Outdoor Swimming in Madrid

As we move further into June and Madrid starts to heat up, let´s have a look at some of the outdoor swimming that the city has to offer. The three main options that Madrileños pursue to cool off in the scorching months of June to August are: municipal outdoor pools in the city, natural pools (such as reservoirs and lakes) a bit further out, or private rooftop pools. It is also worth noting that the city´s sports centres have a variety of municipal indoor pools which are open year round whilst the outdoor pools open only for a few months, though an indoor pool may not be as promising a prospect on a 40 degree summer day.

Municipal outdoor pools

The city of Madrid currently has 20 different official public pools, "piscinas de verano", under the wing of Centro Deportivo Municipal (CDM), located throughout various neighbourhoods of the city. They usually open in early May, remaining open until about mid-September. They are definitely the most economical means of swimming in Madrid, easier to access than the natural pools outside the city and infinitely cheaper than the rooftop pools.

Booking the pools

A note on booking municipal pools. Whilst it is possible to buy entrance tickets at the door of the pools, these spots are usually in very high demand on a hot summer´s day. You can reserve your tickets online beforehand, by going to this website, or by downloading and using the Madrid Móvil app. Once on the website, choose the pool, and then the session. You will find options for the different age groups, as well as "mañana" (morning) and "tarde" (afternoon). The categories go as follows:

"Mañana" is from 10.00 till 14.30. "Tarde" is from 16.30 to 21.00.

Younger than 5 years old is free. "Infantil" is between 5 and 14 years old, costing €1.35. "Joven" is from 15 to 26 years old, and costs €1.80. "Adulto" is between 27 and 64 years, costing €2.25. "Mayor" is older than 65 years, costing €0.70.

After you´ve selected the tickets and paid, you will receive a QR code to show at the pool entrance.

Lago de la Casa de Campo 

This spot is situated in Casa de Campo park, better known as "Piscina de Lago". Casa de Campo´s Municipal Sports Centre opens its two outdoor pools every summer, making this a very popular, and very busy, destination for Madrileños. The property has a small restaurant/shop where one can buy food and drinks, and momentarily escape the sun on the terrace. The easiest access to Piscina de Lago is via Metro line 6 to Puerta del Ángel, or line 10 to Lago.

Parque Deportivo Puerta de Hierro

The Puerta de Hierro Sports Park is home to one of the largest outdoor pools in Madrid, over 130 metres long. The sports park also has many more facilities, one of the greatest selections in the city. Swimming at this spot, you will find a spacious grassy area, as well as changing rooms and a children´s pool in the summer.

Vicente del Bosque Sports Centre

This sports centre has two 50-metre pools and a children´s pool, situated in the La Paz neighbourhood in the north of the city. This area is known for its view of Madrid´s Cuatro Torres, or Four Towers, a symbol of Madrid´s business area that rose up in 2009 on the former grounds of the Real Madrid team. To get to the sports centre, take the Metro line 9 to Barrio del Pilar, or the 10 to Begoña.

Centro Deportivo Municipal Peñuelas

This outdoor pool is located in the Lavapiés neighbourhood of Madrid. There are three pools designated for different age groups, accompanied by a large grassy space in the surrounding area. The facility also has toilets and changing rooms, as well as a cafe, terrace area and plenty of picnic tables. The cafe offers a good selection of snacks and drinks.

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

This university pool used to only be for students´and teachers´ use, but since being opened to the public, it has become one of the most popular summer spots. It has two huge pools and is surrounded by trees and grass, only a few metres from Moncloa. The space has all the basic requirements - changing rooms, a cheap bar and lockers. We recommend bringing your ID with you to this pool, to make sure you are not turned away. 

Canal de Isabel II Sports Centre

This expansive sports centre is located on Avenue de Filipas, and its outdoor pool facilities include a solarium, a cafe, toilets and changing rooms. The best transport links for this sports centre are lines 7 or 2 to Canal or line 1 to Ríos Rosas.

Natural pools outside the city

Pantano de San Juan

Located about 70km from Madrid, this spot offers 14km of "beach" at the reservoir, one of the rare areas where swimming is allowed. This spot is extremely popular, especially on weekends between June and September, meaning one needs to arrive early so as to secure a spot. The shores of this reservoir are filled with restaurants, beach bars and picnic areas for daytrip-ers. It is best to get to the Pantano either by bus or by car, and will take roughly one hour.

Las Dehesas

Las Dehesas in Cercedilla is a popular spot for Madrileños, one hour out from Madrid by car. This spot has pools located along the Arroyo de la Venta river, as well as the Las Berceas recreation centre, with a number of facilities. Getting out to Cercedilla by public transport will take you a little bit longer; you either have to take the Renfe C8 train to Cercedilla, or bus 684 from Moncloa to Cercedilla, and from there you have the option of another bus to take you from the station to the pool, or a roughly 45-minute hike. Although 45 minutes may sound like a long time, the views and the surrounding landscape make it worth your while.

Las Presillas in Rascafría

In Paular Valley, Rascafría, about 100km north of Madrid, you can find these natural pools, filled with amazingly clear, albeit a little cold, water. The area is divided into 3 pools on the Loyoza river bed, surrounded by wide green meadows. Admission is free, however if you decide to drive there the parking will cost you €9 a day per car. The pools are open every day during the summer months, and the surrounding area boasts tables, snacks for sale, toilets and rubbish bins. If you are not coming by car, the best means of accessing Las Presillas is by bus. Take the 194 bus from Plaza de Castilla to Rascafría, a journey which will take you a bit over 2 hours and costs €5.

Riosequillo reservoir

The Riosequillo reservoir, north of the capital city, is one of the largest natural pools in Madrid. The water comes directly from the Riosequillo reservoir, creating a natural pool of about 4,500 square metres. Furthermore, the wider complex offers lounge and picnic areas, toilets, changing rooms, a poolside snack bar and football and basketball areas. This spot is open from mid-June to August every day of the week except Monday. It is approximately a 2 hour bus journey from Madrid to Riosequillo.

Rooftop pools

As well as the options listed above, Madrid also has a number of rooftop pools. These pools, generally owned by hotels, are a great option if you are willing to spend a bit more money, While municipal outdoor pools will cost you roughly between €2 and €6 for a few hours, the rooftop pools charge around €40 to €60. That being said, they provide you with some amazing views of the city, and normally a great restaurant and bar to go along with it.

Here are some of our favourites:

Hotel Emperador

The rooftop pool at Hotel Emperador comes with impressive skyline views, including Gran Vía and the Royal Palace. Located on the 10th floor, it has a large outdoor pool accompanied by a rooftop garden, a snack bar, a restaurant and even a solarium with hammocks. This pool is both Madrid´s oldest and largest, making it an all-time Madrid favourite. Entry to the pool is free for hotel guests, whilst non-guests have to pay €50 for entry between Monday and Thursday, or €63 on Fridays through Sundays. The pool is open regularly between 10am and 9pm. You can find their website by clicking here.

Gymage Rooftop

Marking it out from the crowd, this rooftop pool sits atop not a hotel but a gym. Gymage, located in the Malasaña district, is a chic hotspot with a rooftop garden, terrace, bar and pool. It looks out over the Plaza Soledad Torres Acosta. They are known for the vast selection of cocktails on offer, their various evening events, and, of course, their piscina. Follow this link to access their website.

Rooftop Pool at Hotel Óscar

Located near to Gran Vía, this rooftop pool also offers amazing 360 degree vies of the city. The pool is free to hotel guests, whilst it costs the public between €40-60 to acquire tickets. Click on this link to take you to their website.

By Lulu Rehman, June 2021