Forget the swelter of Madrid’s asphalt jungle and the suffocating hum of air conditioners on full blast. When summer lays its dry, relentless grip on the capital, true escape isn’t found in rooftop bars or misted terraces—it’s in the unexpected grandeur of its public swimming pools. These are not your average neighbourhood plunge holes. No, these are vast, open-air sanctuaries of blue where history, architecture, and social life converge in rippling symmetry. Here, the water tells stories—of leisure, of local culture, of decades gone by when Madrid, landlocked and scorching, declared war on summer with chlorinated defiance. From the record-breaking immensity of Puerta de Hierro, once Europe’s largest pool and still a monument to civic ambition, to the scenic expanse of Riosequillo and the lively, community spirit of Amurjo, Madrid’s pools offer more than a place to swim—they are public temples of cool, democratic spaces where children cannonball alongside retirees doing gentle laps. These are destinations in their own right, each one with a pulse, a rhythm, and a history as fluid as the water they hold. Welcome to the aquatic heart of Spain’s hottest months. The Puerta de Hierro pool This pool, 4.4 miles (7km) from Madrid’s city centre, is one of the largest in Europe. The admission fee is 5 euros. When it was first built, between 1955 and 1959, it was the largest in Europe. It is almost seven times bigger than an Olympic pool. Popularly known as the “workers’ pool” or the hackneyed “Madrid beach,” this public swimming pool has been breaking records since its inauguration on August 2nd, 1959. Over 44,000 people have swum in the pool in a single day, and 650,000 in two months, according to data from the Community of Madrid. The largest surface of water in this summer pool covers a total of 7,258 square metres. It accommodates 3,600 people at a time. The Puerta de Hierro Sport centre was completely remodelled in the 1990s, but still considered on of the oldest and most comprehensive sports complexes in the city, with a total capacity for 6,000 users across 300,000 square metres, including a rugby field, a golf course, paddle tennis and tennis courts, archery ranges, and beach volleyball courts, among other facilities. Riosequillo Pool Another of Spain’s biggest pools is also near Madrid. It has a pool capacity for about 2,300 people. It was built in 1993 and features a theatre, accommodating up to 1,750 people. More people than the Teatro Real, with a capacity of 1,746 spectators. To understand the size of the Riosequillo pools, a good way to understand them is through comparison. If the Teatro Real has the capacity for the aforementioned number, these pools can hold two thousand people (slightly more, in fact, around 2,305). The Riosequillo pool is situated in Buitrago de Lozoya, near the reservoir of the same name, and is just 70 kilometres from Madrid. Tickets can be purchased at the box office (although an online sales system will be introduced soon). The organisers report: “2,305 tickets are sold daily, in person at the box office. Only one ticket is sold per person physically present at the box office.” Tickets are 9 euros. Amurgo Pool During June, July, and August, we can enjoy our enormous pool. Every year, the facilities are improved, allowing us to enjoy ourselves both in and out of the water. Recently, artificial turf has been installed around the pool for more comfortable lounging. In the summer, swimming competitions are held in various categories, and students at the Multisport Campus participate in swimming every day. Swimming classes are also offered for boys and girls of all ages, and free aqua aerobics sessions are available for everyone in the pool. To access the bathroom, you must pay an entrance fee or purchase one of the passes offered in different forms at very affordable prices at the David Broncano Hostel or the local Tourist Information Office next to the pool entrance. The Amurjo pool measures 85.49 meters in length. Due to its irregular terrain, its minimum width is 14.12 meters in the shallowest part, 17.16 meters in the deepest part, and its maximum width is 22 meters in the middle part. The depth of the pool varies from 0.80 meters at the children’s end to 2.30 meters at the opposite end. This depth increases by about 0.30 meters every 10-15 meters. Daily water maintenance is performed, including checking pH, chlorine, and other water quality parameters. The bottom and surface debris are cleaned, as are the solarium, restroom, and changing room areas. Hours are Monday to Sunday, 12:00 to 21:00, and the admission is 3 euros for adults and 2 euros for children.