They’re breathtaking. They’re eye opening. They’re jaw dropping. We’re counting down our list of the 10 most incredible pools in the world! Trust us…you’ll want to add these pools to your swimming bucket list.
1. Allas Sea Pool, Helsinki, Finland
First, we head to Helsinki, Finland. Tucked away in the Port of Helsinki, you’ll find Allas Sea Pool’s floating pool deck. It’s home to 3 pools: a 25-meter heated pool, a chilly sea water pool, and a kids’ play pool.
Kept at 27 degrees Celsius year-round, the heated pool is the perfect spot for an outdoor workout, even on chilly winter days! Watch boats go by between sets, or take in a gorgeous sunset as you swim.
If you’re interested in exploring the health benefits of cold water swimming, have a dip in the sea water pool. A brisk 12 degrees Celsius, this pool is filled with filtered sea water and will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
Round out your swim with a trip to the sauna — a classic Finnish activity.
2. Club La Santa, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Located off the coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are known for their sunny weather, incredible beaches and delicious food. But they’re also home to one of the world’s most luxurious resorts for active travelers: Club La Santa! Located on the island of Lanzarote, this resort is a swimmer’s paradise, boasting 2 swimming stadiums with 3, 8-lane, 50-meter pools. You’ll never have to worry about finding a lane here!
Perfect your technique during a private lesson, or venture to the club’s private lagoon and learn how to swim in open water!
3. Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Beach, Australia
This pool is at the top of many swimmers’ bucket lists, and for good reason! This 50-meter pool in Sydney is right on the water, with great views of Bondi Beach. It has been a landmark in the area for more than 100 years, and is home to the Bondi Icebergs Club, which started in 1929 to help lifeguards stay fit in the winter months.
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The club meets every Sunday between May and September for a swim. To maintain membership, Icebergs must swim at least 3 Sundays per month for 5 consecutive years. Quite the commitment!
The pool is limited to 24 swimmers at a time, so make sure to get there early or make a reservation online!
4. Széchenyi Baths, Budapest, Hungary
If rest and relaxation are more your speed, head to Budapest! Since the Romans built the first baths in the city, travelers have been coming to Budapest to experience its famous, medicinal pools.
Built in 1913, the Széchenyi baths are home to 18 pools filled with water from two natural springs. A soak in one of these baths is said to have powerful healing effects. The water is rich with minerals, including calcium, sulfate, magnesium, bicarbonate, fluoride and metaboric acid. With water temperatures ranging from 18 to 38 degrees Celsius, there’s something for everyone.
If you visit Széchenyi, look out for bathers playing chess while they enjoy the warm water, surrounded by the bath’s gorgeous baroque architecture. After your soothing swim, explore one of the 10 saunas or get a massage!
5. Sea Point Pavilion, Cape Town, South Africa
Since the 1950s, Cape Town residents have kept cool at this beachside spot. With water sourced from the nearby ocean, the Olympic-sized pool and 2 smaller pools are the perfect pit stop for a sunny swim with ocean views.
You may be thinking: With the ocean right next door, why not just go to the beach? The water is chilly year-round here, and Sea Point Pavillion’s pools are always a reliable 10 degrees Celsius warmer than the ocean.
6. Tooting Bec Lido, London
Tucked away in London’s Tooting Bec Common, this lido is the largest freshwater swimming pool in the United Kingdom. At 91 meters long and 30 meters wide, it holds 1 million gallons of water!
The pool opened in 1906 as a bathing lake, and has since been upgraded to accommodate serious swimmers, including the South London Swimming Club.
Swimming in the Tooting Bec Lido feels like a private pool experience. When the pool was built, officials required it to be concealed from view by a natural ramp. These days, that ramp is lush with trees and wildlife.
The pool is only open to the public from May to September, so plan accordingly!
7. Titanic Golf Deluxe Belek, Belek, Turkey
Next, we’re headed to one of Turkey’s top resorts. The Titanic Golf Deluxe has 11 — yes, 11! — pools to choose from, including an outdoor, Olympic sized pool that’s heated year-round.
Get a workout in and head to the ocean pool to relax. It’s the largest pool in the region, holding 13 million liters of water! Or, check out the waterslides, the Turkish bath, or the jacuzzi!
If that’s not enough aquatic fun for you, take a short walk to the nearby private beach, or lounge by the river.
8. San Alfonso del Mar, Algarrobo, Chile
If you want to swim in the world’s largest pool, head to Chile! The pool at the San Alfonso del Mar resort is more than 1 kilometer long and holds 250 million liters of filtered ocean water. It covers 20 acres — or 15 football fields — and reaches depths of 115 feet. You have to see it to believe it!
Go for a mock open water swim in this man-made lagoon, try water skiing, or take a sailboat out for a ride! The Pacific Ocean is right next door, offering a second beach option for water-lovers.
9. Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool, Singapore
Singapore is known for over-the-top, luxury amenities, and this pool is no different. Sitting 57 stories high, the pool at the Marina Bay Sands’ Skypark is the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool. Measuring 150 meters long, this feat of architecture and engineering spans the width of all 3 of the hotel’s iconic towers.
Imagine lounging in the water, taking in the sunset from more than 200 meters high! There’s nothing like it.
The Skypark isn’t just home to this famous pool, though. You’ll find top-notch restaurants and bars up there, too
10. Natural Pools, Canary Islands
We’re heading back to the Canary Islands for more aquatic adventures…this time in natural, ocean-fed pools! These pristine pools are scattered across nearly all of the islands, but Gran Canaria, the largest island, has 4 must-see spots!
Some of these pools are man-made, while others are totally natural, aside from steps and diving points added to make enjoying the water a little easier. At Las Salinas de Agaete on Gran Canaria’s northeastern coast, you can lounge in 3 natural pools, their fortress-like walls providing extra protection from the ocean’s waves and currents.
These pools are connected by underwater, volcanic tunnels. If you’re lucky, you might encounter fish and other marine life that washed into the pools at high tide!
11. Città del Mare Hotel Village Toboggan, Palermo, Italy
Nestled in the cliffs on the northwest coast of Sicily, Città del Mare Hotel Village’s pool is a thrill seeker’s paradise. The pool’s toboggan is the tallest in Europe, after all.
A series of 11 slides transports you through 3 pools, ending with a splash in the Mediterranean Sea! At each pool, stop to take in views of the Gulf of Castellammare.
After your swim, head to the hotel’s Olympic sized swimming pool for a workout, or take a shuttle to a private beach for an open water swim.
12. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
And last, but certainly not least, we’re heading to western India. Tucked away in this beautiful resort on Lake Pichola sits one of the most gorgeous infinity pools. From the authentic tiling to the breathtaking architecture, you can practically feel the history oozing out of this place. From your spot in the pool, take in panoramic views of the property. If you’re lucky, your hotel room may come with a private pool of its own, too!
Built on the 200-year-old hunting grounds of the Maharana of Mewar, the resort also includes a 20-acre wildlife sanctuary.
Which pool is your favorite? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!
4 Comments
Across from Sydney Harbor, the Olympic Pool, in North Sydney. It sits nearly under the Harbor Bridge.
That’s a great one!
Absolutely. Can’t believe they missed it…..about to head there right now, actually 🙂
Bondai Beach, Sydney, Australia Pool. Awesome, great venue, and classic look..fed and filled by the ocean waves.