Iceland

In January 2001 Richard Burnham asked whether skinny-dipping is possible, tolerated or common in hot pools in Iceland?

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Sigvaldi Eggertson sigvald@my-deja.com replied ...

In the southern highlands, east of the Sigalda power plant are the Landmannalaugar. They are in the interior and skinny dipping is quite normal there. We have small rural swimming pools around the country and in the ones that are unattended nobody is worried about swimsuits or lack of them.

Tamara tamaraessx@aol.com added ... 

Yes it is possible, tolerated and common. I've been several times, including in winter, and one of my best naturist memories was a full day's walk across the icecap, a picnic, and then stripping off completely and before becoming totally 'friz' stepping down into a semi-cave which was the most wonderful natural hot spring.

There are spas (Turkish baths, hot tubs, saunas) in even quite small towns, and all the Icelandic families strip off and walk around and pile into the tub together. Any foreigner trying to stay covered with a towel is looked at pityingly.

What is perhaps less common (though this is simply on the basis of three longish holidays) is skinny-dipping in ordinary lakes and rivers. However given the sensibly relaxed attitude to nudity I doubt there would be a problem.

John "cobeachbum" cobeachbum@home.com also replied ...

My knowledge is somewhat dated (Early '90s), so perhaps someone could confirm (or deny).

Just outside of Keflavik is a place called the Blue Lagoon. It is the cooling pond for the big geothermal power plant (which also supplies the hot water for Keflavik and Reykavik areas). It is the only place I've been where the longer you stay in the shower, the hotter it gets - and I like long hot showers. While nudity is not officially allowed, it is usually too foggy and misty for anyone to notice one way or the other (you are not going to get a suntan in the lagoon). It was not uncommon at all for the ladies to be topless, and not uncommon for folks to change on the beach. I don't think I ever saw anyone laying out in the sun nude however.

Since my stay in Iceland, I know the Blue Lagoon has become a large resort, so things may have changed dramatically. You don't say when you're going, or how long you'll be there. Summer doesn't tend to stay around very long there, but temperature is a very relative thing. While I was there, if the temp was above 32F (0C), and the sun was shining, and you could get out of the wind, it was sun-tanning weather ( I often lay out on a picnic table - I just had to drag it around to a side of the building that blocked the wind.)

Get away from Keflavik (Reykavik), and the Island has plenty of opportunities. Take a hike in the interior, and you probably won't see anyone else. There are geysers, hot pools, glaciers, rock formations, beaches - the list goes on. Iceland is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been (Once I got off Keflavik NAS, which is nothing more than a very big, flat rock with a runway on it).

Something to keep in mind. It took the groups I was with a few dope slaps to get this into our thick American skulls. What is listed as 'Highway xx' on an Icelandic map may be nothing more than a dirt road. When looking for places, keep distances in mind, because once you get off the main highway, there may not be any signs.

Enjoy your trip
John