Stories

Outdoor swimming pools with wow-factor

May 6, 2026

Written by

Nicky Evans

Art-deco saltwater pool with sea view in Penzance, UK

Dive into this list of public pools in unusual outdoor locations across the globe. Each one is a destination in itself and accessible on a backpacker budget.

Salt water and sea views

Bronte Baths, Sydney, Australia

Overhead shot of a turquoise irregular pool with waves crashing alongside it, Bronte Baths in Sydney

Dylan Shaw/Unsplash

This ocean-fed rock pool carved into the sandstone cliffs at the southern end of Bronte Beach is a local favorite thanks to its dramatic natural setting, 24/7 opening hours, and free access. The most scenic way to get there is to hike the coastal path from Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach towards Coogee. From Bondi, it’s 2.5km to the pool’s edge.

Open: year-round (closed on Wednesdays)
Price: free
Highlight: sunrise swims with Pacific views

Jubilee Pool, Penzance, UK

Drone shot of a triangular pool jutting out into the sea, with the town and coast of Penzance in the background

Ben Elliott/Unsplash

Booking is recommended at this triangular, art-deco lido at the edge of the English Channel, which includes a saltwater pool for cold-water swimming, plus a naturally heated geothermal pool and sauna. Lots of locals are members and spaces (available per half-day) fill up quickly.

Open: 31 March–1 November
Price: £7 for the sea pool, £16 including the geothermal pool (both half-day access)
Highlight: seasonal full-moon swims

Piscinas Naturales de Bajamar, Tenerife

A shot from the sea of the coastline of Tenerife, with mountains in the background and the Bajamar pools on the left-hand side of the curving coastline

Mike Workman/Shutterstock

The main pool at Bajamar — one of many natural pools dotted around the island’s coast — is ideal for swimmers thanks to its 50-meter length (there’s also a smaller pool and another for children). At low tide, the uninterrupted ocean views from the deck are peaceful, while at high tide, waves crashing over the sides add drama to your dip.

Open: year-round
Price: free
Highlight: on-site Blue Flag beach

Miller’s Point Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa

Overhead shot of a turquoise pool with rocks in it and the sea on the left

Saffa_O/Shutterstock

Historically, False Bay (an hour’s drive south of central Cape Town) is a notorious hotspot for great white sharks, which is why you’ll find a huge number of tidal pools in the area that allow for safe swimming. This irregularly-shaped natural rock pool is one of the least busy options, and deep enough for laps. Other great tidal pools on the same coast include Dalebrook Tidal Pool and St James Tidal Pool.

Open: year round
Price: free
Highlight: stone slide into the water

City swimming

Piscina Municipal de Monjuïc, Barcelona, Spain

Two pools on Monjuïc hill, with the city of Barcelona in the background, and mountains behind

Ronnie Schmutz/Unsplash

Built in 1929, but made famous during the 1992 Olympics, this 25-meter swimming pool (and dedicated diving pool) sits on the Monjuïc hilltop, offering sweeping views over Barcelona landmarks including La Sagrada Familia. When temperatures soar in the city, this is the place to be. Arrive first thing to bag a sunbed, or get comfy with the crowds on the concrete.

Open: July to September
Price: from €8
Highlight: spectator seats at water-polo matches

Allas Sea Pool, Helsinki, Finland

The port of Helsinki with a bright blue swimming pool in the docks and snow all around

Thomas Collett/Shutterstock

Set beside the port, but filled with seawater pumped in from further offshore, Allas boasts three pools, including a year-round heated swimming pool. In winter, brave souls go cold-water swimming surrounded by ice; in summer, locals lounge on the deck. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Finnish experience without sauna.

Open: year-round
Price: from €19 (for 2 hours)
Highlight: seasonal candlelight swims

Marineterrein, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Swimming lanes crossing from the boardwalks of Amsterdam's Marineterrein to the leafy dockside, with swimmers and sunbathers in frame

Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock

This inland harbor is within walking distance of Amsterdam’s busy main train station and waterside museums. The water was made an official swimming area in 2025, and its quality is closely monitored. In theory, it’s open all year round, but in practice it comes to life in late spring and summer, when locals sunbathe and splash on the surrounding boardwalks. To enjoy uninterrupted lane laps on sunny days, arrive before noon.

Open: year-round (winter swims at own risk)
Price: free
Highlight: SUPs and saunas for hire

Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, London, UK

Sea Lanes Canary Wharf

Slap-bang in the center of London’s financial district, this 50-meter freshwater pool in Eden Dock is a new addition to the city’s swimming scene as of summer 2026. Whether you’re taking a break from brokering business deals or just want to swim amid skyscrapers, its six lanes are open to the public all year round (although the water is unheated).

Open: year round
Price: from £10 (for a one-hour slot)
Highlight: on-site saunas fueled by renewable energy

Swims in nature spots

Zakrzówek Park, Krakow, Poland

A triangular and rectangular pool floating in the flooded quarry of Zakrzówek Park, Krakow, surrounded by trees

Karolina Klink/Shutterstock

This flooded limestone quarry was already a popular diving spot, and since 2023, its five floating pools — two of which are 70 meters in length — have made it a beautiful location for a serious swim. The park is just half an hour from central Krakow by public transport, so it’s a no-brainer for overheated residents in summer. Visit early in the season to avoid the densest crowds.

Open: June to September (10am–6pm, closed Mondays)
Price: free
Highlight: cliff-jumping platforms and opportunities for scuba diving

Barton Springs, Austin, USA

An aerial shot of leafy parkland with a river running through it, and the skyscrapers of Austin, Texas, in the background

Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock

Fed from four springs flowing from an underground aquifer, this city institution maintains a 20°C/68ºF temperature year-round, meaning that it feels warm in winter and refreshingly cool in summer. The Barton Springs Pool features lane-swimming, recreational areas, and a diving board along its almost 300-meter length, while Barton Creek, slightly downstream, offers activities like SUPing and kayaking.

Open: year-round (closed on Thursdays)
Price: from $4 (off-peak) to $9 (peak season) for non-residents
Highlight: organized nighttime swims in summer

Hofsós Swimming Pool, Hofsós, Iceland

An aquamarine swimming pool on the edge of a paved area with the sea beyond, and snow-capped mountains on the other side of the bay. Iceland.

Isidora_Sanhueza/Shutterstock

Overlooking Skagafjörður fjord, this 25-meter, geothermally heated swimming pool feels like an infinity pool when you’re swimming lengths with just the bay and the horizon in sight. Sweat through your usual training cycle in water that’s a toasty 30ºC.

Open: mid September to mid August
Price: 1,400KR
Highlight: walk down to the Stadarbjorg basalt columns just below the pool

Hampstead Pools, London, UK

A swimmer diving from the board into the Men's Bathing Pond on Hampstead Heath, London, with trees in the background

Alex Segre/Shutterstock

These three ponds on Hampstead Heath have been used for swimming by hardy Londoners for more than 200 years, which explains the tradition of its men-only, women-only, and mixed pools (the latter is most suitable for lane swimmers wanting to do laps). Locals who swim all year round are part of a tight-knit community. Before jumping in to join them, make sure you have experience of cold-water swimming.

Open: Men’s/Ladies’ Ponds open year-round, Mixed Pond open April to October
Price: £8.40 (peak time), £4.80 (off-peak)
Highlight: ice-swimming in winter (Men’s/Ladies’ Ponds only); seasonal ice skating