Iceland Pool and Lagoon Shower Rules: What Every Venue Actually Requires

Part of our Iceland pools and lagoons series, built from the venues’ published rules rather than a personal visit: shower rules · age limits · Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon · Reykjavík city pools.

Part of our Iceland active wellness travel guide — built from the venues’ published rules, not from a personal visit.

The question people type before their first Icelandic pool is blunt: do I really have to shower naked? The short answer is yes, before you get in, at every public pool and every major lagoon. But the venues phrase it differently, enforce it differently, and the rest of the etiquette — children, phones, alcohol, hot tubs — differs more than most guides admit.

Rather than repeat what forums say, we read the rules the venues publish themselves: the City of Reykjavík’s conduct rules for its municipal pools, and the guest information of Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon and Secret Lagoon. Everything below is quoted from those pages, checked on 26 September 2026. Where a venue does not publish a rule, we say so rather than guess.

The short version

Blue Lagoon shower rules: wash without a swimsuit before entering, in an individual cubicle with a door; shower gel is provided and the venue recommends leaving conditioner in your hair for the whole visit. Swimsuit on once you leave the shower. Sky Lagoon: the same naked shower, in a cubicle on the Saman pass or a private shower on the Sér pass; swimwear is obligatory in the lagoon. Reykjavík city pools and other public pools: a thorough naked shower in a communal shower room, enforced by staff under the national swimming-pool regulation. Secret Lagoon: communal shower, dry off before you go back into the changing room. Iceland geothermal pool rules beyond the shower: swimwear everywhere outside the shower, no phones at the city pools but allowed at the lagoons, a three-drink cap at both major lagoons, and age rules that range from no minimum at the city pools to 12-and-over at Sky Lagoon. Each of those is quoted from the venue’s own page below.

The shower rule, venue by venue

Venue	Exact published wording	Private showers?
Reykjavík city pools (Laugardalslaug, Sundhöllin, Vesturbæjarlaug and others)	“All swimmers are required to shower thoroughly without swimwear before entering the pool.”	Communal shower rooms (the city does not publish cubicle details per pool)
Blue Lagoon	“Wash without swimsuit before entering the lagoon.”	Yes — individual shower cubicles with doors in the standard changing rooms
Sky Lagoon	“Showering without a swimsuit is required before entering the lagoon. Bathing suits are obligatory in the lagoon area and the Seven-Step Ritual.”	Saman pass: “shower cubicles and a shared changing area”. Sér pass: “private showers and private changing areas”.
Secret Lagoon	“We ask our guests to shower without their bathing suits before entering the Lagoon.”	Communal shower room; take your towel with you and dry off before re-entering the changing room

Sources: City of Reykjavík — Rules on safety and conduct · Blue Lagoon — Safety standards · Sky Lagoon — FAQ · Secret Lagoon — Terms and conditions

Why the rule exists

The City of Reykjavík issues its conduct rules under Iceland’s national regulation on swimming facilities (Regulation 814/2010). That is a hygiene regulation, and it is why the shower wording is the same at municipal pools across the country, not just in the capital: the pool water is geothermal and the pre-swim wash is part of how it is kept clean.

At a city pool the shower area is communal and staff are entitled to enforce the rule. At the lagoons, enforcement is lighter because most guests have a cubicle, but the requirement is published just the same.

What the venues say about washing

The rule is “thoroughly”, with soap. Blue Lagoon adds a skin-care reason of its own: “The shower gel available in each shower was specially designed by our skin care department to prepare your skin for the lagoon.” Blue Lagoon also recommends leaving conditioner in your hair for the whole visit, because the silica-rich water is hard on hair: “we recommend that you apply conditioner to your hair before entering the lagoon — and leave it in your hair while in the lagoon.”

Swimwear: required everywhere once you are out of the shower

None of these venues is textile-free. Sky Lagoon states it directly: swimwear is “obligatory in the lagoon area and the Seven-Step Ritual.” At the city pools the rules assume swimwear in the pool; the without-swimwear requirement applies to the shower only. Sky Lagoon rents and sells swimsuits at reception; Blue Lagoon and Secret Lagoon offer rental too. Sky Lagoon does not provide robes or slippers: “Sky Lagoon does not offer robes or slippers, as the lagoon is accessed directly from the changing rooms.”

Phones and cameras: the biggest difference between pools and lagoons

This is where visitors get caught out. The rules are opposite.

• City pools: “Cameras, phones and other smart devices are strictly prohibited in changing rooms and pool areas.” That means the whole pool, not only the changing room.
• Blue Lagoon: phones are allowed in the water; the venue only advises “using caution while in the water” and “protecting your device with a waterproof case”.
• Sky Lagoon: “small cameras or phones” are allowed, with a request to “be very mindful with your photography and respectful of other guests privacy.”
• Secret Lagoon: publishes no camera rule.

If you want photos, the lagoons are the place. Taking a phone poolside at Laugardalslaug will get you asked to put it away.

Alcohol

• City pools: alcohol and any intoxicating substance are prohibited, along with tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.
• Blue Lagoon: “Each adult guest may only buy 3 alcoholic beverages while in the lagoon.”
• Sky Lagoon: “Please limit alcohol consumption to three (3) alcoholic drinks per adult while you’re enjoying the lagoon. Anyone who is intoxicated is not allowed to access the lagoon.”
• Secret Lagoon: “Bringing alcohol drinks, from outside, into the Secret Lagoon area is strictly prohibited.”

Both major lagoons have an in-water bar and both cap it at three drinks. The pools have none.

Children: who may swim, and who must be watched

The age rules differ sharply, and Sky Lagoon is the outlier.

Venue	Minimum age	Supervision rule	Flotation
City pools	None, but “From June 1 of the year children turn 10, they can go swimming without supervision.”	“Each person may supervise a maximum of two children, unless the person is a parent or guardian.”	“Non-swimmers must use approved arm floats or swim jackets. Please note that inflatable rings are toys, not safety devices.”
Blue Lagoon	“The minimum age for using the Blue Lagoon is two years old.”	“All children 2-13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian”; “One adult can accompany a maximum of two children.”	“Children 2-8 years of age must wear inflatable armbands.” Provided free.
Sky Lagoon	“Children under the age of 12 are not permitted at Sky Lagoon.”	“Visitors ages 12 – 14 must be accompanied by a guardian (18 years or older).” ID may be requested.	Not applicable
Secret Lagoon	Not published	“Guests are responsible for children accompanying them!”	“Children 8 years old or younger need to wear inflatable swim armbands.”

For a family with young children, Sky Lagoon is out; Blue Lagoon and the city pools are in. We compare the age and supervision rules of all four venues on our Iceland lagoon age limits page.

Hot tubs and saunas at the city pools

The hot tubs (heitir pottar) are the social heart of an Icelandic pool and have their own etiquette, some of it written. The City of Reykjavík’s rule for saunas and steam rooms: “You must sit on a towel” and “Children under 16 are not allowed unless accompanied by an adult.” The rest of hot-tub etiquette is unwritten; the published rule that carries over is the general one: “All visitors are expected to treat staff and fellow swimmers with consideration and respect.”

Depth and temperature, for planning

• Blue Lagoon: “The lagoon is 90-145 cm deep.”
• Sky Lagoon: “At its deepest point, the lagoon is 120 cm (3’11” ft) deep.” Water “approximately 38 – 40°C (100 – 104° F).” Recommended stay “1.5 – 2 hours.”
• Secret Lagoon: “The temperature of the Secret Lagoon is 38-40°C.”

Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon both stress hydration; Sky Lagoon has drinking fountains in the changing rooms and at the lagoon.

Two small things the venues warn about

Secret Lagoon: “Water in the Lagoon contains sulfur, which can cause silver color change.” Take silver jewellery off. The full set of Iceland pages sits in the Iceland lagoons and pools guide, and see what to bring to the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon for the rest of what stays at the hotel. Blue Lagoon: glasses are fine but “be sure not to submerge them in the water”, and contact lenses should come out beforehand.

Booking a lagoon visit

The city pools are pay-at-the-door. The lagoons sell timed tickets, and popular slots sell out. If you would rather book through one platform with free cancellation, these are the admission listings that match the venues on this page: Blue Lagoon admission, Sky Lagoon entrance with the 7-step ritual and Secret Lagoon entrance. Booking direct with the venue works just as well. Not sure which lagoon fits? See Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon, or the Reykjavík city pools guide if you would rather skip the lagoons.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to shower naked before Icelandic pools?

Yes. The City of Reykjavík’s published rule: “All swimmers are required to shower thoroughly without swimwear before entering the pool.” Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon and Secret Lagoon publish the same requirement in their own words.

Are the showers private?

At the city pools the shower rooms are communal; the city does not publish which pools have cubicles. Blue Lagoon has individual cubicles. Sky Lagoon has cubicles on the Saman pass and fully private showers on the Sér pass.

Can I take my phone into the pool?

At city pools, no: devices are “strictly prohibited in changing rooms and pool areas.” At Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, yes, with care.

Can children go to Sky Lagoon?

No under-12s. “Children under the age of 12 are not permitted at Sky Lagoon.”

Is there a minimum age at Blue Lagoon?

Two years. Children 2-8 wear armbands, provided free; children 2-13 need an accompanying adult.

How many drinks can I have in the lagoon?

Three per adult at both Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon. None at the city pools.

We have not visited these venues for this article. Every rule above is quoted from the venue’s own published guest information or terms, checked on 26 September 2026; rules change, so check the venue page before you go. Some links on this page may be affiliate links; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.