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Pool Etiquette in Iceland
Showers, hot pots, and what no one prepares you for
If there's one thing about Iceland that catches visitors off guard, it's not the weather or the prices. It's the pool shower.
You'll read about it in passing. Someone might mention it casually. But when you're standing in the changing room for the first time, it can feel like a much bigger moment than anyone prepared you for.
This page exists because that moment deserves more than a footnote. Here's everything you need to know, calmly, honestly, and without judgment.
The whole routine, in six steps
If you only read one thing, read this. The full explanation is below.
- 1.Take off your outdoor shoes at the entrance to the changing area.
- 2.Put your things in a locker (some need a coin or card deposit, returned after).
- 3.Undress completely. Changing and shower areas are gender-separated.
- 4.Shower with soap, without a swimsuit. This is the rule everyone talks about.
- 5.Put your swimsuit on after showering.
- 6.Walk out to the pool. Hang your towel on the hooks near the water.
Start to finish, two to three minutes. Phones stay in the locker. No one is watching you.
The Shower Rule
Before entering any public swimming pool in Iceland, you are required to shower without a swimsuit. This applies to every pool in the country, from Reykjavík's largest facilities to the smallest village pool.
This is a hygiene rule, not a cultural performance. When people skip a proper shower, chlorine reacts with sweat, body oils, and cosmetics to form chloramines: the compounds that cause red eyes, irritation, and that strong "pool smell." Because everyone in Iceland showers thoroughly, the pools can use significantly less chlorine. The water feels softer, smells cleaner, and is better for your skin and hair. The nude shower ensures soap actually reaches skin, which doesn't happen when you're wearing a swimsuit.
This is taken seriously. Staff may occasionally check that visitors have showered properly before entering the pool. If someone skips the shower or keeps their swimsuit on, they'll be politely asked to go back. It's a brief, routine interaction, not a confrontation.
Changing areas and showers are always gender-separated. You will not be showering in front of the opposite sex. Communal showers are practical spaces, not social ones. Most people shower quickly and move on.
Phones are not allowed in changing rooms or shower areas. This is strictly enforced. No one is going to photograph you. It's simply not permitted. Leave your phone in your locker.
What the Routine Actually Looks Like
Here's the step-by-step, because knowing exactly what happens removes most of the anxiety:
- Remove outdoor shoes before entering the changing area
- Find a locker and store your belongings (some require a coin or card deposit)
- Undress completely and walk to the shower area
- Shower thoroughly, with soap, paying attention to the areas indicated on the posted signs
- Put on your swimsuit after showering
- Walk out to the pool area
That's it. The entire process takes two to three minutes. Most people are focused on their own routine. No one is watching you, and no one is lingering.
Walking In: How the Room Is Laid Out
Every pool has a slightly different design, so I can't tell you the lockers are on the left or the showers are through the second door. What I can tell you is the logic, because it's the same in every changing room in the country. Once you understand the flow, any pool makes sense the moment you walk in.
Think of the changing room as two zones, with a clear line between them:
The dry zone (where you arrive)
- • Just inside the door there is a spot for outdoor shoes: a rack, shelves, or a marked area on the floor. Take your shoes off here, before you go any further
- • Past that are the lockers and benches. This is where you undress and leave everything: clothes, shoes, towel, phone, valuables
- • This zone stays dry. You do not walk back into it in a wet swimsuit
The wet zone (showers, then the pool)
- • A doorway or open threshold leads from the lockers to the showers. This is the line between dry and wet
- • You shower here, without a swimsuit, then put your swimsuit on
- • There are usually shelves or hooks just inside the shower area where you can leave a small wrap, sarong, or the towel you carried over from the locker. Keep it within easy reach
- • Another door from the showers leads straight out to the pool deck
The whole space is built to move you in one direction: door → shoes off → locker → undress → shower → swimsuit → pool, and the same path in reverse on the way out. If you follow that line, you will never be in the wrong place.
The in-between walk
The most awkward moment for most people is not the shower itself. It's the short walk from the locker, once you're undressed, to the shower area. There is always that stretch where you are not yet under water and not fully covered.
If that worries you, bring a small towel, sarong, or anything light you can wrap around yourself for those few steps. Use it to get from the locker to the shower, hang it on the hook or shelf just outside the showers, then shower normally. Put it back on after your shower while you walk to the pool, or simply carry your swimsuit and put it on at the shower exit. The wrap is not part of the official routine; it's just a comfort bridge, and no one will care that you used one.
The main towel you dry off with later should still stay out of the shower and off the wet floor. That's the one you hang by the pool.
Your locker key
Most pools give you a physical key or a rubber wristband with a locker number on it. The simplest move is to wear it on your ankle while you shower and swim. It stays out of the way, you won't lose it, and you don't have to think about it.
Some newer pools use a digital code instead: the staff give you a number, and you enter it on a keypad at the locker. If you're unsure which system your pool uses, ask at the front desk when you pay. Either way, the key or code is only for the changing room; it does not let you back into the building if you walk outside.
A few quiet rules that go with the layout:
- Keep outdoor shoes out of the changing area. Walking through in street shoes is the one thing that genuinely bothers people, because it tracks grit into a barefoot space
- Don't carry your main towel into the shower. Leave it on a hook or bench just outside the showers, or on the hooks by the pool. It stays dry and waits for you
- You go into the showers dry and undressed, and come out in your swimsuit. That's the whole reason the two zones exist
- If you're not sure where to go, just follow someone. The flow is obvious once you watch it happen once, and no one minds a newcomer pausing to get their bearings
If you ever feel lost, staff at the front desk are used to first-time visitors asking. A simple "it's my first time, where do I start?" is completely normal and gets a friendly answer.
First Time at an Icelandic Pool
You're allowed to feel uncomfortable about this. Many visitors do, including people who've traveled extensively. It doesn't mean you're being difficult. It means this is unfamiliar.
A few things that help:
- Bring a towel or robe to carry between the locker and the shower. You can set it nearby while you wash
- Go during quieter hours: early morning or mid-afternoon on weekdays. Fewer people, more space
- Choose a smaller neighborhood pool for your first visit. They're calmer and less crowded than the popular ones
- Remember: everyone in the room has done this hundreds of times. It's as ordinary as washing your hands
After the first visit, most people say it was far less awkward than they expected. The anticipation is almost always harder than the experience itself.
Scars, Stretch Marks, and Every Kind of Body
If you're worried about how your body looks, whether it's scars, stretch marks, surgical marks, skin conditions, weight, tattoos, or anything else, know this: no one is looking at you with judgment.
Icelanders grow up showering communally from the age of six. Every body type, every age, every shape passes through these changing rooms daily. It is genuinely unremarkable here.
You don't need to look a certain way to belong in this space. You just need to show up and shower. That's the only requirement.
A note for post-surgery visitors: If you have recent surgical scars, ostomy bags, or medical devices, Icelandic pools are some of the most matter-of-fact environments you'll encounter. If you need a private changing space, call the pool ahead of time. Staff are used to accommodating all needs.
If You Are Trans or Non-Binary
This is the part almost nobody writes about, so here it is plainly. Icelandic pools have men's and women's changing rooms, communal showers, and a nude shower rule. If you are trans, non-binary, or intersex, that stack of rules can turn a relaxing afternoon into a calculation. You are allowed to feel that.
The legal position. Iceland's Gender Autonomy Act (lög um kynrænt sjálfræði, 2019) lets people legally change their gender registration by self-declaration, with no surgery, diagnosis, or medical gatekeeping, and it recognises a neutral marker (X). In practice you use the changing room that matches your gender. Staff are not checking anyone's documents at the door.
The honest reality. The law being good does not mean every changing room feels comfortable, and it does not mean nobody ever stares. Icelandic pool culture is genuinely matter-of-fact about bodies, but it is still a communal room. What most trans visitors tell us they want is not permission, it is a private option and no conversation about it.
Practical ways to make it easy
- Sundhöllin (Reykjavík) has private shower cubicles in both changing rooms. It is the easiest first pool.
- Laugardalslaug has a private accessible changing room with its own shower. Anyone can ask for it at reception, and you do not have to give a reason.
- Árbæjarlaug has individual changing cubicles.
- Laugarás has private shower rooms.
- Sky Lagoon's "Sér" package and Blue Lagoon's premium packages include private changing, if you would rather skip public pools entirely on this trip.
- Ask at reception with one sentence: "Could I use a private changing cubicle, please?" That is a normal request here, used by shy teenagers, post-surgery visitors, and religious visitors alike.
- Quieter hours, early morning or mid-afternoon on a weekday, make everything calmer.
On binders, packers, and swimwear. Chest binders should not be worn in hot water: they restrict breathing, and hot pots at 38°C to 44°C make that worse. A swim top, a rash guard, or a swim shirt is fine in the pool, and nobody will comment. Prosthetics and packers are personal, but be aware the shower is nude and communal unless you use a cubicle. Swimwear must be worn in the pool itself.
If something happens. Harassment is rare, and it is not tolerated. Pool staff have authority over the whole facility and will act. Speak to the front desk. If you ever need it, Samtökin '78, Iceland's national queer organisation in Reykjavík, offers counselling and advice to visitors as well as residents.
More on travelling here as an LGBTQ+ visitor on the Inclusion and safety page →
Arriving Soon? Take These With You.
Two field-tested checklists to help you pack right and land feeling steady.
Hot Pot Culture
The hot pots, heitir pottar, are the reason most locals go to the pool. They're small, circular pools kept at different temperatures, usually between 38°C and 44°C.
This is where Icelanders catch up with neighbors, decompress after work, and sit quietly in the steam. It's social, but it's calm. Think of it as a warm, open-air living room.
Hot pot etiquette:
- Sit rather than float. Hot pots are shared spaces, not plunge pools
- Enter slowly. The water can be very hot, especially at higher temperatures
- Keep your voice low. It's a relaxation space, not a party
- Don't submerge your head
- If a pot is crowded, wait rather than squeeze in
- Most pools have pots at different temperatures. Try them gradually, starting cooler
- Phones are generally not welcome on the pool deck
What to Bring
- Swimsuit: one-piece, bikini, trunks. Anything is fine
- Towel: some pools rent them, but bringing your own is easier. Every pool has hooks or racks near the pool deck where you hang your towel while you soak
- Shampoo and soap: provided at most pools, but your own is always an option
- A coin or card for locker deposits (usually returned after use)
- Sandals or flip-flops: changing areas and pool decks can be slippery
- A water bottle: you'll get warm and dehydrated faster than you expect
Tip: Leave valuables in your accommodation. Lockers are secure, but there's no reason to bring more than you need.
What Visitors Get Wrong
These are the most common mistakes visitors make at Icelandic pools. All of them are easy to avoid once you know:
- Rushing through the shower. A quick rinse isn't enough. You need to wash with soap, without a swimsuit, before entering
- Wearing shoes in the changing area. Remove outdoor shoes at the entrance. Most pools have a shoe rack by the door
- Bringing a phone to the pool deck. Phones are not allowed in changing rooms, showers, or on the pool deck at most facilities
- Jumping into the hottest pot first. Start with a cooler pot and work your way up. Going straight to 44°C can make you dizzy
- Being loud in the hot pots. Conversation is welcome, but keep it low. This is a quiet, communal space
- Skipping the pool entirely out of anxiety. Many visitors avoid pools because of the shower rule, then regret missing one of Iceland's best experiences. If you're nervous, start small. A quiet neighborhood pool on a weekday morning is the gentlest introduction
Pools Worth Visiting
Nearly every town in Iceland has a public pool. These are not luxury spas. They're community spaces, and they're wonderful.
- Vesturbæjarlaug (Reykjavík): small, neighborhood feel, perfect for a first visit
- Sundhöllin (Reykjavík): central, recently renovated, rooftop hot pot with a view. Private shower cubicles available
- Laugardalslaug (Reykjavík): the biggest, with slides, a large lap pool, and the best accessibility. Great for families
- Hofsós (North): an infinity pool overlooking Skagafjörður. One of the most photographed pools in Iceland
- Seljavallalaug (South): a historic pool built in 1923, tucked into a valley near Eyjafjallajökull. Free, fed by a nearby geothermal source, 15-minute walk from the road
- Sundlaug Akureyrar (Akureyri): the capital of the North, with waterslides, hot pots, and a steam bath
- Krossneslaug (Westfjords): one of the most remote pools in Iceland, right on the ocean's edge
- Sundlaug Seyðisfjarðar (East): a small-town pool in one of Iceland's most charming fjord villages
- Sundmiðstöð Reykjanesbæjar (near Keflavík): 10 minutes from the airport. Perfect for a layover
- Laugarskarð (Hveragerði): a local favorite in the geothermal town, genuinely off the tourist track
Tip: The smaller the town, the more authentic the experience. Village pools are where you'll sit next to locals in a hot pot and maybe get a nod and a conversation about the weather. Entry is usually under 1,000 ISK.
Public Pools vs. Geothermal Spas
There's a real difference between Iceland's public pools and the premium geothermal spas:
Public pools
- • 1,000 to 1,200 ISK (~$7 to $9 USD)
- • Found in every town
- • Hot pots, lap pool, sometimes slides
- • Where locals actually go
- • No booking required
Geothermal spas
- • 6,000 to 15,000+ ISK (~$45 to $110 USD)
- • Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, Vök Baths, Krauma, Fontana
- • Designed for tourists
- • Silica and mineral-rich water
- • Booking usually required
Both require the pre-swim shower. Both are worth experiencing. But if you want to understand how Icelanders actually live, visit a public pool. It often costs less than a coffee in Reykjavík.
Accessibility & Mobility
Laugardalslaug in Reykjavík is the most accessible pool in Iceland: lifts into the pool, wheelchair-accessible hot tubs and steam room, a private accessible changing room, and discounted entry for disabled visitors and companions. Smaller pools vary, always call ahead.
If someone cannot go barefoot
Nerve damage, diabetes, neuropathy, or a foot injury all make a barefoot space feel risky. Two honest answers. First, outdoor shoes never go past the entrance, that part is firm everywhere. Clean water shoes or pool sandals carried in and worn only inside the wet area are usually fine, and pools tend to be practical when there is a medical reason, but it is a house rule at each pool rather than a national one, so call ahead and say why. Second, the pools themselves are tiled and generally smooth. The textured surfaces are the deck, the ramps, and the steps, and that texture is there on purpose so people do not slip.
The shower before swimming still applies, and it is done barefoot. A pair of sandals that only ever touch the pool floor is the usual workaround people use.
Full pool, Blue Lagoon, taxi, hotel, and sensory accessibility info on the Accessibility page →
Visiting Pools With Teenagers
For teenagers, the communal shower can bring up real self-consciousness. This is completely normal.
If your teenager feels hesitant, don't push it. Instead:
- Explain the routine in advance. Knowing what to expect removes the surprise
- Visit a smaller pool first. Vesturbæjarlaug or Sundhöllin are calmer than Laugardalslaug
- Go during off-peak hours when fewer people are around
Many teenagers find that once they've done it once, it becomes unremarkable. But if they'd rather skip the pool entirely, that's a valid choice too.
Pools With Private Changing Rooms
If communal changing and showering is a dealbreaker for you, several pools offer private alternatives. You don't need to give a reason. Just ask at reception.
- Sundhöllin (Reykjavík): private shower cubicles in the renovated changing rooms. The most privacy-friendly public pool
- Laugardalslaug (Reykjavík): private accessible changing room with its own shower (available to anyone. Ask at reception)
- Árbæjarlaug (Reykjavík): individual changing cubicles available
- Sky Lagoon: offers a "Sér" (private) package with a private changing suite
- Blue Lagoon: premium packages include private changing facilities
Who uses private changing rooms? People with disabilities, religious requirements, gender identity needs, post-surgery recovery, parents with young children of a different gender, or anyone who simply prefers privacy. No explanation needed.
Practical Notes
- Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult (age 16+)
- Most pools are open 6:30 AM to 10 PM. Hours vary on weekends
- Reykjavík City Card includes free entry to all city pools
- Swimming pools are open year-round, including winter
- If you have textured, natural, or coily hair, read the Blue Lagoon & hair guide for geothermal water precautions
Icelandic pool culture is one of the most genuine experiences you can have in this country. It's affordable, it's warm, and it's where real life happens.
The shower part is a small moment in what becomes a much larger, much lovelier experience. Take it at your own pace. And once you've been, you'll probably want to go back.
Common Questions
Do you have to shower naked in Iceland pools?
Yes. A nude shower is required before entering any public swimming pool in Iceland. This is a hygiene rule enforced at every pool, and it applies to everyone, locals and visitors alike. Changing and shower areas are gender-separated.
Are the showers in Iceland pools private?
Most public pools have open, communal showers in gender-separated changing rooms. Some newer or renovated pools, like Sundhöllin in Reykjavík, have private shower cubicles. If privacy matters to you, check ahead or choose a smaller neighborhood pool where fewer people are around.
Are phones allowed in Iceland pool changing rooms?
No. Phones are not allowed in changing rooms or shower areas at Icelandic pools. This is strictly enforced to protect everyone's privacy. Leave your phone in your locker.
What are hot pots in Iceland?
Hot pots (heitir pottar) are small, heated pools kept at different temperatures, usually between 38°C and 44°C. Most public pools have several. They are where locals sit, talk quietly, and relax. Think of them as the social heart of the pool.
How much do Iceland pools cost?
Public pools typically cost 1,000 to 1,200 ISK (around $7 to $9 USD) for adults. Children and seniors pay less. Reykjavík City Card holders get free entry to all city pools. This is one of Iceland's best-value experiences.
Can I visit an Iceland pool during a layover?
Yes, it's one of the best things to do with a short layover. Sundmiðstöð Reykjanesbæjar near Keflavík airport is a great option. If you're heading into Reykjavík, Vesturbæjarlaug or Sundhöllin are easy to reach. Budget about 90 minutes for the full experience.
Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon: which is better?
They're very different experiences. The Blue Lagoon is iconic, larger, and has milky-blue silica water, but it's 50 minutes from Reykjavík and more expensive (starting around 12,000+ ISK). Sky Lagoon is 15 minutes from downtown, has an infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean, and includes a 7-step ritual. Sky Lagoon is easier to fit into a Reykjavík day; Blue Lagoon pairs well with an airport transfer. Both require advance booking.
Which Iceland pools have private changing rooms?
Several pools offer private changing options. In Reykjavík: Sundhöllin has private shower cubicles, Laugardalslaug has a private accessible changing room, and Árbæjarlaug has individual changing cubicles. Sky Lagoon offers a 'Sér' private package. Call ahead to confirm at other pools.
Can I go to an Iceland pool on my period?
Yes. Use a tampon or menstrual cup as you would at any pool. The shower rule still applies. This is completely normal and no one will think twice about it.
I have scars, tattoos, or a visible condition. Will people stare?
No. Icelanders grow up in communal changing rooms from childhood. Bodies of all kinds are completely unremarkable in this context. No one is looking at you with judgment.
Are Iceland pools accessible for wheelchair users?
Accessibility varies by pool. Laugardalslaug in Reykjavík has lifts into the pool, wheelchair-accessible hot tubs, private changing rooms, and a separate accessible entrance. Smaller pools may have limited access. Call ahead to confirm.
Can I just use the hot pots without swimming?
Yes. Many locals go to the pool only for the hot pots. They never touch the lap pool. You still need to pay the entry fee and follow the shower rules, but once inside you can go straight to the hot pots and stay as long as you like.
Are there gender-neutral or non-binary changing rooms in Iceland?
Most pools have traditional men's and women's changing rooms. Some newer facilities are adding private changing cubicles that anyone can use. Sundhöllin and Laugardalslaug both offer private changing options. You can also call ahead to ask.
Can trans people use Icelandic swimming pools comfortably?
Yes. Iceland's Gender Autonomy Act allows legal gender change by self-declaration and recognises a neutral marker, and in practice you use the changing room matching your gender. Nobody checks documents. If you want privacy, Sundhöllin has private shower cubicles, Laugardalslaug has a private changing room available to anyone on request, and Árbæjarlaug has individual cubicles. Chest binders should not be worn in hot water, but a swim top or rash guard in the pool is completely normal.
Can you wear pool shoes or water shoes in Icelandic pools?
Outdoor shoes are never allowed past the entrance. Clean water shoes or pool sandals that have been carried in and worn only inside the wet area are usually accepted, especially for a medical reason such as neuropathy or diabetes, but this is a house rule at each pool rather than a national one. Call the pool you plan to visit, explain the medical need, and ask. Staff in Iceland are used to this question and tend to be practical about it.
Are the bottoms of Icelandic pools smooth?
The main pools are tiled and generally smooth underfoot. The wet deck, the ramps, and the steps are deliberately textured so people do not slip, so those are the rough surfaces you feel. Older neighborhood pools and some natural or geothermal hot pots can have coarser floors. If someone in your group cannot go barefoot at all, Laugardalslaug in Reykjavík is the easiest place to start because it has the most accessible entries and staff on hand.
Before you plan a trip to Iceland
Did you know? The reason most towns and neighbourhoods of any size have a pool is the same reason your shower is hot: free geothermal water under the ground. The pool culture is a side effect of the volcanoes.
Read facts about Iceland →