Updated April 10, 2026 02:45PM
If endless laps in your gym’s indoor pool is leaving you a bit burned out, then pack your bags for one of these stunning pool destinations, all open to visitors.
From the iconic Bondi Icebergs Pool in Australia to the frigid Allas Sea Pool in Finland and the opulent Szechenyi Thermal Baths in Hungary, these unique and beautiful pools will fuel your wanderlust.
These spectacular swim spots include freshwater, filtered seawater, and saltwater pools, as well as ocean and geothermal pools, ranging in size from 25 meters to 100 yards – and beyond. And with water temperatures from 33.8 to 86 degrees F and amenities that include Masters swim, clinics, races, hot tubs, and more, there’s something for every swimmer. While you might not get the best workout in – because “Wow, check out that pod of orcas!” or “Can you believe that architecture?” – it’s guaranteed to be a memorable one.
Bondi Icebergs Pool
Sydney, Australia
Fee: $10 per day pass for adults
Perched on the cliffs at the southern tip of Bondi Beach, the Bondi Icebergs Pool is a historic landmark. Open to the public year-round, Bondi Icebergs has a 50-meter saltwater pool with eight lanes as well as a kids pool with five lanes. The water is taken directly from the ocean, so expect the temperature to be quite similar, but you can warm up in the sauna post-swim.
With ocean waves that crash over the pool’s edge, it provides triathletes with a great opportunity to practice open-water swim skills.
This pool is home to the Bondi Icebergs Winter Swimming Club that dates back to 1920. Membership opens to new swimmers once a year. There’s an induction day with a swimming time trial, and races are handicapped for all abilities.
But this isn’t the only spectacular pool in Sydney. There’s Bronte Baths, another ocean pool carved into a sandstone cliff and the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, a 50-meter outdoor saltwater pool with views of the Sydney Harbour.
Colman Pool
Seattle, Washington
Fee: $8 per day pass for adults
Colman Pool is a hidden gem of the northwest. Nestled in the forests of Lincoln Park, many residents don’t even know it exists. Located on the point, it’s a 10-minute walk (run or bike) from the parking lot. This Olympic saltwater pool is heated. In fact, it pulls 500,000 gallons of water directly from the Puget Sound. It’s so close to the water that there have been orca sightings from the pool decks.
The 50-meter pool has swim lanes for laps, as well as a diving board and corkscrew slide. It’s open in the summer (May to September).
During lap swim, the pool is divided into lanes by swim speed, and there’s an early morning option. Also, GLAD (Green Lake Aqua Ducks) Masters Swim group hosts Saturday morning workouts there.
Allas Sea Pool
Helsinki, Finland
Fee: 19-24 euros ($22-$28) per ticket
The unique Allas Pool is located on the pier next to Helsinki Market Square, where the city meets the sea. There are three pools – one heated, one seawater, and one for kids in the summer.
The warm-water pool is 25 meters with a temperature of around 80 degrees F. The seawater pool is a brisk 37 degrees, so it’s more appropriate for a cold plunge. You might even have to swim your way through cracked ice!
This seaside bathhouse also has five saunas, two restaurants, a bar, and beach. Post-swim, you can refuel by visiting the Porridge Bar every weekday morning in Allas Café. Members get access to free classes, including yoga, pilates, swim clinics, bodywork, and HIIT.
Sea Point Pavilion
Cape Town, South Africa
Fee: 39 rand ($2.28) for one-day pass, ages 60+ free
Sea Point Pavilion sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town, South Africa. This filtered seawater pool isn’t heated, but it’s open year-round. The summer water temperature (October through April) is 64–75 degrees F, and the winter water temperature (May through September) is 53-59 degrees F.
Sea Point has a 50-meter pool, a 20-meter diving pool, a 20-meter fun pool, and a kids pool. With Table Mountain on one side and Robbin Island on the other, the spectacular views are what make this pool special. Also, it’s super-affordable: A one-day pass is 39 rand ($2.28), and guests 60 and older get in free.
Szechenyi Thermal Baths
Budapest, Hungary
Fee: 13,200-14,800 HUF (around $39-$44) for a basic ticket
This extravagant complex in the heart of Budapest, Hungary, has a 50-meter outdoor pool for lap swimming with a water temperature of 78–82 degrees F. It’s flanked by a large leisure pool and a thermal pool. The entire courtyard is surrounded by opulent, yellow architecture that dates back to 1913. And that’s just the outside.
There are 18 pools on the property, along with saunas, steam rooms, a rooftop spa, restaurant, and bar. After your swim training session, you can take a dip in the thermal pool, which pulls water from a natural spring with healing properties from magnesium, bicarbonate, and calcium sulfate.
Laugardalslaug
Reykjavic, Iceland
Fee: 1,430 Icelandic krónur (about $12) for an adult ticket
Laugardalslaug is the largest swim complex in Iceland. The centerpiece is a 50-meter, geothermal, outdoor pool for lap swimming, as well as an Olympic indoor pool, kids pool, steam bath, hot tubs, slide, mini golf, and more. Be sure to bring your running shoes, because the complex is surrounded by a fitness trail with run routes.
The 50-meter outdoor pool has eight lanes and is organized by swim speed. It’s Iceland, so this pool is definitely heated, to about 82 degrees F. A unique feature is the eight “hot pots” that sit at the edge of the pool with gradually increasing water temperatures. You can swim laps and hop from hot pot to hot pot. The indoor pool has 10 lanes and maintains a water temperature of 82 degrees F.
Le Palais Megeve
Megeve, France
Fee: 7.10 euros (about $8) for an adult day pass
Le Palais Megeve is the largest sporting complex in France. With an aquatic center, ice skating rink, gym, climbing center, spa, restaurant, and more, this is an impressive destination. For swimmers, there’s an indoor pool and an Olympic outdoor pool that’s ingeniously heated by the ice rink’s refrigeration units. The outdoor pool is open June to September.
The views of the French Alps and surrounding countryside are simply stunning. If you’re a triathlete, this is a one-stop shop for all your needs. There’s a wide variety of classes including yoga, pilates, cycling, cross-training, stretching, and something called aquabike – turns out, it’s a bike that you pedal underwater.
Freibad Tivoli
Innsbruck, Austria
Fee: 6,60 euros ($7.64) for an adult day pass
Freibad Tivoli is an outdoor pool that sits in the middle of a huge park with spectacular views of the snow-capped Tyrolean Mountains in Austria. There’s a 300,000-square-foot sunbathing lawn and five different pools to choose from, as well as a diving tower, slides, beach volleyball, bocce ball, and more.
If you come to swim laps, you’ll find yourself in the heated, 50-meter pool. It’s a city pool, so the rates are very affordable considering the amenities: A day pass is 6,60 euros ($7.64) for adults, and early swim is 2,70 euros ($3.12) on odd-numbered days of the month from 7:15-8:45 a.m.
Tooting Bec Lido
London, England
Fee: £9.40 ($12.50) for a public day pass
Tooting Bec Lido is the United Kingdom’s largest freshwater pool at 100 by 33 yards. The massive pool is surrounded by the lido’s trademark, brightly colored changing huts.
The pool is open year-round, but only to the public May through September. In the winter, it’s closed for the exclusive use of the South London Swimming Club (SLSC), founded in 1906. They host swim races every Sunday morning and training sessions during the week. Tooting Bec is unheated, so while the summer temperature is around 68 degrees F, in the winter it can fall to 34 degrees! So it’s quite popular with long-distance swimmers training for the Channel swim.
A public day pass is £9.40 ($12.50), while a SLSC annual membership (ages 26-65) is £72 plus a discounted pool fee of £113, so $247. Membership offers benefits like reduced fees when you join British Triathlon Federation and their aquathon races.
Arribas Sintra Hotel Pool
Sintra, Portugal
Fee: Starting at 8 euros ($9.22) per day
The Arribas Sintra Hotel pool is one of the biggest saltwater pools in Europe at 100 meters long. Perched on the cliffs of Praia Grande, this pool is fed directly by the sea below. The water temperature hovers between 71 and 75 degrees F.
Open between April or May and October, the pool is free for hotel guests and available to the public for a fee. You can book a 90-minute session for 8 euros ($9.22) before 10 a.m., or pay 15-20 euros ($17.30-$23) for the day. Bring along your gravel or mountain bike and you can ride the trails in nearby Sintra National Forest.
The Bonigen Lido
Bonigen, Switzerland
Fee: CHF 6.00 ($7.58) for a day pass
The Bonigen Lido in Switzerland is the perfect mix of pool and open water. The complex is nestled on the banks of Lake Brienz, which has emerald waters and mountain views that stretch on for miles.
You can swim in the 25-meter heated pool (around 75 degrees F) or practice your open-water skills in the crystal-clear alpine lake. There’s also a kids pool, two water trampolines, bocce ball court, and a sunbathing lawn. Open from mid-May to mid-September, the cost for a day pass is CHF 6.00 ($7.58).
London Aquatics Centre
Stratford, London
Fee: £7.90- 7.30 ($9.15-9.30) for an adult day pass
Originally built for the 2012 London Olympics, the London Aquatics Centre now serves as a public facility located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There are two 50-meter pools, a dive pool with platforms, and a unique dry-dive training area, as well as a fitness studio and gym.
The competition pool is 50 meters with 10 lanes. It’s surrounded by stadium bleachers and massive windows that fit with the modern architecture. The water temperature is 80.6 degrees F. The training pool is also 50 meters and divided into two 25-meter pools with eight lanes. The water temperature is 86 degrees F. If you want to brush up on your swim form, there are lessons available for children and adults.
There are a few swim clubs associated with London Aquatics Centre, including Hackney Aquatics Club (age-group, Masters, open water), NUEL Swimming Club, Greenwich Royals Swimming Club, and London Fields Triathlon Club.
