Shower Before Entering Geothermal Pools in Iceland
Every geothermal pool in Iceland has one thing in common: You will have to get naked and clean yourself with soap, rinse off the soap, put your swimsuit on and only then you can enter the pool.
This rule applies to spas, saunas, lagoons and community pools as well.
Why You Have to Shower Before Entering the Pools in Iceland
First of all, as a guest, you should be mindful to the local customs and traditions.
But there is a pretty simple explanation behind the rule. It’s the same one that lies behind the reason for you showering on a regular basis – hygiene. And being mindful to others.
1: Hygiene
Icelandic geothermal pools don’t contain any chlorine to kill off your germs. They rely on a constant flow of water but are drained and cleaned on a regular basis as well as their hygiene level is monitored.
So you don’t let the pool or hot spring take care of your personal hygiene, you do that in the shower before entering the geothermal pool.
Even though the community swimming pools use chlorine, they contain a lot less chlorine than swimming pools in other countries.
2: Chlorine is bad for your skin
Since the early Viking settlement era of Iceland, Hot Springs have been used for medicinal purposes. Hot pools can alleviate pain in the body and are considered to be a good treatment for various skin conditions. Especially ones that use sea water to cool down the geothermal water.
The minerals in geothermal hot springs can improve certain skin conditions but on top of that, geothermal pools make it possible for people in Iceland to get some much needed sunlight on their bodies to produce Vitamin D.
Chlorine, on the other hand is bad on the skin. It dries the skin and cleans it of oils that serve as a natural barrier from both the elements and bacteria. It can cause rashes and itching.
This also applies to your hair: chlorine strips the natural oils from your hair, leaving it dry and dull.
Filling up the geothermal pools up with chlorine would counter the wonderful effects that the geothermal water has on your skin.
3: The Environment
Where do you think that the water ends up? In nature, of course. And if the water in the geothermal pools was more or less chlorine, that would be bad news for nature.
Especially at our natural hot springs at Hvammsvík. Our hot springs are at a beautiful black sand beach and one of our pools gets totally submerged during high tides. So we keep our pools clean of bleach since it would go straight into the ocean and it would kill off some part of the ecosystem that our guests come to enjoy from our pools.
4: Icelandic Pool Culture is All About Relaxation and Socializing
Icelanders go to geothermal pools to relax and socialize. Not to for personal hygiene.
First dates often take place in hot springs, groups of friends have a fixed time where they meet up but most people go there just to talk to random strangers.
Both the geothermal pools and the community pools are thus not viewed as a communal bath. To clean yourself, use the showers. You go to the pool for a completely different reason.
5: Others Don't Like Bathing in Your Filthy Germs
As mentioned above, the locals don’t like to pour toxic chlorine into the pools and the pools are not thought of as your personal bathtub. That entails that if you break the prime directive of Icelandic bathing culture, you are inviting everyone else to bathe in the germs and the filth that you should have soaped off in the showers before entering the pool.
Don’t be rude. Nobody wants to have a soak in your dirty bathing water. Your rudeness will mostly likely be met with rudeness from the locals who don’t appreciate your lack of communal hygiene. You might be told to F-off back into the shower area. So be warned.
Dress Code for Icelandic Geothermal Pools
You will need to put on some swimwear. Don’t put on an old T-shirt and some shorts. And going into natural hot springs in your dirty underwear is not tolerated. The same goes for clean underwear.
If you feel uncomfortable about showing your body, you can wear swimwear that covers your body more fully than traditional swimwear.
But to stress point #5 above, wearing something else than swimwear is considered unsanitary. It doesn’t matter if you put your sweatpants for a wash and a dry before coming.
If you don’t feel comfortable in showering in the nude in front of other people, Hvammsvík Hot Springs has private shower stalls included in the Classic and Comfort admissions as well as a private changing stall.
Bathing in the nude is as well not tolerated. Perhaps if you find a hot spring in the middle of nowhere, while you are hiking. But beware of hot springs that are in the wild, their temperature is not regulated and you might risk getting severe burns. Even ones that feel warm to the touch might have extremely hot spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you have to shower before swimming in Iceland?
For hygienic reasons. Chlorine is either non-existent in the natural hot springs or are used in low levels at the communal swimming pools.
Are Icelandic Hot Springs Clothing Optional?
No, you are required to wear swimwear. Unless you are taking a dip in the naturally occurring hot springs in the middle of nowhere.
Can You Swim in Geothermal Pools in Iceland?
The Geothermal Pools in Iceland are usually shallow. They are used for relaxation and socializing. If you stand up, the water will most likely cover your legs. At Hvammsvík Hot Springs, however, you can enjoy a swim in the Atlantic Ocean between soaks in the hot springs.
Are there showers in Icelandic geothermal pools?
Yes, there are showers and you should have a good soapy shower before entering the pools. Most places have options of private shower stalls and changing rooms.
Are Geothermal Pools Good For Your Skin?
Throughout the centuries, Icelanders have used geothermal pools to treat skin conditions. The mineral rich water can be good for certain skin conditions as it, depending on the source of the water, does not dry up the skin.