Sundhöllin — Attraction in Reykjavik

This place is amazing! Definitely worth a stop if you're spending a few days in town. It's hard to know what to expect, so I'll break it down for you.

Info:

This is a local "swimming pool" - one of many in the area. There is an indoor pool as well as an outdoor pool. Outdoors, there is also a very large hot tub (can seat ~50), an ice tub (very cold water), two more hot tubs "hot pots" at different temperatures, and a steam room. The price is about $10 to get in. This is a very local place, so you won't see too many tourists, and be aware that there may be some school children running through (it was brief and they weren't too disruptive). The staff was very nice, and the locals didn't seem to care one way or another that I was there - the atmosphere is pretty quiet and relaxing.

Process:

You will enter the locker rooms and stow everything except your bathing suit and towel in the locker. Lockers are free. Make sure to bring your own bathing suit and towel, otherwise you will be charged a rental fee.

Do not put your bathing suit on. Proceed down the hall past the locker rooms and into the shower room. Put your towel and swimsuit on a shelf, and shower. It's the norm to shower nude, and there is often a staff member there to make sure you shower properly. It's normal for the culture - they're just trying to keep the pools very clean.

After you shower, leave the towel on the shelf, put on your bathing suit, and go enjoy the water. Locals will typically alternate between the hot tub, the ice bath, the steam room, the ice bath, the hot tub, etc. It's very relaxing!

After you're done, you must shower again (nude) and then you can collect you things and go.

All in all, a terrific experience!

*Also, the "rooftop hot tub" that google describes is a bit of a stretch - it might be elevated a floor but there are walls so you can't really tell. Don't expect a view or anything.

EDIT: there IS apparently a sauna. I must have missed it...

[Bad behaviour/Racism report: Staff information included]

There's a sign that you can't take a phone with you into the pool, which was clear. So I took a photo of the outside pool through the window before I put the phone into a locker to go into the pool. However, the staff member came and told me that even photo shooting from the window, as some people have done in the reviews, is forbidden. (I checked the reviews first before the visit, so I thought taking photos outside was allowed.) Anyway, I apologised and deleted the photo right away in front of him, of course. However, he HUMILIATED me and treated me like a DISGUSTING HUMAN BEING and a COCKROACH even though I deleted the photo right away, apologised, and explained that it came from my misunderstanding that photo shooting was not allowed only in the pool at first. If his terrible behaviour is caused by racism towards Asians (because I am a small Asian girl), the staff deserves to be fired. If not, I kindly advise the pool to train him. That ruined my whole experience at this pool. It happened at 8 am, 22nd Nov 24. The staff was a young white guy with short brown hair who came with a female staff with long blond hair at first(She was friendly. His misconduct happened after she left the scene first). He was also overseeing the indoor pool area, wearing a beret around 9-10 am. I think this is enough information for the pool to track him. He needs to be trained on how to deal with respect with people no matter where they come from, and hopefully, there will be an improvement in the signs by adding written signs on the wall as well, so nobody...

This is a truly authentic inexpensive experience of Icelandic culture. Great for those who don't need the fanfare of spa style hot springs. Pools are heated with geothermal water and facilities quite often have "hot tubs" of varying degrees, steam rooms, saunas and thermal water showers. More popular pools may be slightly chlorinated. During fall months weather can change considerably while in the pools but you still stay warm. If travelling on larger groups or if you plan on utilizing the facilities more than once buy the 10 visit punch card. You will save approx $40 cdn going this route (good family option). Showers do require nude bathing before entering the pool (gender specific facilities). Everyone does it so don't be shy. We are all human after all. Absolutely no phones or image taking equipment allowed in the facilities for privacy reasons. Lockers are available for your clothing and shoes with no additional charge. You can pay with credit card. Amex not accepted. This facility does have an elevator (lyft) for those with mobility issues but may be difficult to get around if you are in a wheel chair. Excellent wading pools for small children and both indoor and outdoor pools to do laps if you so wish. Handicap parking out front. Handicap permit from other countries may he honored here. Check on...