Seljavallalaug is an outdoor swimming pool in a valley in South Iceland, not far from Seljavellir. Built in 1923 and 25 metres long, it is one of the oldest pools in the country and is protected. A newer pool replaced it in 1990, but the old one is still open to swimmers, free of charge and at their own risk. It is reached on foot from the parking area, and the water is lukewarm rather than hot.
Seljavallalaug
The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull filled the pool with ash, and in the summer of 2011 volunteers dug it out again with loaders and excavators.
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: neither the parking nor the entrance is step-free.
- Parking
- Parking area at the valley, a 10–15 minute walk from the pool.
- Difficulty
- Easy. Flat walk of 10–15 minutes each way; the path is faint in places.
- Transport
- Self-drive off the Ring Road, then walk up the valley
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- 861 Eyvindarhólar
What makes it special
Seljavallalaug sits in a narrow valley in South Iceland, with the mountainside forming one of its walls. It was built in 1923, measures 25 by 10 metres, and was the largest pool in the country until 1936. The work was headed by Bjorn Andrésson Berjaneskoti. From 1927 lessons here were part of compulsory schooling. Hot water enters through a pipe at one end, glacier meltwater runs in as well, and the result is lukewarm rather than hot. The pool is cleaned once a summer, and green algae in the water between cleanings is normal. It is a protected structure, but nothing about it is polished: concrete, cold air and an empty valley.
Good to know
- Not a hot spring. The water is lukewarm at best, and in late March it is freezing unless you sit right by the pipe that feeds hot water in.
- The changing rooms are rough. They are not somewhere to stand barefoot — bring sandals and a towel you do not mind leaving damp.
- Glacier meltwater runs into the pool. The water is fresh, and it is cold.
- In winter the walk back to the car is cold. Leave dry clothes in the car and change quickly.
Getting there
Drive to the parking area, then follow the path along the left-hand side of the valley. The walk takes 10 to 15 minutes over flat ground and is easy going, though the path is faint in spots and easy to lose. Just past the pool the ground rises to the left towards a gorge; that climb is not far, and steep in places.
Best time to visit
Better: summer, and late in the evening.
Avoid: late winter and early spring, when the water is at its coldest.
A visit late on a June evening can mean the pool to yourself. In late March the water is cold enough to be a plunge rather than a swim, and in February it is lukewarm at best, so getting in takes some grit.
Sun & daylight
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Seljavallalaug on the map
Swimming here is at your own risk. The pool is unsupervised, and in late winter and early spring the water is cold enough to be a cold plunge rather than a swim. Do not get in alone in those conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Seljavallalaug a hot spring?
No. Hot water comes in through a pipe and glacier meltwater runs in as well, so the pool is lukewarm at best. In late March it is freezing unless you stay beside the inlet.Is the old pool still open after the new one was built?
Yes. A new pool was built in 1990, about 2 km closer to the valley, but the old pool is still open to swimmers, free of charge and at their own risk.Are there changing rooms?
Yes, and they are basic. The floors are not somewhere to stand barefoot, so bring sandals.Can you visit in winter?
Yes. The water is lukewarm at best in winter, and the walk back to the car is cold, so keep dry clothes waiting for you.