Winter afternoons get dark early here, and a warm adventure pool lets kids burn off energy whatever the weather. Swedish swim halls are built for families: shallow, warm splash pools for toddlers, and water slides, current channels and diving towers for older kids. Here's what we checked, from Eriksdalsbadet on Södermalm to the wave pool at Sydpoolen. Pack your own swimsuit: most require an adult in the water with under-12s.
Eriksdalsbadet is the City of Stockholm's big public swimming complex beside Årstaviken, and Sweden's national arena for competitive swimming. Indoors there are 50-meter and 25-meter pools, a diving pool with a tower and a teaching pool.
The adventure pool has water slides, several whirlpools and a section where you can swim out into the open air. A large outdoor 50-meter pool opens in summer.
Husbybadet is an indoor public swimming hall in Husby with a 25-meter pool (1.2 to 4 meters deep, 27 degrees) and a separate teaching pool (0.7 to 0.95 meters deep, 29 degrees), plus a gym. The old adventure section with its water slides is permanently closed because of damage that can't be repaired, and the bubble pool and splash pool are closed too. The city plans a new Husbybadet.
A public swimming hall run by Medley, with four pools: a 50-meter lane pool, two multi-use pools and a kids' pool. Toddlers get a play area kept at 34 degrees, while older kids head for the two water slides (one with rings, one timed), the 1 m and 3 m springboards and the 3 m diving tower. An obstacle course goes up in the pool during every school break.
Vilundabadet is a swim center run by Medley, with four pools. The adventure side has two water slides, a beach pool and a current pool, plus a 30 cm deep splash area with small slides for the youngest.
Alongside sit a 25-meter pool, a teaching pool with an adjustable floor, a hot tub, two saunas and a café. Weekends and school holidays bring obstacle courses and pool toys.
Tyresö Aquarena is a public swimming hall run by Medley, with five pools: a 25-meter lap and exercise pool, a warmer 16-meter multi-use pool, a tropical-themed adventure pool with a water slide, a bubble pool, and a 30 cm deep splash area for the youngest. There are also two saunas. On weekends and school breaks, the hippo mascot Flodis often drops by.
Gustavsbergsbadet is a swim center with an adventure pool, a lap pool, a gym and a relaxation area. In the adventure pool, a lagoon leads outdoors into a current channel, and there are two slides: the 77-meter Magic Eye, ridden on a ring alone or together, and the 36-meter Turbo, a fast solo drop. Toddlers get a stepped splash pool 10 to 50 cm deep, kept at 30-32°C.
Sydpoolen's adventure pool has a wave pool, a fast water slide, a current channel, a hot tub and a bubble bed. The youngest get Pigges Lagun, a calm splash area of their own.
Beyond the adventure section are a lap pool, a competition pool and a warmer therapy pool, plus a sauna and a café. Swim school and aqua classes run here too.
Winter afternoons get dark early here, and a warm adventure pool lets kids burn off energy whatever the weather. Swedish swim halls are built for families: shallow, warm splash pools for toddlers, and water slides, current channels and diving towers for older kids. Here's what we checked, from Eriksdalsbadet on Södermalm to the wave pool at Sydpoolen. Pack your own swimsuit: most require an adult in the water with under-12s.
Eriksdalsbadet is the City of Stockholm's big public swimming complex beside Årstaviken, and Sweden's national arena for competitive swimming. Indoors there are 50-meter and 25-meter pools, a diving pool with a tower and a teaching pool.
The adventure pool has water slides, several whirlpools and a section where you can swim out into the open air. A large outdoor 50-meter pool opens in summer.
Husbybadet is an indoor public swimming hall in Husby with a 25-meter pool (1.2 to 4 meters deep, 27 degrees) and a separate teaching pool (0.7 to 0.95 meters deep, 29 degrees), plus a gym. The old adventure section with its water slides is permanently closed because of damage that can't be repaired, and the bubble pool and splash pool are closed too. The city plans a new Husbybadet.
A public swimming hall run by Medley, with four pools: a 50-meter lane pool, two multi-use pools and a kids' pool. Toddlers get a play area kept at 34 degrees, while older kids head for the two water slides (one with rings, one timed), the 1 m and 3 m springboards and the 3 m diving tower. An obstacle course goes up in the pool during every school break.
Vilundabadet is a swim center run by Medley, with four pools. The adventure side has two water slides, a beach pool and a current pool, plus a 30 cm deep splash area with small slides for the youngest.
Alongside sit a 25-meter pool, a teaching pool with an adjustable floor, a hot tub, two saunas and a café. Weekends and school holidays bring obstacle courses and pool toys.
Tyresö Aquarena is a public swimming hall run by Medley, with five pools: a 25-meter lap and exercise pool, a warmer 16-meter multi-use pool, a tropical-themed adventure pool with a water slide, a bubble pool, and a 30 cm deep splash area for the youngest. There are also two saunas. On weekends and school breaks, the hippo mascot Flodis often drops by.
Gustavsbergsbadet is a swim center with an adventure pool, a lap pool, a gym and a relaxation area. In the adventure pool, a lagoon leads outdoors into a current channel, and there are two slides: the 77-meter Magic Eye, ridden on a ring alone or together, and the 36-meter Turbo, a fast solo drop. Toddlers get a stepped splash pool 10 to 50 cm deep, kept at 30-32°C.
Sydpoolen's adventure pool has a wave pool, a fast water slide, a current channel, a hot tub and a bubble bed. The youngest get Pigges Lagun, a calm splash area of their own.
Beyond the adventure section are a lap pool, a competition pool and a warmer therapy pool, plus a sauna and a café. Swim school and aqua classes run here too.
