Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur is the oldest purpose-built indoor swimming pool in Reykjavík, an Art Deco building on Barónsstígur designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson and opened in 1937. A 2017 addition added an outdoor deck with a shallow four-lane pool, a play pool, hot tubs, a cold tub, and a sauna alongside the original indoor hall.
Region
Reykjavík Capital Area
Coordinates
64.1417° N, 21.9202° W
Plan the stop
- Allow
- 1 hr 30 min
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · Partial
- The original 1937 building has been retrofitted with accessible entry, but moving between the indoor hall and the 2017 outdoor addition means crossing separate changing areas, which has drawn criticism from wheelchair and mobility-impaired users.
- Limited mobility · Partial
- Central location and managed facilities help, but the older indoor building and newer outdoor deck are not fully integrated, so changing-room routing can be more complex than at newer pools.
- Sensory · Limited
- The indoor hall echoes strongly, and the pool draws a busy daily mix of lap swimmers, school groups, and elderly regulars, which can be intense for sensory-sensitive visitors.
- Cognitive · Partial
- The layout is more traditional than modern pools; visitors may need help navigating the separate indoor and outdoor changing sequences.
Why it matters
The pool opened soon after swimming became compulsory in Icelandic schools and served for decades as Reykjavík's main swim-teaching venue and a public bathhouse at a time when household bathrooms were rare. It was one of the first buildings in the city connected to Reykjavík's new geothermal district-heating system, and its regulars were the subject of the 2010 documentary Höllin (The Palace).