Reykjaneslaug: Iceland’s Longest Pool, a Fjord-Side Swim in Ísafjarðardjúp

Most travellers picture the Westfjords as somewhere to hike or watch birds. Fewer know that the region holds what is widely described as Iceland’s longest swimming pool. Reykjaneslaug sits at Reykjanes, a small geothermal peninsula midway along Ísafjarðardjúp, and reaching it is half the point: the drive along the Djúp is one of the better road trips you can make from town.

What Makes Reykjaneslaug Worth the Drive

The pool measures 50 x 12.5 metres. Local sources note it was meant to be a standard 50-metre pool but ended up a touch longer by mistake, which is how it earned the “longest in Iceland” label. It is filled with warm water drawn from the hot spring on the peninsula, and the site has also been called Iceland’s largest hot pot for that reason. Reykjanes has a long history as a gathering point in the Djúp: the buildings began as a school for local children and later became a hotel and campsite once the school closed.

Because the water comes straight from a geothermal source, temperature can vary and the pool can run genuinely hot. Check the water before you get in, and treat it as a swim at your own pace rather than a heated indoor lane pool.

The Drive Along Ísafjarðardjúp

Reykjanes lies on the road that hugs Ísafjarðardjúp toward the Hólmavík side of the Westfjords. From Ísafjörður it is roughly a 90-minute drive, following the shoreline in and out of a series of side fjords. New bridges and roads opened in 2009 put Reykjanes back near the centre of the route, and the site sits about half a kilometre off the main road.

Break the journey at Litlibær in Skötufjörður, a reconstructed turf house from 1895 now owned by the National Museum of Iceland. In summer it runs as a small café known for waffles with rhubarb or blueberry jam and whipped cream, plus coffee, kleina and hot chocolate. It sits right by the fjord, and on a calm day you may spot seals near the shore. Litlibær is generally open from mid-May to mid-September.

Practical Details

• Getting there: Drive east and south from Ísafjörður along Route 61 around Ísafjarðardjúp; Reykjanes is signposted about 0.5 km off the main road.
• Duration: About 90 minutes each way, so plan a half to full day with a swim and a café stop.
• What to bring: Swimsuit and towel, water and snacks, and cash or card for the pool entry and the café; fill the tank before you leave town, as fuel stops are sparse.
• Timing: Facilities in the Djúp are seasonal and hours can be limited outside summer, so confirm the pool’s current operating season and opening times before you set out, especially in shoulder season.
• Entry: There is an entrance fee for the pool, which is included for guests staying at the on-site hotel.

Where to Stay

Base yourself at The Ísafjörður Inn in the heart of Ísafjörður, the capital of the Westfjords. From the inn you are walkable to the harbour, the town pool and restaurants, and you are pointed straight at the road along Ísafjarðardjúp that leads to Reykjaneslaug, so you can set out early for the swim and be back in town for dinner. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Hornstrandir1 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.