PoolInterest 4/5
Seljavallalaug
Seljavallalaug is a 25-metre outdoor pool tucked into a narrow valley below Eyjafjöll, reached on foot from the Seljavellir area. Its appeal is the austere mountain setting and the feeling of finding an old pool embedded in the landscape rather than a staffed attraction.
Region
South Iceland
Coordinates
63.5662° N, 19.6076° W
Plan the stop
- Who it suits
- 8+
- Better for older children and adults who can walk the rough approach, change in basic conditions, and understand that the pool is unsupervised.
- Approach
- 3 km · 1 hr. Approximate round trip from the Seljavallalaug/Seljavellir parking area to the old pool and back. The route follows a rough valley path with streamside terrain, loose stones, mud, and winter ice risk.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · None
- The old pool is reached by an unpaved valley path with no wheelchair-accessible route or accessible changing facilities.
- Limited mobility · Limited
- The walk is not long, but the path is rough, wet in places, and the pool entry and changing building are basic.
- Sensory · Partial
- The mountain setting is quiet, but cold wind, algae, basic changing rooms, slippery surfaces, and crowds can be uncomfortable.
- Cognitive · Limited
- There is little supervision or signage; visitors must self-manage route finding, pool condition, hygiene expectations, and safe entry.
Why it matters
Built in 1923, Seljavallalaug is one of Iceland's oldest swimming pools and was once the country's largest pool until 1936. It was filled with ash during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption and later cleaned by volunteers.