Sundlaugamenning is the term for Reykjavik’s unique swimming pool culture. Approximately 79 percent of adults in Iceland regularly visit public swimming pools, and it is an integral part of the curriculum in Icelandic elementary schools and high schools.
Recently, the Ministry of Culture and Business Affairs, in collaboration with various sports associations and municipalities, including Reykjavik, nominated Icelandic swimming pool culture for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The rationale behind this decision is that the use of geothermally heated public swimming pools in Iceland is one of the main characteristics of society and has significantly contributed to the well-being of the inhabitants.
The tubs in the pool areas, both hot and cold, are used by thousands every day as a place to meet friends and neighbours, gossip, and unwind after a long day.
Many argue that the sense of community in the municipalities in the Reykjavik capital area is largely attributed to the local swimming pools. Icelandic bathing culture is a direct result of the use of geothermal springs found throughout the country, which are linked to the island’s volcanic activity.
