there were several communal show areas with about 12 showers in each. There were also 4 private shower booths in the middle area, ideal if like us you prefer a degree of modesty. You will be expected to shower naked though, there are soap dispensers on the walls, they take this very seriously. We were a bit apprehensive, but you quickly get over any fears and can cover your modesty with your towel for most of the experience.
8. I'm advised in the ladies side, its just one shower area, without any private booths.
9. Put your costume/shorts on and enjoy the range of pools and hot tubs. Large kids area with various slides, monkey-bars, some outside play park items such as rope climb. A cooler outdoor pool with an area for lap swimming. We didn't find the 6 degree plunge pool, or venture to the indoor lap pool.
10. After your swim it's back for another naked shower. It's important to fully dry yourself (with your previously stashed towels) before going back into the changing room.
11. Grab your shoes, the exit barrier eats your wrist band in exchange for opening the gates to let you out.

A brilliant and very affordable activity. Nice friendly atmosphere with the locals. Wasn't that busy in February, and great with all the ice and snow around. Ironically given how seriously the Icelandic people take the pre-swim cleanliness, the pool itself is a bit grotty and run down. The changing rooms and showers were clean. I wouldn't however let that put you off, it's an experience you should really try. We...

🌊 Laugardalslaug – authentic and relaxing!!

Laugardalslaug is a lovely public pool in Reykjavík — not too touristy, very authentic, and a great place to enjoy the local atmosphere. The outdoor hot pools, steam baths, and open spaces make it perfect if you want to experience Iceland like a local. The entrance fee is also quite affordable, which is a plus.

The only downside is that the facilities can sometimes feel a bit neglected — not dirty, just slightly worn and in need of a little more attention. But nothing that really ruins the experience.

However, today (July 8th, around 5:00 PM), I had a truly unpleasant moment with the male shower area attendant. There was a sign asking people to dry off before entering the changing rooms — which is fine — but before I even had the chance to finish reading it, the attendant approached me quite aggressively in front of others, telling me I “should learn how to read.” It was unnecessarily rude and humiliating.

As if that wasn’t enough, after I had dried myself and was just drying my swimsuit, he deliberately turned on the cold hose and sprayed the floor (and me) again — something he didn’t do when locals were around. It felt very targeted and unkind.

This kind of attitude really doesn’t reflect the welcoming and respectful spirit of Iceland. I hope the staff guy can be trained to treat all guests — locals and tourists — with the same courtesy.

Still, I would recommend Laugardalslaug for what it is: an honest, local, and relaxing place. But be aware that the staff guy experience might vary.

I would have given 4 or even 5 stars if only this staff guy hadn’t...

I'm likely to be one of the only people to give this place a negative review. I normally wouldn't bother, but in this case I need to bring it to the attention of future foreign visitors, as well as the management. The issue isn't with the facilities, it's with 1 specific staff member. My wife was treated very rudely by the attendant in the ladies locker room on Aug 30 2024 around 1700. The attendant saw my wife dry off the children so as not to track water into the locker area, but still insisted that they were not dry enough. When pressed about which child specifically, the attendant motioned vaguely toward both of them and said "that one". My wife made a show of drying them off again and asked if that's good enough, to which the attendant rolled her eyes and walked away.

To management: you have a duty to ensure that all people who visit your facility are treated equitably and respectfully, regardless of their country of origin. Whether tourists or expats, foreigners deserve to be treated respectfully, even when we make a mistake. Please add some training about how to interact with people who have different backgrounds than the local population.

To visitors: there are signs in English and Icelandic warning about not tracking water into the locker area. Place your towel on the rack by the showers before you head to the pool. Although, watch out for thieves. My wife's towels were stolen on Aug 29 and they had to drip dry. The facility staff did not offer a solution for the stolen towels, other than "lost and...