Quick FactsOverview
About Selárdalslaug
Selárdalslaug, Iceland is a free geothermally heated swimming pool set on the bank of the Selá river in the Selárdalur valley, approximately 12 kilometres north of the village of Vopnafjörður in East Iceland. The pool was built in the summer of 1949 by members of Einherja, a local young men's group from Vopnafjörður, working largely as volunteers. It opened in the summer of 1950 and has been maintained and improved by the local community in the decades since. Members of the surrounding area have continued to carry out repairs and updates, and the pool remains in good condition.
The site includes a main swimming pool, a large hot tub, a children's wading pool, a cold tub, and indoor changing rooms with lockers. A picnic area and a large sundeck are also on site, and wheelchair access is provided throughout. A natural hot spring located beside the pool historically supplied the water directly for bathing; today that spring water is used to heat the pool through a geothermal exchange rather than being introduced directly. The Selá river, one of Iceland's well-regarded salmon fishing rivers, runs through a shallow ravine directly beside the pool, creating an unusually scenic natural setting with no other buildings in sight.
Selárdalslaug has been used for community swimming lessons since its opening; lessons were held fortnightly until 1975 and have continued on a seasonal basis in autumn and spring since then. The pool is one of the more remote public pools in Iceland and serves a sparsely populated part of the Eastfjords. For visitors driving Route 85 through East Iceland or travelling toward Bakkafjörður, it lies 3.5 kilometres off the main road and represents one of the few geothermal pool stops in the northeastern part of the country. There are no hot springs near Vopnafjörður of comparable quality and accessibility in the region.
Location & Access
Getting to Selárdalslaug
Selárdalslaug is reached by turning off Route 85 onto Sundlaugavegur, which branches toward Bakkafjörður, approximately 8.5 kilometres north of Vopnafjörður village. Follow Sundlaugavegur for 3.5 kilometres until the road ends at the pool. The total distance from the centre of Vopnafjörður is approximately 12 kilometres, and the drive takes around 15 minutes. The road is paved and suitable for all standard vehicles. From Egilsstaðir, the main service hub of East Iceland, the journey involves driving north on the Ring Road before turning right onto Route 85, passing through Vopnafjörður, and then following the signs onto Sundlaugavegur.
There is no public transport to the pool. Parking is available on site directly beside the pool complex. The site is flat and the approach from the car park to the pool facilities is fully accessible for wheelchair users. The pool is the only building in the immediate area; the Selá river and the valley hillsides form the entire backdrop, with no commercial or residential development visible from the site.
The pool has seasonal opening hours. Summer hours from 1 June to 31 August are daily from 12:00 to 22:00, with weekday hours in July extended to open from 10:00. Outside summer, the pool is open from 14:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday through Friday and from 12:00 to 16:00 at weekends; it is closed on Mondays from September onward. Entry is free of charge at all times. The pool is operated by Vopnafjörður municipality; the municipal email is info@vopnafjardarhreppur.is and the telephone number is 473 1499.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Can Visit Selárdalslaug
Selárdalslaug is suitable for all visitor types, and is one of the more accessible hot springs in Iceland for visitors with mobility requirements, with dedicated wheelchair facilities throughout the complex, including accessible changing rooms with lockers. The flat approach from the car park, level ground throughout the site, and the provision of accessible facilities make it among the more fully accessible rural pools in Iceland. Visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility aids can use the pool without relying on assistance for the majority of the site.
For families, the children's wading pool provides a separate dedicated area for young swimmers, and the hot tub and main pool cater to different preferences for temperature and activity. The picnic area and sundeck make extended visits comfortable during good weather, and the setting beside the salmon river adds a visual interest that is difficult to find at urban or suburban pools. For those seeking accessible hot springs in Iceland outside the capital region, Selárdalslaug is one of the few rural pools with formally documented accessibility provisions.
The pool draws local residents from Vopnafjörður and the surrounding Eastfjords, and visitor numbers are generally low outside the height of summer, making it a quieter alternative to more popular sites in the west and south of the country. Swimming lessons are held at the pool in autumn and spring and may result in busier periods during those seasons. All visitors are required to shower without a swimsuit before entering the pool area, as is standard at all Icelandic public pools. Swimwear is required in all pool and hot tub areas after the shower.
Safety & Etiquette
Safety and Etiquette at Selárdalslaug
Selárdalslaug is a safe site to visit as a maintained public pool with indoor changing facilities and staff oversight during opening hours, but its location in a remote part of East Iceland means visitors should prepare appropriately for the journey. The pool is 12 kilometres from Vopnafjörður, in an area with limited mobile phone coverage in places and no other services near the pool itself. Checking road conditions before travelling in winter or shoulder seasons is advisable, and carrying basic emergency supplies on the drive is standard practice for remote areas of Iceland.
The hot tub operates at a higher temperature than the main pool and is not suitable for prolonged soaking by visitors who are pregnant, have cardiovascular conditions, or are sensitive to heat. Moving between the hot tub and the cold tub is a common Icelandic pool practice and is generally safe for healthy adults when done gradually. The main pool water temperature is comfortable for recreational swimming, heated by the geothermal spring nearby to a temperature appropriate for regular use rather than hot soaking. The children's pool is shallow and separate from the main pool.
The Selá river runs beside the pool in a shallow ravine. The river itself is a working salmon fishing river and should not be entered; it is not part of the pool complex. The riverbank and surrounding natural ground outside the paved pool area are uneven. Visitors should remain on the paved surfaces around the pool rather than approaching the riverbank, particularly with children. The valley setting means wind can be noticeable depending on weather conditions, and bringing warm layers for between soaks is practical regardless of the season.
Shower before entering any pool. This is a mandatory rule at all Icelandic public pools and applies at Selárdalslaug. Swimwear is required in all areas. Lockers are available in the indoor changing rooms. As the pool is operated by and for the local community and is free of charge, treating the facilities with care and leaving the site in the condition you found it is both courteous and important for the continued availability of the pool to future visitors.
