Translation: Sindri Snær Jónsson

After a hard day or week, few things are as refreshing as relaxing in a hot tub, forgetting your worries, and taking some time for your mental health. Iceland’s swimming pools are like a community centre of sorts, a place where kids gather for swimming lessons, families come for a Sunday swim before getting ice cream, and students can get some relief from the pressure of their studies. Swimming pools are a wonder of Icelandic culture where people of all walks of life come together to unplug from social media and enjoy the serenity that all the pools have in common.

A sanctuary away from the internet

From the moment you step into the building to the moment you leave, there is a complete lack of internet connection. Swimming pools are the perfect meeting place for both friends and lovers, as conversation flows naturally, and there is no way to flee an awkward silence by checking your phone. There is a certain warmth in going to a swimming pool surrounded by good friends, spending quality time together, and having conversations uninterrupted by outside forces.

Hot tub talk

People visiting the swimming pools all want various things; some want to swim a few laps, while others come to take a break from everyday life. The conversations to be had in the hot tubs are an excellent reason for going to the pool. By listening in to them, you can find out which topics are the hottest, whether it be politics, sports, or other timely topics, and get to know others' perspectives. Halla Tómasdóttir, a candidate in the 2016 presidential election, spent a lot of time in the country's pools during her campaign. She believed that visiting the pools is one of the best ways to know which issues matter most to the average citizen.

The Student Paper has compiled a list of a few fun swimming pools in the capital area, all of which are wheelchair accessible:

Árbæjarlaug:

There is a certain charm to Árbæjarlaug; the interior of the locker room and the entrance greet you with warmth and kindness, and the outside showers are great for those brave enough to undress in the cold. The biggest selling point of Árbæjarlaug is the view visitors have over Elliðaárdalur, one of Reykjavík's gems.

Laugardalslaug:

The pool is situated in the middle of Reykjavík, in Laugardalur, and is another one of Reykjavík's gems. Laugardalslaug is a hotbed of diversity in the city, as people from all over the world enjoy swimming under the naked sky. There’s just something so unbelievably beautiful about it.

Lágafellslaug:

This pool is in Mosfellsbær and is very family-friendly, as the kids’ toys are amazing. The biggest attraction is definitely the steam bath, where you can let the demons of day-to-day life stream out of your body and have a moment to yourself in the hot, humid air. There is also a great outdoor shower in the locker room.

Breiðholtslaug:

When you walk into Breiðholtslaug, you get a very homey vibe. The pool still has that old-school charm, even though it has been heavily renovated. The ice bath at the pool is, without a doubt, one of the best ice baths in the capital area.

Swimming Pools: A wonder of Icelandic culture