One of the reasons that many people love Iceland is the abundance of hot water.  Due to the gift of being a highly geothermal place, running out of hot water is unheard of. Icelanders make the most of this by having long showers, cheap heating and, most importantly, public hot tubs. But there is a catch. To appreciate the geothermal soothing of these wonderful spas you must get naked. Publicly.

When I first heard of people going to the ‘swimming pool’ in Iceland, I pictured athletic Icelanders doing laps. But you will find that most people who are going to the ‘swimming pool’ are really just going to sit in a hot tub and sweat out their soul.

In most societies, public nudity is something to be feared. In Iceland, it is standard pre-swimming protocol. And for good reason…

Did you know a single person can infect the beloved swimming pool with one billion bacteria, which eventually become immune to chlorine. No wonder it is important to scrub yourself down before jumping in, or it will be just like any other swimming pool in the world. A boiling broth of international bacteria.

So before anyone jumps into a pool in Iceland they must join all the other bare swimmers and methodically sanitise themselves. Everywhere.

Think you can get away with skipping the compulsory naked wash? Think again. The shower police will let you know if you have missed a spot. And they will make you remove your pants if you refuse to do so yourself…

But trust me, even the most awkward English tourists can be seen stripping down and enduring the nudity for a few minutes. Because you will find that the swimming pools in Iceland and completely heavenly.

With a range of different temperates of hot-tubs and an abundance of locals (which can sometimes be hard to find in Iceland), swimming pools are known as the Icelandic version of English pubs – the place that locals go to complain about the weather and politics.

Don’t miss your chance to get naked in Iceland.