Icelandic adventure with AQUA SPEED

2025-11-01

There’s probably not a single swimmer who wouldn’t want to take a dip in Iceland’s cold waters or warm their body in the island’s thermal springs. At the invitation of Agnieszka Narkiewicz-Czurylo, we travelled to Iceland to bring you closer to the beauty of Icelandic waters and to showcase AQUA SPEED gear in the unique scenery of a glacier, a beach covered in black volcanic sand, and Icelandic cliffs. Meet Agnieszka and her swimmers’ paradise.

Swimming in Iceland – a dream come true?

Swimming in Iceland is a dream for many swimmers, and you have it every day. Do you make the most of it?

Yes, Iceland is a paradise for swimmers! There is a pool in practically every neighbourhood and in every town. In the capital region, which consists of several municipalities and has a population of 250,000, we have a total of 15 places with 25 m pools and, in some cases, additional 50 m pools.

Most of them are outdoor pools supplied with water from geothermal sources. By purchasing an annual pass in a given municipality, you get unlimited access to all the pools in that municipality. For those interested in all the pools in Iceland, I recommend the website https://sundlaugar.is/sundlaugar/.

For several years now, the community of people swimming in cold water, or at least taking a dip in it, has also been growing. As awareness of the beneficial effects of cold water on human health has increased, so has the popularity of Ylstrondin Nauthólsvík beach in Reykjavík, which is open all year round. You can take a cold dip in the ocean there and then warm up in a steam sauna and relax in hot water.

Since I started learning to swim under a coach’s guidance, I’ve been an almost daily visitor at the pool, and in addition I swim in the ocean twice a week.

Iceland – for swimmers or for tourists?

Iceland is famous for its great water spots – are they more for recreation, recovery or for swimming?

Using swimming pools is part of Icelanders’ national culture. In the morning, it’s usually retired people who come first – they start their day with some movement in the water. At some pools there is free water gymnastics. At others people simply swim and then warm up in hot water in so-called “hot pots”, where they chat and relax.

During the day, it’s mostly young people who come for swimming lessons, which are compulsory in primary school. In the evenings, whole families arrive with their children. After having fun in the pool, the kids are changed straight into their pyjamas and go home like that. You could say that pools in Iceland are places where everyone will find something for themselves – even someone who doesn’t swim. And while travelling, you can also bathe in natural hot springs.

Knowing how to swim is a must in Iceland!

You don’t only swim in Iceland. You can be found at various open-water and winter swimming events. Is it a passion, a way of life?

Since childhood I’ve loved being in contact with water, but I could only swim a so-called “head-up breaststroke”, a relaxed “tourist” style. Later, once I was already living in Iceland, I started using the pools.

It was only in September 2021 that I actually started learning to swim properly. Now that I’ve gained more confidence in the water, I look at every larger body of water and analyse whether I could swim in it.

This year, after swimming 8.5 km, I discovered that long-distance swimming gives me tremendous joy, but my greatest passion is swimming in cold water. That’s where I clear my head, relax and truly feel present in myself, here and now.

From Iceland, everywhere is close?

What do you do for a living? What are your plans related to swimming and water?

Professionally, I work as a customer advisor at a bank. Outside of work, I run a winter-swimming group called “Zimnolubni Islandia” (“Cold-Lovers Iceland”). Privately, I still train intensively and I’m learning additional swimming strokes. If nothing gets in the way and I’m well-trained enough, I’d like to swim 12 km along Ullswater Lake in the UK next year.

Apart from that, I might fly to Poland two or three times to take part in ice swimming competitions, because for me it’s a chance to spend time with “crazy people” just like me.

Fly to Iceland to swim in cold water and warm up in thermal springs

How would you encourage our readers to visit Iceland and go for a swim? When is the best time to come?

When it comes to open-water swimming, the best period is between June and September. Ice swimmers can test themselves here all year round. The ocean is highly saline, so in January or February you can swim in water with a temperature close to –2°C – of course, always with a tow float.

Icelandic nature is unforgiving, so you need to be sensible and observe the water before getting in. If anyone would like to swim in an interesting spot in Iceland, I’d be happy to hear from you.

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Interview by: Maciej Mazerant / Managing Editor of AQUA SPEED Magazine

Photos: Antek Mazerant for AQUA SPEED

Icelandic adventure with AQUA SPEED

Swimming in Iceland – a dream come true?

Iceland – for swimmers or for tourists?

Knowing how to swim is a must in Iceland!

From Iceland, everywhere is close?

Fly to Iceland to swim in cold water and warm up in thermal springs

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