03/21/2025 | 4:00 PM
Bathing in Iceland’s naturally heated pools and hot springs is more than just a way to relax – it’s a cultural tradition that dates back centuries. The love of bathing is only getting stronger, however. It’s estimated that 79% of adults living in Iceland regularly visit swimming pools, and major geothermal facilities like the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
In fact, Iceland’s bathing culture is so renowned that it’s now been nominated for UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (set to be awarded in December 2025 if successful). But why are geothermal pools so popular in Icelandic culture?
In this article, journalist Joseph Phelan explores Icelanders’ long-standing love for bathing under the stars, come rain, shine or polar night. Through a series of interviews with locals, he explores the customs, social importance, and health benefits of Iceland’s geothermal bathing culture, uncovering its deep-rooted place in Icelandic society.
Iceland is, as its name suggests, a country prone to bouts of extreme cold weather. During the winter months the temperature rarely ventures far above 0°C (32°F), and is often much lower in northern towns such as Akureyri or Raufarhöfn, where it’s not uncommon for the thermometer to read -15°C (5°F).
However, even in these frostbitten regions, and regardless of the time of year, Icelanders can be found swimming, bathing and relaxing in one of the country’s (approximately) 127 outdoor pools.
The Icelandic obsession of going for a dip, even in the bleakest conditions, is something that, to the outsider, could be viewed as somewhat baffling. So why is it so popular? Why are Icelanders so enamored with the idea of soaking in an outdoor pool, and unwinding beneath Arctic skies?
Icelanders have been in love with outdoor bathing for a long, long time. Snorralaug, a geothermal pool in Reykholt, West Iceland, has been welcoming bathers since at least 1178 (the year it was first mentioned in writing). Heated by a nearby hot spring known locally as 'Skrifla', Snorralaug has warm waters throughout the year, and remains as popular today as it was almost a millennium ago.
There are numerous other ‘ancient’ bathing hotspots dotted across Iceland, including Grettislaug, which has been around since at least the 12th century, and Gvendarlaug, now a national monument, which, according to the Sturlunga Saga, was so revered in the 13th century that it was blessed by Guðmundur the Good, then Bishop of Hólar.
Outdoor public swimming pools are much more recent additions to Iceland's recreational arsenal, but are no less beloved.
At the start of the 20th century, despite a shortage of building materials, and with Iceland embroiled in various economic struggles, scores of pools were built by volunteers with support from local municipalities. The first of these, Seljavallalaug, was completed in 1923, and can still be enjoyed today.
The motivation behind the creation of the pools was, quite simply, to give Icelanders a safe place to learn how to swim. At the time, fishing was the country's predominant industry, and it was decided that too many lives were being lost at sea due to people's inability to survive in the icy waters if dragged overboard. Swimming, Iceland's people decreed, was a necessary life skill.
This dedication to swimming education has persevered, with swimming lessons mandatory for all schoolchildren.
Photo: Snorralaug in West Iceland
While undeniably useful from a practical standpoint, Icelanders' love for bathing outdoors goes far beyond simply wanting to develop swimming skills. Iceland's many pools, spas and lagoons are used for an array of purposes and attract thousands of people, young and old, on a daily basis.
“For many, the pools are very important in their social lives,” says Katrín Guðmundsdóttir, an ethnologist who studied at the University of Iceland, and has spent time researching why outdoor bathing holds such a special place in the hearts of Icelanders.
“I have gotten to know people that meet every day and drink coffee at a pool. One group in the Westfjords has a reading group that meets in a pool once a week to discuss books based in the area.”
Indeed, these pools are far more versatile than one might initially realize.
“They are a good place for dating, and they're perfect for meeting with friends who have kids,” adds Helga Vollertsen, curator of ethnology at the National Museum of Iceland. “There are sometimes movie nights at the pools, swimming competitions, gymnastics, mindful floating and more. Some pools are even used by the cabin crews of the airlines to practice what to do when landing on water.”
Hot pools in Iceland, according to Helga, are practical, cost-effective, and have the capacity to serve multiple purposes. “The water is warm, relaxing and cheap,” Helga notes. “Warm water is not a resource we normally have to think about using.”
Because Iceland is a hive of geothermal activity, the vast majority of the country's homes, businesses and facilities are heated by geothermal water. It is abundant, cheap and reliable.
“In the dark, cold winter months,” Helga adds, “these pools help with the struggle of seasonal depression, while many of those that offer gymnastic programs are especially popular with the elderly, with pregnant women, and with people that struggle with chronic illness and/or obesity. The water helps with the pain.”
For Icelanders, the idea of swimming or bathing outdoors is so culturally entrenched that it isn't worth analyzing. To them, it is simply a core part of Icelandic heritage. But a key question remains: Why is outdoor bathing so much more popular on this cold North Atlantic rock than practically anywhere else in the world.
Photo: Nauthólsvík geothermal beach and hot pot, Reykjavík
Aðalheiður Ósk Guðmundsdóttir, CEO of Vök Baths, a geothermal spa complex in East Iceland, believes Icelanders are born with a love for outdoor bathing. “We are tough Vikings here,” she says. “It is deeply rooted in our culture. We love relaxing in hot water, and we love having a little breeze to cool off when we are in local pools or spas.”
Aðalheiður suggests that outdoor pools, in many parts of Iceland, play a similar role to coffee shops or bars. “You can go with friends or alone and then participate in a lovely conversation with strangers, or even a heated debate about politics,” she says.
“There are groups of people who always start their day with a trip to a pool. I’ve seen many friendships develop here [at Vök]; people who have gone from strangers to best friends very quickly. If you sit in the same small tub every day with the same people, it doesn't take long to go from saying a simple hello to discussing everything from marriage to advice about raising kids!”
Aware that outdoor baths are, to many Icelanders, community hubs as well as recreational facilities, Aðalheiður has started to expand Vök's offering. As well as hosting a range of spa-based relaxation and meditation sessions, Aðalheiður admits she is “starting to change things up”.
“We are always trying to be a bit different,” she notes. “We have so many locals coming that we try to innovate and keep things fresh. For example, we have a singer and guitarist playing during the winter months, and we are already planning a few surprise events for next winter.”
Although keen to keep some ideas under her hat, Aðalheiður says she will be hosting an event she has dubbed “Hættu að væla komdu að kæla” — which translates to ‘Stop whining and cool off’ — with the aim of encouraging people to go wild swimming in lake Urriðavatn in the depths of winter.
“It is a real adrenaline shock, but is so healthy for you!” she says.
Photo: Vök Baths, near Egilsstaðir in East Iceland
The fact that Icelanders love outdoor pools is unlikely to be a surprise to anyone who has either visited, or is on the verge of visiting, the country. Some of Iceland’s premier tourist attractions, such as the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, are dedicated to giving holidaymakers an opportunity to experience one of Iceland’s most noteworthy pastimes, and these locations routinely top tourist travel agendas.
And, according to Katrín, this desire to explore the country's pools is not just felt by tourists.
“One thing about swimming pools for an Icelander is that, no matter if one uses them regularly or not, we all seem to have this urge to visit swimming pools when we are traveling around the island. We are so lucky to have this luxury on this island in the far north.”
Photo: Mývatn Nature Baths in North Iceland
So integral is outdoor bathing to Icelandic heritage that, in 2021, Jón Karl Helgason, one of Iceland's most prominent and best-loved filmmakers, produced and released a documentary about its place in the country's culture.
'Swimming Pool Stories', which Helgason has called a “visual presentation of the swimming pools around Iceland,” highlights the “unique function” of Iceland's outdoor bathing spots. The film allows viewers to hear from advocates who frequent pools all year round, and showcases the positive contribution swimming makes to public health in Iceland. (Watch the documentary trailer below.)
“My vision was to introduce Iceland's swimming pools and the associated swimming pool culture, both past and present,” Helgason says. “The Finns have their saunas, the British have their pubs, the French have their cafes. We Icelanders have our swimming pools.”
Helgason believes that Iceland's outdoor pools — and its many naturally heated 'hot-pots' — help Icelanders “cultivate their physical and mental well-being,” and can even play a significant role in helping people to be more conversational.
“By nature Icelanders are quite reserved,” he says. “But once they slip into the warm, comforting waters of a hot-pot, they shed their inhibitions and become transformed into chatty extroverts. People from all walks of life socialize while relaxing in the pots and there are lively discussions on every imaginable topic.”
Iceland’s bathing culture is more than a tradition, it’s a way of life. From hot-springs rituals to swimming-pool socializing, the geothermal waters of Iceland bring people together no matter the weather.
Visiting one of Iceland’s pools, lagoons, or hot springs is one of the best ways to experience Icelandic culture and traditions for yourself. Luckily, soothing geothermal baths are just a flight away with Icelandair!
We offer a variety of exclusive spa and wellness vacation packages that include flights, accommodation and geothermal bathing excursions at popular locations (including the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, and Laugarvatn Fontana Baths). With the essentials included, plus the option to customize your package with other tours, planning your trip to Iceland is made easy.