Public indoor swimming pools in San Diego aren’t hard to come by. It’s not a question of if you can swim, but where the best swimming experience is. Are there good hotel pools or Olympic sized pools? No matter which indoor swimming experience you want, you’ll find the best five options on this list, including some free indoor swimming pools.
1. Best All-Around Pool: Memorial Pool
Memorial Pool is a public indoor swimming pool run by the city. It features one large swimming pool that is well chlorinated and well-balance, kept at a perfect water temperature for relaxing swims. Right next to the pool is a kid’s play area with spray toys and obstacles.
One thing that makes this pool stand out, especially for a public pool, is it’s staff. They’re almost all friendly, helpful people. The instructors are also great if you’re looking for a place for swimming lessons. Memorial Pool is not free, but it’s a reasonably priced pool option.
2. Best Value Hotel Pool: Marriott Vacation Club Pulse
If you have a room at the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse hotel, you can enjoy its indoor pool for free. Seeing as this is a three-star hotel, the price is reasonable, especially considering the quality of pool you’ll get. It’s crystal clean and offers a private, relaxed atmosphere where you can unwind. The pool is relatively large and directly next to the fitness center, so you can take a dip after your workout.
3. Best Overall Hotel Pool: Embassy Suites Hilton San Diego
Looking to spend a bit more on your hotel pool experience? You’ll be absolutely blown away by the indoor pool at the Embassy Suites Hilton in San Diego, the Bay Downtown location. It was stunning before, but was recently renovated and is even more luxurious. It’s a truly tranquil, refreshing place to take a swim.
4. Best Olympic Sized Pool: City of Coronado Aquatics Center
It might not be an indoor Olympic-sized pool, but this one is just too good not to mention.
If you’re looking for an Olympic sized pool to practice or hold an event, the City of Coronado Aquatics Center is worth a trip across the bridge. There’s a lot going on in the Center on any given day, so it’s a wise idea to check the schedule before you head out. That being said, the Center is popular because it’s pool is so well maintained and its staff are so friendly.
5. Best Water Park: Aquatica
There are no water parks with indoor pools in San Diego or a reasonable distance from San Diego. That being said, if you’re happy to swim outside and take occasional shelter from the sun inside, you’ll be happy at Aquatica. You can catch some shade in their private Cabanas, or take a dip in any of their several pools. One stand out pool is called ‘Big Surf Shores’ which features waves over five feet high. There are more kid-friendly pools too, of course.
Of course, this is just the start. There are many indoor pools in San Diego so you can have a refreshing dip no matter which part of the city you’re living in or visiting.
