Calling swimmers and water lovers of all ages! We’ve found the most amazing pools across the globe that you can actually visit, from unusual designs to elegant infinity pools
By Gail Wilcoxen
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Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool in Singapore – The view alone is worth a visit to the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to fly, floating in a pool 57 floors up might be as close as you can possibly get. Access: 7am – 11pm for hotel guests. [Photo: Mariano Jaimez Tarifa/flickr]
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Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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The Golden Nugget Hotel’s “Tank” in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – Kinda want to swim with sharks, but also not actually swim with sharks? The Tank’s Shark Chute lets guests slide straight through an impressive 200,000 gallon aquarium full of them. Access: 9am – 7pm (Shark Chute closes at 6pm). [Photo: Robert Ciavarro/flickr]
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Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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The Library Pool in Koh Samui, Thailand – It’s pretty obvious why this pool is so unique. The water gets its deep red colouring from the mosaic glass tiles on the pool floor, creating an illusion you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Access: For hotel guests, direct access to Chaweng Beach.
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Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo, Chile – No, this isn’t a lake: it’s the largest outdoor swimming pool in the world. How big, you ask? Bigger than 20 Olympic-sized pools put together. Access: Hotel guests. [Photo: Kyle Pearce/flickr]
4/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Badeschiff in Berlin, Germany – The Badeschiff translates to “bathing ship”, which is pretty much what it is. Floating in the Spree River, the pool was created by local artist Susanne Lorenz out of the hull of a ship. With a sandy bar and DJs spinning most nights, Badeschiff has become a favourite local summer hangout with some pretty great summer parties that shouldn’t be missed. Access: Summer (usually May – September), opens at 8am. [Photo: nate bolt/flickr]
5/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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The Water Cube in Beijing, China – A huge architectural accomplishment, The Water Cube came to symbolise the Summer Olympic Games held there in 2008, where Michael Phelps wowed the world with some record-breaking swims. The facilities received a makeover and reopened in 2010 as a water park. If you’re going to visit an Olympic pool, this is the one to see. Access: Open most days to water park guests. [Photo: Tasneem Kabir/flickr]
6/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Bondi Icebergs Club in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia – It only takes one glimpse to understand why this is the most famous pool in Australia. We’ve seen plenty of pools located at the ocean’s edge, but this one dares the ocean to crash in. The pool is home to the well-known Australian winter swimmers club that trains here. Access: Open to public all year round. [Photo: Kristofer Warbritton/flickr]
7/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Tinside Lido in Plymouth, England – The grand Tinside Lido opened in 1935 as an art deco half-circle beauty at the tip of Plymouth Hoe. After going through a period of disuse, locals successfully ran a campaign to resurrect the historical landmark, which was reopened to the public in 2005. If you’re looking for a unique swimming spot in the UK, this one is a good bet. Access: Summer, May – September. [Photo: Christian Cable/flickr]
8/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Gellért Baths in Budapest, Hungary – Gellért Baths might not have the fancy technology and sleek design of many modern pools, but this place has incredible history. Though it was built during World War I, records dating back to the 13th century speak of the location’s healing waters. The Art Nouveau design is a wonder to behold while visiting the many chambers of Gellért Baths. Access: All year (has only closed once in over a century). [Photo: Roberto Ventre/flickr]
9/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Hotel Hubertus Sky Pool in Sudtirol, Italy – So picture this: You’re floating around in a rectangular stone pool perched 12 metres above the ground on tree-trunk legs with a panoramic view of the Dolomite mountain range. Near the end of the pool, you look down to realise that you are staring through a panel of glass at the ground below! Now THAT is what we call modern design. Access: Hotel guests only, year round.
10/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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The Lula Hotel Pool at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan – There are lots of beautiful hotel pools out there, but this one really is worth a visit. Stretching out 60 metres long, the Lula’s infinity lap pool looks directly over Sun Moon Lake, which is just as magical as it sounds. For swimmers, this might just be the most serene place to churn out a few laps that you could possibly ask for. Access: Hotel guests only. [Photo: CAROLYN/flickr]
11/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Hearst Castle Pools in San Simeon, California, USA – Hearst Castle, which takes its name from the wealthy family that built it, is home to the indoor Roman Pool and outdoor Neptune Pool. Anyone visiting might feel like they’d left California and stepped into ancient Rome, which is probably the effect Mr Hearst was going for. This castle and its pools are so surreal, Lady Gaga shot a music video here a few years back. Access: Guest tours (no swimming). [Photo: m01229/flickr]
12/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Nemo 33 in Brussels, Belgium – This might be one of the strangest pools on our list, owing mostly to the fact that it’s 34.5 metres deep. Nemo 33 is where the most enthusiastic scuba divers go to train, offering a deep blue world of warm, filtered spring water and several simulated underwater caves. Not a pro diver? No problem! There are tons of classes for beginners and tourists available, too. Access: Must have a diving license or be accompanied by an instructor. [Photo: Guy Coupez/flickr]
13/16
Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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The Cambrian Hotel Pool in Adelboden, Switzerland – The view says it all. This Swiss hotel pool looks right out onto the towering Swiss Alps and is open all year round. With a view like that, it might be worth two visits: once during summer for a landscape of lush greens and again in the winter for a backdrop of sparkling snow. Access: Hotel guests and spa guests.
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Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Piano Pool at Disney World, Florida – This pool is shaped like a humongous grand piano, with piano keys designed from black and white tiles.! There really isn’t much else you need to know in order to be certain that it’s amazing. Only Disney could dream up something like that. Access: Park guests only.
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Special Swimming Pools
Water Wonders: The World’s Coolest Swimming Pools.
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