Swimming is almost synonymous with vacation.
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Partly thanks to the popularity of summer travel and the ubiquitousness of tropical beach destinations, swimming is one of the top activities associated with travel. Even beachside resorts that have private, sandy shorelines tend to have at least one massive pool—if not a system of lagoon-style channels.
Across the United States, you can find interesting watering holes and picturesque swimming pools in places like hotels, spas, and even community centers.
But what about international locations? Where can you find the coolest pools in the world? Let’s dive in. (Get it?) While this list isn’t exhaustive by any means, it’ll show you where to find a great swimming hole on any continent… except Antarctica.
9 of the coolest pools in the world
Singapore Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Infinity Pool (Singapore)
Marina Bay Sands dominates Singapore’s skyline—and it’s got a stunning infinity pool located on the 57th floor. The pool spans almost 500 feet, making it three times the size of an Olympic swimming pool. It holds a whopping 376,500 gallons and has a vanishing edge that makes you feel like you could backstroke into the horizon where the stars meet the city’s neon lights.
Sandos Caracol EcoResort (Mexico)
Some of the coolest pools in the world weren’t made by man. Instead, they’re naturally occurring cenotes located inside the Sandos Caracol EcoResort. Fed by freshwater from an underground aquifer, the property’s five cenotes give vastly different experiences. I swam in two when I visited last year: the large Cenote Cristalino with crystal-clear waters, and the Mayan River, where you can take swimming tours to learn about the mangroves the cenote weaves through.
Corinthia St George’s Bay (Malta)
Looking for a larger-than-life pool? This five-star resort has five luxurious swimming pools with the Mediterranean as a backdrop. The lagoon-style pools are surrounded by lush gardening and Old World décor that’s endlessly charming. There’s even an indoor pool if the weather turns. While Corinthia St. George’s Bay isn’t necessarily over-the-top luxurious, the terraced swimming pools are chef’s kiss.
Tschuggen Grand Hotel (Switzerland)
The Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa, Switzerland, is a place of quiet luxury. (That’s often how you know you’ve really tilted into seven-star territory—nobody talks about it.) During my short stay in 2024, I spent an afternoon lazing around the spa. The Bergoase Spa is attached to the hotel by a walkway and includes an outdoor pool. The heated outdoor pool gives you a perfect view of the Alps—which are a treat to behold no matter the season.
Devil’s Pool at Victoria’s Falls (Zimbabwe/Zambia)
As with Mexico’s cenotes, this naturally occurring swimming hole is one of the most iconic in the world—and one of the most dangerous. Devil’s Pool is located at the top of Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi River recedes slightly for half the year to reveal a ‘pool’. The pool is really just a sheltered part of the falls that has a tall, rocky ledge—which prevents tourists from spilling over and tumbling down the falls. Despite its death-defying location, nobody has ever lost their life swimming in Devil’s Pool.
Fairy Bower Pool in Sydney (Australia)
Who says the coolest pools in the world have to be grand spectacles? Fairy Bower Pool is located between Sydney’s popular Manly Beach and Shelly Beach. It’s a community-driven project that dates back to 1929. The 20-meter pool was built by residents to give children a safe spot to swim. It’s filled naturally by ocean waves that lap over its sides and frequented by local and visiting families. Adorable, fun, and built by both human and natural ingenuity.
Miramar Hotel by Windsor Copacabana (Brazil)
Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro is home to close to a dozen rooftop pools. You won’t go wrong with any of them—they’ll give you a great bird’s-eye view of the famous shoreline and a place to take a dip. I recommend visiting Miramar Hotel by Windsor for a better view and a swankier infinity pool. You’ll have a bit more room to breathe and be able to enjoy the best view of Copacabana Beach.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Puerto Rico)
Dorado Beach might not be the most well-known resort in Puerto Rico, but it has one of the lushest swimming pool setups in the Caribbean. The Dorado Beach, Ritz-Carlton Reserve has two large outdoor swimming pools that are surrounded by towering palms and greenery. The grounds are carefully curated to make you feel like you’re living in a tropical dream.
THE FACE Suites Hotel (Malaysia)
Not all of the coolest swimming pools in the world are located in high-rise, ultra-lux hotels—but many are. That’s the case with THE FACE Suites Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The rooftop pool offers panoramic views of the skyline, which is home to some of the world’s tallest mega-skyscrapers. Like the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool in Singapore, the edge is so seamlessly done that you’ll feel like you could swim out into the sky.
