A local favorite

20/05/2021 14:05

LOCAL GEOTHERMAL SWIMMING POOLS

Soaking in hot water has many health benefits and bathing in hot thermal pools all year round is very common practice amongst Icelanders and dates back to the early settlement of Iceland. Visiting a local thermal pool in Iceland is a great and inexpensive fun for the whole family and a great way to experience the local culture. Many pools offer waterslides and shallow pools for kids and a variety of hot tubs and steam baths for adults. Here is a list of few of our favorite pools in the capital area.

LAUGARDALSLAUG Laugardalslaug is Iceland's largest thermal pool and the most popular amongst travelers. It is located in Laugardalur valley in Reykjavik, only a quick bus ride away from downtown Reykjavík and has a large outdoor pool, outdoor children’s pool and paddling pool, water slides, numerous hot tubs and a steam bath. The entry fee is 980kr. for adults, 160kr. for children 6-17 years old and free for children younger than 6. After your soak it’s important to stop by the hot dog stand located outside the swimming pool because having an Icelandic hot dog is a crucial part of the whole Icelandic pool experience.

ÁLFTANESLAUG Álftanes peninsula, a suburb of Reykjavik has an impressive local swimming pool, a whole lot of fun for kids. It has two large hot tubs, a kiddie pool, Iceland’s biggest waterslide and a wave pool (the only one of it’s kind in Iceland). After playing and soaking in Álftanes pool we suggest you stop by Bessastaðir, the official residence of the President of Iceland which is located at Álftanes.

VESTURBÆJARLAUG A small pool in close vicinity to downtown Reykjavik. The pool is one of the oldest ones in Reykjavik and is popular amongst downtown locals. It’s a no frills swimming pool without slides or a fancy wave pool but just a nice and friendly local pool with great hot tubs, sauna and a steam room.

SUNDHÖLLIN - THE SWIMMING PALACE Located downtown Reykjavík is the oldest public baths in Iceland, Sundhöllin. It was designed by the noted architect Guðjón Samúelsson and opened in 1937. The building's exterior is a minimalist white that is almost Art Deco in style with tall narrow rectangular windows. In Sundhollin you will find a 25m outdoor pool, 25m indoor pool, diving board, sauna, steam bath, hot tubs, kiddie pool, wading pool, massage tub and a cold tub.

Parking in Reykjavik Made Simple: Tips and Tricks for a Hassle-free Experience

02/11/2023

Are you planning to rent a car during your visit but feeling uncertain about where to park and how much it might cost? Fear not, as we've compiled some helpful tips to streamline your parking experience in Reykjavik. Additionally, for those staying at any of the Center Hotels properties, we have included specific information about parking options at each location.

5 Nature spots in Reykjavik, the capital´s green spaces.

19/10/2023

At Keflavík Airport, tourists are often asked to take part of a survey. One of the questions of this survey is why the chose to come to Iceland and about 80% of those who answered said that the nature was their main reason. Nature is something we have in abundance here in Iceland and our capital is no exception. We would like to invite you to take a look at 5 of these accessible nature spots in the country´s capital.

Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland

03/10/2023

Northern lights, that elusive magical moment in the sky that many feared or revered in the past as either an omen of bad things to come or as a sign the ancestors were watching over us. Perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland offers a front-row seat to one of nature's most breathtaking performances.

Falling for Reykjavik: Discover the Fall Season.

07/09/2023

Fall marks the end of our short summer, and it's time to bring out those cozy coats from hibernation and mentally prepare ourselves for the wild winter storms. But don't fret, because even though fall is fleeting, it's packed with its own unique charm.

Culture night

18/08/2023

Reykjavik city is celebrating its birthday and invites you to join the fun! Menningarnótt or Culture night takes place on 19th of August full of events and activities that shed light on our local culture. Enjoy a day full of celebrations and take part in one of the biggest festivals in Reykjavik, Iceland.